In-Service Training, Mid-Service Training, Close of Service Conference
Monday, December 14th, 2015 to Friday, December 18th, 2015; Tuesday, August 23rd, 2016 to Friday, August 26th, 2016; Tuesday, April 25th, 2017 to Friday, April 28th, 2017
Pretty much all volunteers who stay for the entirety of their service will go through all of these trainings across the board in Peace Corps. Each is meant to help you process what to expect next at certain parts of your service in country. And each has their short name or acronym, if you will.
In-Service Training (IST) - A few months after you get to site (the location you will serve after training is over), having had time to settle into your new environment, get familiar with your counterparts and sitemates, you are asked to come together again in the capital to see all the people in your cohort again after having been away from them for about 4 months at this point. Everyone is excited to see eachother, to see old friends and catch up on how things have been for the most part. While this is a wonderful thing to happen, it is not the main reason you are here. This is a training and each day is utilized to the fullest extent. You are required to attend trainings/presentations in accordance to your sector (educations, community youth development, or health) and, also, Peace Corps required sessions that typically talk about safety, security, and health awareness sessions. This I would say is the more hard core trainings because you are in sessions from 9:00am to about 5:00-6:00pm. There are, also, language sessions available if you want to practice your language. While it will be the longest of trainings, it is the most beneficial because it will help you for giving you ideas to what you can do and what to expect for the remainder of your first year of service.
Mid-Service Training (MST) - At this point, you’ve put in the work of your first year, the new volunteers just got to their sites and are where you were last year making you feel like a veteran. It is your half way point, you’re feeling pretty settled into your service but it’s been months since you’ve last see the people you consider friends in your cohort. Your different at this point and so is everyone else, so when it is time to come together again there is a total shift in everyone’s attitude. At this training, while it is great to catch up with everyone and see their transitions, you will be getting a few days of training to see where you are. A training that will gauge where you are in your service and, at times, encourage you to strive on even through the difficult times. While there are some technical sessions, most sessions are centered around your psychological awareness of where you are. It lets you see that there are others going through the same things as you and what you can do moving forward. Not all volunteers will see this, but that is what I picked up from it.
Close of Service Conference (COS) - (Note: I have yet to attend this conference but will speak on what past PCVs and staff have told me.) This conference is the last chance you will have to see your whole cohort and catch up on old times before your finish up the last few months of service. You will find out what date you will be dispersed back into the States, what to expect before heading home, etc. It is like the meeting you have before graduation or something of the sort.
Hope this helps you understand that there are trainings that will be required for you to have during your service but they are quite worth it to attend. For me, I felt like it was one of the necessary escapes we all need to, sometimes, get away from hard times and get a fresh look on things. It has helped me grow and learn more about my service.