Peace Corps Overseas Staff Training

Peace Corps Manual and Policy Reference Exercise

The following quiz is intended as a self-directed exercise that will help you become familiar with the use and
contents of the Peace Corps Manual. Write the number of the appropriate section of the Manual in the line before
each item. For example, the answer to the first question is MS001.

MS 001

1.

Where in the Manual do you find the Table of Contents?

205

2.

A Volunteer has fallen in love and wants to get married while continuing to be a PCV.
Where in the Manual do you look for information and guidance on this amorous matter?

835

3.

A Volunteer wants to use the Diplomatic Pouch to have some materials sent from the
States. Your Country Desk Officer says the materials are not eligible, but you want to
plead your PCVs case. Where do you look?

003

4.

You want to look up some specific topics in the Manual (e.g., Absentee Ballots,
Emergency Leave Travel, Medical Clearance, etc.) What section of the Manual indexes
these topics by subject and title?

522
also 812

5.

The Peace Corps vehicle at your post breaks down. You want to know the
circumstances under which you can be authorized to use your personal vehicle for PC
business. Which section do you consult?

284

6.

You hear that a Volunteer is drinking too much. Your want to refer to the Manual for
information about documenting the behavior and addressing the issue according to due
process.

202
also 760

7.

Is it proper to ask a Volunteer Leader to assist in site selection? Can s/he be designated
an Imprest fund sub-cashier? Look it up!

8.

Where can you read about the responsibilities of a male PCV who gets a local woman
pregnant?

also 204
also TG
520*

204

742
9.
Also 635

You want to know how to properly fill out your T&A form in order to log some holiday
work time. Where do you refer?

101

10.

By some miraculous stroke of luck you have some free time. You decide to read the
Peace Corps Act, as it was written and legislated by the U.S. Congress. Where in the
Manual do you find it?

281

11.

Who needs to approve a PCVs request for an extension of service that goes nineteen
months or longer from the original COS date? You can look it up in this section.

812
also 218
for
PCVs

12.

The Admin Officer at your post (over-zealously in your opinion) denies a reimbursement
claim listed on one of your Travel Vouchers. Where in the Manual can you review the
regulations?

(over)

13.

Refer to the sets of numbers below. Circle the Manual Section that refers to Volunteers.
Put a square around the section that refers to Programming. Check the section that
refers to Financial Management. Cross out the section that isnt included in the Manual.
MS100-199

MS200-299 (PCVs/Ts) MS300-399 (Programming)

MS400-499

MS700-799 (Finance) MS900-999 (Not Yet!)

214

14.

A Volunteer currently in the States for a medical emergency decides not to return to
post. You want to review the specifics of sending the PCVs possessions to his/her HOR
(Home of Record).

892

15.

You want your Programming (or Administrative) Assistant to revise your filing system at
Post. Where do you go in the Manual to find standardized information about how to set
up and number a Peace Corps office filing system?

762

16.

You bring your personal cassette player to the office for use in a PCV training session.
Overnight it gets stolen from the training room. Are you able to claim for
reimbursement? Look it up in this section before going to the Admin Office.
What if the cassette player belongs to a trainee?

235
291

17.

The editor of the officially-sanctioned Volunteer newsletter at your post asks you for the
home-of-record addresses of all the PCVs in order to write an article about where these
Volunteers come from in the States. You want to read about the legality of releasing this
information for the newsletter?

626

18.

Where do you look up the Manual section relevant to assessing employee performance
and conducting performance appraisals?

220

19.

A PCV asks you about the maximum number of days that a Volunteer on emergency
home leave is entitled to receive travel allowance. You are busy at the moment so you
suggest the PCV consult the Manual. To which section do you refer the person?

_IPS-1-11** 20. You have learned that the Peace Corps recently approved new regulations to protect
the
victims of sexual assault, but you think that this might still not be incorporated into the
Peace Corps Manual Sections. Where would you look at it?
If you have had any interesting experiences or impressions regarding the use of the PC Manual, briefly
describe them on a sheet of paper and give them to one of the OST staff for possible inclusion in future
training materials. You need not include your name, but your title (CD, APCD, etc.) would be helpful.
Humorous or cynical observations are also welcome.
*Technical Guidelines (Medical)
** Interim Policy Statements