Reading this blog, it's gonna be easy to get lost in the terminology, with relation to Mongolia as well as to the Peace Corps itself. So here's a little glossary to help you keep things straight. Some of these terms seem self-explanatory but are included because their acronyms are common. Thanks are due to the literature provided by the Peace Corps for many of these definitions.
Administrative Officer (AO)—Peace Corps staff member who manages the budget and administrative functions in the country of assignment.
Aimag—A country subdivision in Mongolia, their equivalent of a state. The nation is made up of twenty-one aimags. As in America, the capital is not part of any aimag but is in a district of its own. The word is derived from the Mongolian term for "tribe."
Airag—Fermented mare's milk, also known as kumis in some areas. This alcoholic drink is very important in Mongolian culture.
Mmmm, airag...
Allowances—Payments provided to trainees and volunteers that permit them to live in accordance with the modest standards of the people they serve. These include walk-around, settling-in, living, and leave allowances.
Associate Peace Corps Director (APCD)—Peace Corps staff member responsible for programming, administration, or support of Volunteer projects in country.
Close of Service (COS)—As the name implies, the end of a Volunteer's service with the Peace Corps. This includes an end-of-service conference that is held for each Peace Corps Volunteer.
Cohort—A group of PCVs who are deployed and trained together. Referred to by the first letter of the country of service followed by a number which indicates the date of deployment in relation to the beginning of Peace Corps service in that nation. For instance, a cohort named A6 might refer to a group serving in Azerbaijan and being the sixth generation of Volunteers to have done so. My cohort is M21.
Country Desk Unit (CDU)—The main liaison between headquarters and overseas posts. Each CDU supports post operations in several countries, working with staff on matters related to administration, management, programs, and crisis management. CDUs also provide information and assistance to current and potential Volunteers, their families and friends, and answer inquiries from the general public.
Country Director (CD)—Senior Peace Corps official in the country of assignment; responsible for all aspects of the Peace Corps' program in that country.
Ger—Also known as a yurt, a portable, felt-covered, wood lattice-framed dwelling structure which is very popular in Mongolia. Many PCVs in Mongolia live in gers.
Home of Record (HOR)—Official home address for each trainee and Volunteer.
Host Country National (HCN)—A citizen of the country of assignment.
In-Service Training (IST)—Component of the Peace Corps' integrated training system that continues throughout Volunteer service.
M21—My cohort. It indicates that I am serving in Mongolia and am part of the 21st generation of PCVs to do so. Also, a referent for a member of the cohort, as in: "John Russell is an M21."
Medevac—Medical evacuation. Relocation of a trainee or Volunteer to a location where appropriate evaluation and treatment are available when medical problems are beyond the level of care available locally.
Peace Corps Medical Officer (PCMO)—Peace Corps staff member who is responsible for assisting Volunteers in maintaining their health while in their country of assignment.
Peace Corps Volunteer (PCV)—American citizen who has completed pre-service training and has been sworn in as a Volunteer.
Pre-Service Training (PST)—Period of approximately eight to twelve weeks of in-country training in language, cross-cultural, safety, and technical skills that precedes Volunteer service.
Readjustment Allowance—Allowance given to Volunteers upon COS to facilitate the transition after Peace Corps service.
Regional Director (RD)—Peace Corps official in charge of administering one of the Peace Corps' three geographic regions: Africa, Mediterranean and Asia, and Inter-America and the Pacific.
RPCV—Returned Peace Corps Volunteer.
Separation—Termination of a Volunteer's service before the expected date for any of four reasons: resignation, medical separation, interrupted service, or administrative separation.
Staging—Pre-departure orientation. First stage of Volunteer service as a trainee; stateside introduction to Volunteer safety and service overseas.
Trainee—Prospective PCV during the period of the staging event through the completion of PST.
Ulan Bator—Sometimes spelled Ulaanbaatar, the capital and largest city in Mongolia. With a population of just over one million, more than one in every three Mongolians resides in Ulan Bator.
