About Americorps NCCC

Before I share anymore about my life at Americorps NCCC, I think it is important to give you some additional background information on what the program is all about. I've been a little bit vague about what it is I'm doing, partly because how we serve is so varied. Service areas include disaster relief, infrastructure improvement, environmental conservation and stewardship, energy conservation, and urban and rural development. We partner with a variety of non-profits, municipalities, state and federal governments, national and state parks, Indian tribes and schools to identify and engage in these projects.

The NCCC, or National Civilian Community Corps, is an Americorps program created in 1990 by the senior President George Bush and was subsequently strongly promoted by President Bill Clinton. It was later placed under the umbrella of the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS). Established by the federal government in 1993, the organization is designed to promote service and volunteerism, distribute grants, and create opportunities for American citizens to give back to their communities.

Of the many Americorps programs available to U.S. citizens of all ages, NCCC is unique because it is the only full-time, residential program open to ages 18 to 24. This arrangement allows the NCCC to be extremely adaptable and flexible while also providing reliably trained service workers. There are currently five NCCC campuses, each serving a different region of the country, located in Sacramento, California; Denver, Colorado; Perry Point, Maryland; Vinton, Iowa; and Vicksburg, Mississippi. The NCCC was initially formed to provide employment to former military personnel and still has many organizational structures in common. It was also modeled in part after the Civilian Conservation Corps, which was created by President Franklin D. Roosevelt as part of the New Deal.

Hurricane Katrina was a major turning point in the development of NCCC. Prior to this natural disaster, the program was on the brink of being cut from the federal budget. However, due to the excellent coordinated response of all campuses, the NCCC received renewed positive attention and, consequently, funding. The focus of the NCCC has since shifted toward an emphasis on disaster response and is still heavily invested in rebuilding the Gulf Coast.

President Barack Obama has been a strong supporter of the Americorps NCCC. In April 2009, he signed the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act, which greatly expanded national service programs. Under the act, the number of AmeriCorps positions is expected to increase from 75,000 to 250,000. For NCCC members, the educational grant award we receive under the program was increased from $4,725 to $5,200.

There are numerous benefits that come from serving with NCCC. In addition to the education grant award, we receive a small bi-weekly living allowance totaling approximately $4,000 over 10 months. We also receive free uniforms, travel to and from our designated campus, room and board, basic health coverage, and loan forbearance. Less tangible gains include networking opportunities and skills building. All corps members are certified in first aid and CPR, van driving, and use of various tools and have the opportunity to work with agencies such as the Red Cross, Federal Emergency Management Agency, and the U.S. Forest Service. There are also several national volunteering awards and certifications that can be obtained during the course of the program.

So what does all this look like on the ground level? Corps members are divided into teams of 10 to 12 people, each lead by a Team Leader, and are assigned to various projects, each about six to eight weeks long, as the needs arise throughout our region. I am based in the Pacific region, which serves Alaska, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming, and the Pacific Territories. We usually will not know what our specific project is until days before we leave. Prior to departing, we receive a briefing about what we will be doing and the organization we will be working with. Then we pile in a 15-passenger van and drive out to wherever the project is being hosted. Housing is provided by the sponsoring agency or government while we are out on projects.

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