Fifth Force Proposal
Middlebury Friends Meeting minutes adoption of the
following resolution.
Development of a National Peace and Service Academy and a
Fifth Force of the National Service System:
Given the pressing need to enhance the existing global
capacity for peace building and peace keeping, we request
that the Legislature of the United States undertake the
following actions:
1. Enhance the work of the National Institute for Peace
through the establishment of a Four-Year National Peace and
Service Academy to be located in Vermont and serving all 50
states and the US Territories. This Peace and Service
Academy is designed to nurture leadership for programs such
as the Peace Corps, AmeriCorps*VISTA, Youth Conservation
Corps, Youth Build, the Fifth Force, and NGO programs
providing peace building and relief work around the world.
Each US Senator may nominate one man and one woman per year
as students of the Academy. Those accepted receive full
scholarships through the State Department, and, upon
successful completion of the program, are eligible for
leadership appointments.
2. Pilot test the concept of a Fifth Force of the
National Security System that is dedicated to peace and
community building activities. The Fifth Force has many
structural similarities to the National Guard Program, but
is dedicated to peace and community building prior to the
outbreak of hostilities or after the military resolution of
an armed conflict. Force members receive their training and
do most of their enlisted work as community service teams in
the US. After successful completion of a year long training
program, peace and service teams are available to serve
worldwide under the direction of the Secretary General of
the United Nations, or at the request of the President of
the United States. These teams are unarmed and practice
non-violent methods of peace building and peace keeping.
3. Build strong linkages between the Fifth Force and
programs designed to engage high school youth in community
service activities. While Fifth Force teams serve in local
communities, their work (environmental cleanup, development
of affordable housing, care giving for vulnerable citizens,
mediation and reconciliation) will provide an experiential
learning opportunity for younger people to practice peace
and community building. These linkages should be formalized
and recognized with credit bearing courses for high school
students in both traditional and alternative programs.
11/19/2000
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