From my vantage point I do not believe it is a good idea to open up Peace Corps Response to non-RPCVs. Without going into details - the first non-RPCV in PC Response did not complete her assignment. I hope that Peace Corps seriously evaluates this pilot program for PC Response. I think that admitting non-RPCVs devalues the experience that RPCVs gain in their two years of service. Also travelling to a country short term as a tourist is a far cry from serving there as a Peace Corps volunteer. I witnessed this myself in observing this Response volunteer during orientation.

Years ago when I was working in the ’90s at HQ I suggested that the PCVs be given laptop (those $99 Laptops by the Boston non-profit. Your famous ‘old timers’ Larry shot down that idea. Too much high-tech goodies, they said.

There is reason enough for that, I guess.

Each perceived problem should be approached in a like manner, not with one foot in the grave, mumbling about how we did it one half century ago. That’s one of the quickest ways to get ignored.

These people will serve under the banner of Peace Corps. But,
they will not necessarily be “doers”, but rather they may well be “advising” and “training.” These non-RPCVs will not serve for a two year term-
rather the service time will be staggered from three to 12 months depending on the assignment. Most importantly, Peace Corps will not train these non-RPCVs. It is not clear, to me, how the Seventh step will be met:

“Volunteers would learn to speak the language of the host country, learn to appreciate its customs, be able to discuss adequately and intelligently the United States when questioned, refrain from political or religious proselytizing, and set as the standard of their success how well the requested job was fulfilled.”

These non-RPCVs will NOT have previously demonstrated any of
the characteristics and values described in John’ Seventh Step in a Peace Corps assignment.
They will not come from the Peace Corps Volunteer culture.

So, I would argue that this represents a dramatic change in how Peace Corps would structured, initially.

Of course, the Peace Corps Response Program is headed currently by a political appointee and not a RPCV.

All Volunteers still serve at the “pleasure of the President,” but that authority has been delegated to Peace Corps staff, ie. the Country Director and/or medical officer. That has been true since the beginning of Peace Corps.

See: Public law 87-293 Section 4 (b) “the President may exercise any functions vested in him by this ACT through such agency or officer of the United States Government as he shall direct. The head of any such agency or any such officer may promulgate such rules and regulations as he may deem necessary or appropriate to carry out such functions, and may delegate to any of his subordinates authority to perform any of such functions”

You are right about the consequence of rapid expansion between 1965 and 1968 or so. However, Charlie Peters who was part of Sarge Shriver’s original “Mad Men”, talked about sending Volunteers home who did not have the “right stuff.” Terminating Volunteers prior to the end of service happened routinely.