David T. Ellwood, Dean of the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, recently published a piece titled “Ask What You Can Do For Public Service” in ‘The Citizen,’ the Kennedy School’s own news publication. Ellwood points out that most graduates have to forego public service because of heavy debt burdening them following completion of their studies. He brings attention to various programs that would help “remove the impediments” to joining the pubic sector. While he undoubtedly supports the idea of innovative minds joining the private sector, Ellwood stresses that those same innovative minds are desperately needed in the public sector. The world is more complex and challenging than ever, and the public sector is shrinking fast as many public sector employees reach retirement age. The United States Public Service Academy commends Dean Ellwood for writing this piece and encourages you all to take a look by following the link here:

http://harvardcitizen.com/2008/10/29/ask-what-you-can-do-for-public-service/#more-811

The U.S. Public Service Academy is just the way to remove the impediments of joining the public sector. Students will receive a 4-year federally funded education in exchange for five years of service in the public sector following graduation. Let’s get behind the Academy and make sure it becomes a reality in 2009!

These days the ranks of the Peace Corps are being filled by an unlikely group– those age 50 or older. They comprise over 5 percent of the Peace Corps’ 8,079 volunteers and the applications from this age group have gone up almost 40 percent this year. As more baby boomers reach retirement, they feel a draw towards service and the Peace Corps is one way in which they can share their knowledge and experience with the world. What this group of remarkable volunteers shows us is that Americans, no matter what age, have an unwavering passion to serve– to make a difference in this world. 

The U.S. Public Service Academy would give young people the opportunity to serve their country without having to worry about the usual hardships involved in financing education. Like these baby boomers who finally have the time and resources to serve, Academy graduates will be free from the stresses of student loan repayment and would be able to focus on serving this great nation of ours. Just think of how wonderful a place our world could be if citizens had the opportunity and resources to serve their entire lives. 

The Coalition for Effective Change held a panel discussion recently to mark the anniversary of the 30th anniversary of the 1978 Civil Service Reform Act (CSRA). Unfortunately, in the eyes of the panelists, there was not much cause for celebration due not only to recent events, but the devaluing of public service and trust in government. When speaking about the mission of the CSRA, Steve Ressler, founder of the Young Government Leaders, said “The mission’s great, but we don’t sell the mission…” That mission being the one of placing great value on serving your nation because it is the right thing to do, not because the employment benefits are good. Instead of advertising great pay and health insurance, the panelists believe we need to first remove the stigma associated with public office and get back to a sort of grassroots dedication to serving the public and our nation as a whole. 

“The state of the federal service is not good,” said Paul Light, a professor of public administration at New York University. “This is not a time for tinkering. These are problems that we face … that require something bigger.” The U.S. Public Service Academy is something bigger. It can offer all that America’s public sector is in dire need of– a large number of individuals working toward a common goal with a dedication to ideals, a strong belief in service as a virtue, and willingness to sacrifice for the betterment of our nation. The U.S. Public Service Academy will do just that and more.