Federation Peace Corps

[Dan Gurden]

A couple of years back, when the majority of the ICON game traffic was held on an emailing list, someone suggested the Junior Explorers of the Federation A Federation based 'Boy Scout' movement.

Its one of my favourite pieces that I have ever seen, so original and yet so obvious that nobody thought of it sooner...

So in a similar vein. I would like to suggest yet another Federation organisation outside of Starfleet, again based on a real organisation in service today;

The Federation Peace Corps.

A Civilian organisation that often works closely with Starfleet, but where Starfleet survey and explore, and where colonists build, the Peace Corps help. Like Starfleet they have the Prime Directive to stop them developing societies that are too primitive, or making contact with species that are simply not ready yet. However there are hundreds of worlds in the Federation, and even more known but un-affiliated, and some need help.

The Peace Corps are an organisation of specialists, from Farmers, Construction Specialists and Doctors, who travel to planets in need of help, and try to improve the life of those in need. Often seen on Struggling Colony worlds or after great Disasters, or even helping rebuild worlds after devastating wars... fro example the Peace Corps was heavily active on Bajor when Starfleet took over DS9, and many of its specialists have been assigned to Cardassia following the Dominion War.

This is just an idea right now, but I will try and get a template or two up later if anyone is interested...

Anyone that wants to see where I might be going with this, or even join in with templates and tours should see;
http://www.peacecorps.gov/indexnf.cfm

[LizardQueen]

I like this idea. Seems very idealistic and Federation-like.

[Dan Gurden]

The Federation Peace Corps.
"Ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country."
John F Kennedy

The Federation Peace Corps is a civilian volunteer organisation that aims to spread prosperity and hope throughout the Galaxy. The organisation originates from Earth with nearly 400 years of uninterupted history from the original Peace Corps that began in 1961. At the formation of the United Federation of Planets in 2161, the organisation, then 200 years old opened its doors to its fellow Federation members, an idea that was embraced wholely alongside the developing Starfleet.

Since that time, the Federation has grown, encompassing hundreds of member worlds and affiliates and trading partners. The Starfleet has also grown, its mission encompasing Exploration and Defence, along with other more humanitarian mission profiles. The mission of the Federation Peace Corps remains the same to give humanitarian aid wher it is needed and offer logistical support. Like Starfleet they too are bound by the Prime Directive to stop them from interferring with a developing culture during its natural stage of development.

Volunteers give 2 years of their life to this task spending that time among their chosen culture on assignment, and then return. Longer assignments are then possible, as is 'retirement' from active duty returning to either civilian life at that point or helping prepare the next group of volunteers.

Many volunteers are just normal Federation citizens with a wish to travel, to help and to learn, the equal of any determined Colonist, but at least 20% of any intake is far more specialised, made up of teachers, Doctors, Engineering Specialists or agricultural Specialists.

The group is often active on Struggling Colony worlds, or after great Disasters, or even helping rebuild worlds after devastating wars... for example the Peace Corps was heavily active on Bajor when Starfleet took over DS9, and many of its specialists have been assigned to Cardassia following the Dominion War.

Templates
Peace Corps Volunteer
Personal Equipment (Choose Speciaisation) 1 (2)
Science, Planetary (Choose Speciaisation) 2 (3)
Science, Social (Choose Speciaisation) 1 (2)
Science, Any Other (Choose Speciaisation) 1 (2)
or Engineering, Any (Choose Specialisation) 1 (2)

Athletics (Choose Speciaisation) 1 (2)
History (Federation) 1 (2)
Language; Federation Standard 1
Choose Language 1
planetary Survival (Choose Speciaisation) 1 (2)
World Knowledge (Choose World) 1 (2)


The support skills of the specialists will remain the same as that of the standard volunteer, however change the Core skill base as follows.

Peace Corps Specialist
Medical
Personal Equipment (Medical Tricorder) 1 (2)
Science, Medical (Choose 2 Speciaisation) 2 (3) and (3)
First Aid (Choose 2 Speciaisation) 1 (2) and (2)
Science, Any Other (Choose Speciaisation) 1 (2)
Code of Honour - Hipocratic Oath -2

Teacher
Computer (Choose Speciaisation) 1 (2)
Personal Equipment (Choose Speciaisation) 1 (2)
Persuasion (Choose Speciaisation) 1 (2)
Science, Any (Choose Speciaisation) 2 (3)

Agricultural specialist
Craft (Choose Speciaisation) 1 (2)
Engineering, Material (Choose Speciaisation) 1 (2)
Personal Equipment (Choose Speciaisation) 1 (2)
Science, Planetary (Choose Speciaisation) 2 (3)

Engineering specialist
Personal Equipment (Choose Speciaisation) 1 (2)
Engineering, Material (Choose Speciaisation) 2 (3)
Engineering, Any (Choose Speciaisation) 1 (2)
Science, Any (Choose Speciaisation) 1 (2)

[Azar Kel]

Think the only problem with that is getting any sort of significant membership. If that happens, I agree, the idea is idealistic enough to probably allow people to see past the "Trekface" and behind to the core principles.

