WASHINGTON - The U.S. military, struggling to fill its voluntary ranks, is offering to allow recruits to meet part of their military obligations by serving in the Peace Corps, which has resisted any ties to the Defense Department or U.S. intelligence agencies since its founding in 1961.

Does this raise red flags for the Peace Corps community? I'd say yes -- emphatically so. We think a real or perceived linkage between the Peace Corps and military service could damage the Peace Corps and potentially put the safety of Peace Corps volunteers at risk.

Kevin Quigley, president of the National Peace Corps Association

The recruitment program has sparked debate and rising opposition among current and former Peace Corps officials. Some welcome it as a way to expand the cadre of idealistic volunteers created by former President John Kennedy. But many say it could lead to suspicions abroad that the Peace Corps, which has 7,733 workers in 73 countries, is working together with the U.S. armed forces.

"Does this raise red flags for the Peace Corps community? I'd say yes -- emphatically so," said Kevin Quigley, president of the National Peace Corps Association, an organization of returned volunteers, staff and supporters. "We think a real or perceived linkage between the Peace Corps and military service could damage the Peace Corps and potentially put the safety of Peace Corps volunteers at risk."

Congress authorized the recruitment program three years ago in legislation that drew little attention at the time but is stirring controversy now, for two reasons: The military has begun to promote it, and the day is drawing closer when the first batch of about 4,300 recruits will be eligible to apply to the Peace Corps, after having spent 3 1/2 years in the armed forces. That could happen as early as 2007.

Two longtime proponents of national service programs, Sens. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Evan Bayh, D-Ind., devised the legislation "to provide Americans with more opportunities to serve their country," said Bayh spokeswoman Meghan Keck.

Several former Peace Corps leaders said they hope Congress and the Bush administration will scuttle the program.

"Democratic and Republican administrations alike have kept a bright line separating the Peace Corps from short-term foreign and security policies," said Mark Schneider, head of the Peace Corps during the last two years of the Clinton administration. "Blurring that sharp line is a bad idea, particularly now, given the unfortunate rise in anti-American sentiment following the Iraq war."

After the law went into effect in 2003, the Defense Department was slow to promote the option but is now energetically flogging the "National Call to Service" program, recruiters said.

Recruits in all the services are eligible for a $5,000 cash bonus or repayment of $18,000 in student loans if they agree to spend three months in boot camp, 15 months on active duty and two years in the Reserves or National Guard. After that, they can fulfill the remainder of their eight-year military obligation in the Individual Ready Reserves -- available for call-up, but without regular drilling duties -- or by serving in the Peace Corps or Americorps, the domestic national service program.

Peace Corps Director Gaddi Vasquez emphasized that recruits have no guarantee of being accepted into the Peace Corps. They can apply upon completion of their active duty and Reserve or National Guard service, he said, but will receive no preferential treatment.

In 2004 and the first five months of this year, 4,301 people entered the armed services under the National Call to Service program. Pentagon and Peace Corps officials said they have no way of knowing how many will apply to the Peace Corps when they become eligible to do so in 2007 or 2008. The Peace Corps already receives about 12,000 applications to fill about 4,000 openings each year.

© 2005 San Francisco Chronicle

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