Ulan Bator
Volunteer Assignment Description (VAD)—Profile of the project to which the Peace Corps has assigned a Volunteer. It provides a general description of the Volunteer's assignment.
Administrative Officer (AO)—Peace Corps staff member who manages the budget and administrative functions in the country of assignment.
Aimag—A country subdivision in Mongolia, their equivalent of a state. The nation is made up of twenty-one aimags. As in America, the capital is not part of any aimag but is in a district of its own. The word is derived from the Mongolian term for "tribe."
Airag—Fermented mare's milk, also known as kumis in some areas. This alcoholic drink is very important in Mongolian culture.
Allowances—Payments provided to trainees and volunteers that permit them to live in accordance with the modest standards of the people they serve. These include walk-around, settling-in, living, and leave allowances.
Associate Peace Corps Director (APCD)—Peace Corps staff member responsible for programming, administration, or support of Volunteer projects in country.
Close of Service (COS)—As the name implies, the end of a Volunteer's service with the Peace Corps. This includes an end-of-service conference that is held for each Peace Corps Volunteer.
Cohort—A group of PCVs who are deployed and trained together. Referred to by the first letter of the country of service followed by a number which indicates the date of deployment in relation to the beginning of Peace Corps service in that nation. For instance, a cohort named A6 might refer to a group serving in Azerbaijan and being the sixth generation of Volunteers to have done so. My cohort is M21.
Country Desk Unit (CDU)—The main liaison between headquarters and overseas posts. Each CDU supports post operations in several countries, working with staff on matters related to administration, management, programs, and crisis management. CDUs also provide information and assistance to current and potential Volunteers, their families and friends, and answer inquiries from the general public.
Country Director (CD)—Senior Peace Corps official in the country of assignment; responsible for all aspects of the Peace Corps' program in that country.
Ger—Also known as a yurt, a portable, felt-covered, wood lattice-framed dwelling structure which is very popular in Mongolia. Many PCVs in Mongolia live in gers.
Home of Record (HOR)—Official home address for each trainee and Volunteer.
Host Country National (HCN)—A citizen of the country of assignment.
In-Service Training (IST)—Component of the Peace Corps' integrated training system that continues throughout Volunteer service.
M21—My cohort. It indicates that I am serving in Mongolia and am part of the 21st generation of PCVs to do so. Also, a referent for a member of the cohort, as in: "John Russell is an M21."
Medevac—Medical evacuation. Relocation of a trainee or Volunteer to a location where appropriate evaluation and treatment are available when medical problems are beyond the level of care available locally.
Peace Corps Medical Officer (PCMO)—Peace Corps staff member who is responsible for assisting Volunteers in maintaining their health while in their country of assignment.
Peace Corps Volunteer (PCV)—American citizen who has completed pre-service training and has been sworn in as a Volunteer.
Pre-Service Training (PST)—Period of approximately eight to twelve weeks of in-country training in language, cross-cultural, safety, and technical skills that precedes Volunteer service.
Readjustment Allowance—Allowance given to Volunteers upon COS to facilitate the transition after Peace Corps service.
Regional Director (RD)—Peace Corps official in charge of administering one of the Peace Corps' three geographic regions: Africa, Mediterranean and Asia, and Inter-America and the Pacific.
RPCV—Returned Peace Corps Volunteer.
Separation—Termination of a Volunteer's service before the expected date for any of four reasons: resignation, medical separation, interrupted service, or administrative separation.
Staging—Pre-departure orientation. First stage of Volunteer service as a trainee; stateside introduction to Volunteer safety and service overseas.
Trainee—Prospective PCV during the period of the staging event through the completion of PST.
Ulan Bator—Sometimes spelled Ulaanbaatar, the capital and largest city in Mongolia. With a population of just over one million, more than one in every three Mongolians resides in Ulan Bator.
Volunteer Assignment Description (VAD)—Profile of the project to which the Peace Corps has assigned a Volunteer. It provides a general description of the Volunteer's assignment.