[ghosty]

All in all not a bad idea. I doubt Starfleet would have the numbers of personnel to perform relief work long term in a disaster area. It'll make an interesting addition to my game.

Another thought, what about our real world charitable relief organizations, won't they have made the transition into relief work on devestated or wartorn worlds...but obviously they could have just been folded into the Peace Corp...hmm tres interesting...(forgive my bad French).

[Diamond]

Excellent thinking, perfectly appropriate to Federation ideals. On a similar note, there's likely to be a group analogous to "Doctors without Borders" or the Red Cross. A civilian agency that seeks to alleviate the results of natural disasters and plagues and the like.

Naturally, Starfleet does stuff like that too. But in modern times, the Center for Disease Control hasn't eliminated the need for the Red Cross. This sort of thing is self-reenforcing.

[Erik Filean]

I like this idea. If one were fortunate enough to have a stable group of non-combat-oriented players, the "Federation Peace Corps" concept would offer a lot of gaming potential.

I'm not sure, however, that I see a Federation relief/assistance agency as necessarily directly modeled on the present U.S. Peace Corps. The Peace Corps is certainly one historical ancestor for such an agency, just as contemporary navies are historical ancestors for Starfleet, but that may be all the relationship there is.

For one thing, I wonder whether describing 24th- or even 23rd-century relief workers as "volunteers" quite fits. In the posteconomic Federation ("You don't get paid?"), there may not be much clear distinction between volunteer and career personnel. I more picture a Federation relief agency as having a more-or-less professional core with a large number of internship or practicum opportunities to fill out the less-specialized personnel needs.

That alone is rather different from the Peace Corps, but necessarily so in light of the specialized technical personnel that would be needed on a planet like Turkana IV, or Bajor, or post-war Cardassia. Since coordinating such program needs across several agencies (together with the Merchant Marine for transport needs and Starfleet for security issues) would be pretty messy, I'm supposing one UFP relief agency covering all such needs rather than several more specialized organizations.

Those are just detail points to ponder, though. This is a cool enough idea that I'd love to see a game built around it. (The idea of a "relief mission" series set on Bajor parallel to the events on DS9 appeals to me a great deal, because that was an aspect of DS9's back story that got pushed aside much too quickly as the show developed.)

[ghosty]

I have to go with Erik on this one. While the Peace Corp is a good basis to build this Federation Relief Agency, it should have a broader base of origin. Perhaps all the various Terran charitable relief organizations have combined with those of other member worlds to form the Federation Relief Agency (might be a better name than Peace Corps) under the direction of a member of the Federation Council.

It would of course be backed up by Starfleet who can assist with ships and of course SCE construction teams (although the Agency would have its own engineers and such). Perhaps Starfleet could second officers and personnel to the FRA to render assistance in special areas.

[Dan Gurden]

Thanks guys...

Fair comments all. And theres an even broader scope, why just limited to human aid agencies... Although the post-economic Federation with the eradication of Hunge, Plague and Famine would also reduce the need for charities... So the conglomeration of the various agencies both Terran and non-terran is a good point...

However Eric, remember that the Peace Corps is a Federal Agency with volunteers based on its current model? However I see the point. So an advanced model would likely have the clout you suggest to coordinate with the Various agencies such as Starfleet, Merchant Marine and even the various Colonies.

One of the reasons with the history was the 'coincidence' that the Peace Corps and UFP share a birthyear, and was founded by Kennedy who always strikes me as meeting many of the standards of TOS Star Trek... But there's room for adjustment and you raise some valid points...

Please help me make the appropriate adjustments to keep the feel while expanding the group to its best possible conclusion...

[SIR SIG]

Very well thought out Dan!

Still logistics and cordination would be a problem. Some sought of ranking would be needed.

Heck even Red Cross has there ranks; I used to be the 2nd Officer of my local detachment.

Some retired StarFleet ships kitted out for their needs would be appropriate for transportation. Probably Oberths and other obsolete no military focused ships.

Hey I just noticed that my post count equals the founding year of the federation. How cool is that

[Dan Gurden]

The Transport issue has come up twice on ICQ this morning.

Initially my concept was that they would hitch a ride with either Starfleet or th Merchant Marine. But Greg also suggested that they might have access to certain ship resources, such as a couple of Olympic class ships for mass emergencies where 1 or 2 doctors might not be enough... Along the lines of Greenpeaces Rainbow Warrior

And there is canon use of the Oberth class in Civilian service (SS Vico anone?), so those might also fit into the groups useage ideology.

