Our frequently asked questions

AmeriCorps observes all official federal holidays. Any such holiday that occurs during the service term is considered paid time off. AmeriCorps NCCC residence halls remain open during federal holidays and any other breaks for members who wish to stay on campus. Members are responsible for any travel and transportation expenses during breaks.

Please note: Members or AmeriCorps NCCC teams may serve on a holiday if the grantee/sponsor requests so, if it is cost-effective for travel, or if a team is called on a disaster relief assignment. Disaster relief is a high priority for AmeriCorps NCCC and teams may be required to respond to a disaster at any time during their service term (including during previously scheduled holidays/breaks). This may alter published calendars, approved leave requests, and flight reservations.

Valid, government-issued photo ID: You must bring a Real ID compliant Driver’s license, U.S. passport or state-issued photo ID card and it must be valid through the end of your scheduled service term.

-You will not be able to board a domestic flight without a valid Real ID starting October 1, 2020.

Valid state copy of driving record (optional): This is only required if you are interested in driving the AmeriCorps NCCC vans. Your records can be obtained from the department of motor vehicles in your home state.

Personal checking account: Your Bi-weekly living allowance can only be deposited directly into a bank account under your name. If you do not have a bank account, you can sign up for one once you arrive on campus.

In AmeriCorps NCCC, time not spent on the project site, in training, or fulfilling other team duties is considered free time for members. This is typically less than what an individual might have at other jobs. Members are asked to be flexible when deployed to disaster or assigned to a project that requires longer hours. The campus and the Team Leader ensure members have adequate rest and free time to maintain well-being. For other AmeriCorps programs, the serve-life balance may be closer to what an individual would experience in another job. Depending on your schedule, all time not serving with your grantee/sponsor organization is considered free time. Note: while serving in AmeriCorps, you represent the program and our nation throughout your service term.

That depends on your specific role and the program you serve in. Team Leaders receive a month long training, called Team Leader Training (TLT) that prepares them to support Corps Members arriving for CTI.

The Corps Training Institute (CTI), is held on campus, during the first 3.5 weeks after Corps Member arrival. The purpose of CTI is to introduce NCCC’s culture, procedures, and policies and provide Corps Members with the training necessary to complete their projects.

FEMA Corps Members complete an additional 7-10 day training, which targets specialized skills for work assignments relevant to FEMA Corps.

Most federally-guaranteed student loans are eligible for forbearance.  If your loan does not qualify for forbearance based on your AmeriCorps service, you may be eligible for another type of deferment or forbearance.  Contact your loan holder to determine eligibility and options.  The Trust can only pay accrued interest for qualified student loans.  If your loan is in default, it may not be eligible for forbearance.

You can apply for forbearance using your MyAmeriCorps account.

Contact your loan holder if you do not hear from them within four weeks of submitting the forbearance request.  

Independent Service Projects are volunteer opportunities that members arrange themselves that are separate from the day-to-day team project.  ISPs allow Members to expand on a personal area of interest or try something completely new.

Corps Members are required to complete at least 80 ISP hours prior to graduation. For FEMA Corps Members at least 10 of their ISP hours must be in either disaster preparation, response, and/or recovery work.

Although Team Leaders are exempt from the ISP requirement, they may choose to participate if it is involves something they are interested in and it does not interfere with other duties.

No, state-based medical marijuana cards do not authorize member to use marijuana while in AmeriCorps NCCC because marijuana use is prohibited under federal law and AmeriCorps NCCC is a federal program.

The purpose of AmeriCorps NCCC physical training (PT) is self-improvement and team bonding. The typical workout schedule includes three, 45-minute sessions per week. One or more members on each team is designated as the PT coordinator and organizes the sessions. PT sessions can include calisthenics, running, yoga and structured activities, like hiking or going to the gym  Policy surrounding PT may vary between campuses.

We're always looking for ways to connect more students to AmeriCorps opportunities. If you're interested in AmeriCorps NCCC specifically, please send us a message and we’ll get back to you within 24-48 hours. For all other AmeriCorps programs, please email engagement@cns.gov. Depending on where you live, we may be able to visit your students in person or schedule a webinar with your class.

Each regional office of AmeriCorps NCCC manages a Facebook page that is updated on a regular basis. Through this medium, staff share projects individual teams are working on, as well as information about members' progress through their service terms. Members may also travel with a personal cell phone or other device so they can remain connected to loved ones during service.