What are the chances of getting into peace corps?

As a sophomore at a service academy (56.5 credit hours), what are my chances of getting into the Peace Corps?

• Seeing as how I have a five-year service obligation after graduation, and plan to stay in the military until retirement, I figure now would be the best time for me to pursue this dream. I would be able to take sabbatical leave from the academy for the 2 1/2 years required for this endeavor, a length of time I fear would be impossible for me to "take off" once I graduate. I am fluent in Chinese (I actually spent last summer as a translator for a military unit), and hold a decent GPA, and good marks from my supervisors. However, I have no college degree, and will not have one until May of 2009. Do I still have a chance of acceptance? What do I have to offer the Peace Corps and other countries, other than a faint glimmer of "potential"?

• Answer:

  I think you are stuck, but the Academy's guidance counslor may have a different opinion. If you spent the two years as a PCV, then went right back into the service, it would look suspiciously like you were using the Peace Corps to gain experience you could use as a spy. Even if you went to the most remote, fly-bitten sand-flea-infested speck of island in the Pacific, some of the natives would think the US was preparing to invade to add them to its empire. The Peace Corps want to prevent even the appearance of impropriety. The career path you outlined looks (isn't, but looks) improper.