Perhaps even an older, retired Miranda class?

All of which would allow greater flexibility, and still retain the original concept of another organisation with close ties with Starfleet...

He also had some other ideas, about their current working environments and project locations... But I'll let him post them when he wakes up!!!

[SIR SIG]

After mentioning the Red Cross ranks to Dan on icq. He asked that I should flesh it out a bit more.

So this is how it works in the Australian V(voluntary) A(aid) S(service) C(corps). They respond to the needs of the community by offering trained first aid volunteers. Also they help with disaster relief in a number of functions.

At the State level there are as many detachments as there is a need and a interest for.

The core basic ranks of a detachment are:

QuarterMaster now Logistics Officer
................ now Second Officer
Commandant now Officer in Charge (OIC)

Then there are regional Executive Officers who have a number of detachments under them. At the moment there is one for N,E,S,W.

Then there is a organising comittee that has a Honorary Directy and Deputy plus various other postions such as Corps Finance & Logistics; VASC Corodinator etc.

Also there are Regional Centres that offer training to the public and do fund raising for the corps.

Hope that presents some insight into how such a organisation is structured.

[Lancer]

Originally posted by Dan Gurden
Teacher
Computer (Choose Speciaisation) 1 (2)
Personal Equipment (Choose Speciaisation) 1 (2)
Persuasion (Choose Speciaisation) 1 (2)
Science, Any (Choose Speciaisation) 2 (3)

Agricultural specialist
Craft (Choose Speciaisation) 1 (2)
Engineering, Material (Choose Speciaisation) 1 (2)
Personal Equipment (Choose Speciaisation) 1 (2)
Science, Planetary (Choose Speciaisation) 2 (3)

Teacher:
Why not give this Template Debate instead of Persuasion? Debate is more about convincing people, while Persuasion is more about swaying them to your POV more by emotions then arguments IMHO.
In addition there is a skill "Teaching" in the Player's Guide. Might be worthy of inclusion in this template.

Agricultural specialist:
Maybe a choice between Planetary Sciences and Life Sciences would be in order or instead a choice between Craft and Life Sciences. But the later is a skill I would definitely consider for this template.

The rest of this idea looks just fine.

[Erik Filean]

Originally posted by ghosty
I have to go with Erik on this one. While the Peace Corp is a good basis to build this Federation Relief Agency, it should have a broader base of origin. Perhaps all the various Terran charitable relief organizations have combined with those of other member worlds to form the Federation Relief Agency (might be a better name than Peace Corps) under the direction of a member of the Federation Council.

LUGTrek back story has the Bolians convincing the Federation Council that they are membership material by single-handedly pulling off a planetary evacuation. After that stunt, I could see a UFP relief agency jumping all over itself to get in on a Bolian logistical model.

It would of course be backed up by Starfleet who can assist with ships and of course SCE construction teams (although the Agency would have its own engineers and such). Perhaps Starfleet could second officers and personnel to the FRA to render assistance in special areas.

I prefer to keep the Starfleet backup to extreme emergency transport (in LUGTrek, at least, the Merchant Marine is tailor-made for all but the most desperate situations), occasional security coordination, and some supervision by/collaboration with SCE and Starfleet Medical. I suppose that options for detached duty personnel exist in many of those examples, especially security--I just don't see a dedicated relief agency wanting to spend resources on its own security group that would see only limited use to start with.

[toadkiller]

There are loads of storytelling possibilities here.

I have been involved in several humanitarian aid missions in various countries [in real life] and my thought would be that there would not be one central "federation aid society" simply because that makes to much sense.

What I mean is that in the real world Red Cross doesn't like working with the military, which doesn't like working with Doctor's Without Borders, which doesn't like working with Oxfam which will NEVER work with the Vulcan Relief Society. OK- those are just examples - but the point is that each little or big relief agency either governmental or non-governmental has its own focus, political agenda, mission and level of resources. When they get to a specific mission area they set up some sort of joint command structure which hashes out who does what to whom with what.

If I were having my Game Ship interact in such an arena I'd place them into the role of trying to get several of these different agencies working together to accomplish a task. Bear in mind that none of these agencies are "bad guys" they are all trying to do the right thing according to their own lights.

Federation Peace Corps is a great idea - UFP would surely like to have that sort of long term mission supporting worlds both inside and outside. But I'd keep a wide array of other less governmental agencies in play too.

In fact. Something I'd messed with in my campaign was a Klingon Dr. who runs a mercenary hospital ship. Sort of a "field hospital for hire" for regional conflicts, etc. For a price they'll provide assistance to your refugees - and give you a discount on their "revenge services" as well.