Val Torrens yearns for a Peace College. (North Kitsap Herald, Nov. 13) Actually, the seed for such a college has existed for more than 60 years in the form of the Foreign Service Institute of the Department of State. In addition to instruction in some 70 languages, FSI teaches a wide range of professional courses for Foreign Service and Civil Service officers and staff of the department, as well as for some personnel from other agencies including defense. At one time it offered the Senior Seminar which was state’s equivalent to the War College course, but I believe that has been abandoned in favor of short segments preparing senior officers for specific aspects of their future responsibilities.

There have been two intransigent problems facing FSI. First, officers fear that taking time away from career-enhancing jobs will harm their chances for promotion and that is in some small measure true. Of more importance, Congress has authorized too few full time positions for longer term study at FSI. Thus if an officer is in training, a desk sits unoccupied somewhere in the world. The Department of Defense does not face this problem, at least not to the same degree. Perhaps this illustrates our country’s priorities when it comes to war and peace.

With added resources and authorized positions, FSI could develop into a real Peace College. I join Torrens in the hope that some day this might come true.

Robert W. Maule

Poulsbo