The Way of Oz: A Guide to Wisdom, Heart, and Courage

14: Serving the Nation and the World

Young Americans have a growing interest in service: In 2008, more than a quarter of Americans over the age of sixteen volunteered. Research shows that youth who engage in service and volunteerism are more likely to be altruistic adults, and more likely to say they’ll pursue college. Betsy Miller Kittredge (1972–), research and outreach director, US House Committee on Education and Labor Seasoned university academic officers will tell you that the most compelling and successful candidates for faculty tenure are those with demonstrable records of service, including prior commitments to programs such as the Peace Corps, AmeriCorps, and Teach for America. For confirmation of the link between service and professional accomplishments, take a look at the short profiles of the twenty-one young professionals who are affiliated with the nonprofit corporation Americans for a National Service Act. These young people have their baccalaureate degrees; often have graduate degrees , military service, or service in federal or other nonprofit agencies (AmeriCorps, Teach for America, for example); and have an ethos for service—to America and the world. They are the forerunners of the many who will follow as a result of the passage in 2009 of the Edward O. Kennedy Serve America Act, which creates or expands a range of programs that provide support for nationally critical areas such as alternative energy (Clean Energy Service Corps), education (Education Corps), health (Healthy Future Corps), and social services (Opportunity Corps). 14 Serving the Nation and the World The Way of Oz and Serving.........................154 Although service to America, and by extension, to the world, is not new in our national consciousness, there’s been a resurgence of interest in public service since 9/11. A National Service Model Service should be a part of all you do. It is integrated into the psyche and lifelong efforts of all who subscribe to the Way of Oz. Indeed, America’s founders, including Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin, believed in the value of service to the emerging Republic; they knew that the nation’s strength came from an involved and participatory citizenry. American journalist Richard Stengel has proposed a model for national service based on volunteerism, which can be supported by such programs as those authorized through the Serve America Act and its precursors, the National and Community Service Act of 1990 and the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973. Young people should have instilled in them a model for national service early in childhood, which should extend through adolescence and adulthood. It is important for youthful volunteers to understand the larger purpose of service to their fellow citizens, to the country, to the world, and to themselves. The leadership of America’s armed forces has inculcated this service ethic in their recruits for years. Since 1973, when the draft was eliminated and the all-volunteer force was instituted, the military has emphasized a constellation of patriotism, service , and leadership in recruiting and training. This combination of attributes has helped the United States develop and strengthen its armed forces that are now the envy of the world. Indeed, the American model of voluntary military service is being emulated in developing nations across Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. The armed services, however, have no monopoly on the use of service and the development of leadership skills as 155.........................Serving the Nation and World inducements to engagement. Analogous approaches to recruitment and retention occur in federally sponsored agencies such as AmeriCorps and in NGOs or organizations such as Boys & Girls Clubs of America, the League of Women Voters, the National Urban League, and a host of other wellknown service organizations such as Kiwanis, Lions, Rotary, and their youth affiliates. College-level service-learning courses have become common on many campuses, and students testify to the value of such offerings, not only in facilitating learning but also in instilling the motivation to serve. Many college-level programs from areas as diverse as fashion design, nursing, nutrition , retail, and social work incorporate internships with core service elements . Service Is Their Mark of Honor Millions of Americans can claim service as a mark of honor. Here are a few outstanding examples: Norman Borlaug (1914–2009): A native of Cresco, Iowa, Borlaug was trained in forestry and plant pathology at the University of Minnesota (where he received his BS, master’s, and PhD degrees). In 1944 he assumed a leadership role in a project sponsored by the Mexican government...