 |
The Center of Military History is pleased to announce its Special Topics Writing Competition, now named for General James Lawton Collins Jr, a visionary Army leader, educator, and historian. The goal of this contest is to obtain firsthand accounts from junior officers describing how their unit responded when facing a particular challenge in the current war. The Center of Military History wants to capture the small-unit-level view of this conflict for inclusion in future publications.
A list of suggested topics is attached below (Enclosure 3).
CMH will announce the competition results in June 2007.
The 2007 competition is now open.
How do I enter?
- Submit an unclassified, original essay that describes the actions of a small unit (company level and below) engaged in the Global War on Terror. The focus should be on a finite action, such as a single patrol, firefight, battle, convoy, air support mission, advisory team operation, medical mission, engineer support, or similar activity, but the effort in question need not involve actual combat. Essays describing the operations of a civil affairs team, an intelligence team, an advisory team, or similar supporting functions are welcome. Essays that are the work of multiple authors (such as the platoon leaders of a company or the NCOs of a platoon) are welcome. Papers generally should not exceed 5,000 words, though well-developed manuscripts of extraordinary merit that somewhat exceed this limit will be considered.
- Previously published papers, or papers pending consideration elsewhere for publication, are ineligible.
What do winning writers receive?
First Place: Award of $500 / Certificate of recognition signed by the Army Chief of Staff / Publication by the Center of Military History.
Second Place : Award of $250 / Certificate of recognition signed by the Army Chief of Staff / Publication by the Center of Military History.
How do you submit a paper?
- Complete enrollments form (see Enclosure 1) and submit it together with the proposed manuscript via e-mail or in hard copy with a CD to The Center of Military History by 1 April 2007. Email: hoffmanjt@hqda.army.mil : Center of Military History / 103 Third Ave, Bldg #35 / Fort Lesley J. McNair, DC 20319-5058.
How will the papers be evaluated and judged?
- The Center of Military History will establish a panel to evaluate entries. The panel will be composed of select members of the CMH staff.
- General criteria to be used for evaluating papers are attached (see Enclosure 2).
Need a topic?
- See Enclosure 3 for some suggestions.
Questions?
-
Jon Hoffman, at the Center of Military History, will answer any questions you might have. He can be reached by telephone at (202) 685-2360 or DSN 325-2360; or via email at hoffmanjt@hqda.army.mil
|
MEMORANDUM FOR Chief of Military History SUBJECT: The 2007 Center of Military History Special Topics Writing Competition
1. Attached is my essay submission for the CMH 2007 Special Topics Writing Competition. 2. The subject of my paper is_______________________________________________________. 3. I affirm that the paper is my original work. I further affirm that no part of it has been plagiarized from other sources; that all references to other work have been properly and fully attributed; that it has not been previously published; that it is not now being considered elsewhere for publication; and that it is not currently pending consideration as an entry in any other competition. 4. I understand that if my paper is selected as a winner, the Center of Military History may reproduce it for instructional purposes, and CMH will have first right of publication without copyright restrictions. 5. I understand that the paper submitted will not be returned to me but that CMH will contact me for permission if it is later determined to have publication potential.
Signature _________________________________
Printed name ______________________________
Title/Organization__________________________
|
ENCLOSURE 2 (Criteria for Judging)
Evaluation is unavoidably a subjective process; however, our panelists will use the questions below to help them evaluate essays more objectively.
- Does the essay offer an objective, factual, and compelling account of a small unit performing its assigned mission?
- Does the essay illuminate tactical or leadership challenges and how the unit solved these?
- Is the coverage comprehensive, describing the roles of all key participants?
- Does the essay follow a logical outline, placing the action in context, describing events in a chronological and topical format, and summarizing the significance of the outcome?
- If the author employs factual sources beyond his personal experience, are they clearly identified in endnotes?
- Is the essay well-written, using good grammar and engaging style
-
Describe a patrol, firefight, or small battle that proved most challenging to a squad, platoon, or company during its deployment in Iraq or Afghanistan.
-
Describe the preparations of a convoy and its escort for a movement through hostile country and its reaction to an ambush.
-
Describe the actions of an aviation unit operating in support of ground units.
-
Describe the role of an advisory team in mentoring the unit to which it was assigned, emphasizing a particular operation or a challenging facet of this mission.
-
Describe the work of a medical unit in handling mass casualties during a heavy phase of combat, or in providing medical assistance to the indigenous population.
-
Describe the challenges faced and solved by a civil government operations team in establishing local government during a stability operation.
-
Describe the work of an engineer unit in support of a combat operation or in handling a reconstruction project.
