I do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic.

But I will bear true faith and allegiance to the sea, that I take this obligation freely.

Without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion, and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter.

So help me God, so help me God.

So help me God.

Welcome to the Oath. I'm Chuck Rosenberg, and I am honored to be your host for another compelling conversation with a fascinating guest from the World of Public Service.

Our guest this week is Carrie Hessler-Ratelet, a native of Michigan and the former director of the Peace Corps.

Carrie and her extended family have a remarkable and unique relationship with the Peace Corps and hold the distinction of being the only four-generation Peace Corps family.

That's right. Her extended family has sent four generations of volunteers around the globe, including both of her grandparents, her aunt, and her nephew.

In fact, Carrie's aunt, Virginia Kirkwood, who served in Turkey, and was the organization's 10,000th volunteer, inspired Carrie to join the Peace Corps.

After her graduation from Boston University, Carrie and her husband served as volunteers in Western Samoa, where they taught at an all-girls school.

Her story of their relationship with their host family, Lossa and Viana, and their nine children, is incredibly moving.

Part of that story includes a return visit to their host family, while Carrie was director of the Peace Corps.

32 years after she first served there as a volunteer.

If you want to understand how a volunteer can change lives in a remote corner of the planet, Carrie's story is illuminating and inspirational.

The Peace Corps is one of the most popular, successful, and admired organizations in America. President John F. Kennedy shortly after his inauguration in 1961, created the Peace Corps and called on volunteers to immerse themselves in another culture and another community in every corner of the globe.

Today, these volunteers of all ages work side by side with local leaders to tackle some of the most difficult and vexing problems on the planet, from health care to education to food security to climate change.

The men and women who serve in the Peace Corps are truly among America's best, representing the best of America.

In 2014, following her nomination by President Barack Obama, Carrie became the director of her beloved Peace Corps.

As director, she led an extensive organizational reform effort, most notably to enhance the health and safety of volunteers, including the development of a sexual assault, risk reduction, and response program.

That, she will tell you, had a very personal component to it. As a young volunteer in Western Samoa, Carrie was sexually assaulted.

When other victims came forward and shared their own stories with her, Carrie knew that the Peace Corps had to take the size of action to ensure the health and safety of its volunteers around the globe.

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