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The intent of this year’s DePuy competition is to identify by close examination where such factors strongly influence today’s operational environment and to identify specific strategies to either mitigate their influence or provide solutions for exploiting them to achieve the accomplishment of strategic objectives. A few examples of such possible topics are provided below. These are provided primarily to encourage authors to identify on their own the most salient of any of a myriad of other such topics relevant to the theme.

• How are China, Russia, and the United States viewed by the populations in Central and Southern Africa as each nation competes to exploit Africa’s natural resources? How are they viewed by the international community with regard to their presence in Africa?
• Does racism, tribalism, ideology, and religion play a role in China, Russia, Iran, and other states where conflict has emerged or is emerging? How do they manifest?
• Does regionalism, racism, ideology, or history play the most prominent role in Chinese aggression in the Indo-Pacific region where increasing tensions and potential for conflict are emerging? How do they manifest?
• How much influence do cartels of different varieties and international business conglomerates have on foreign policy dealing with the U.S. military deployments overseas? Do such entities view themselves as virtual independent nations without an obligation of loyalty to traditional nation states?
• What long-term impact would a large-scale war (non-nuclear) between China and the United States have on their mutual economies? Impact the world order?

How do I enter?

• Submit an unclassified, original research paper examining any aspect—broad or specific—of this theme. Papers should be approx. 5,000 words in length, not counting endnotes.
• Previously published papers, or papers pending consideration elsewhere for publication, are ineligible.
• Papers submitted to other competitions still pending announced decisions are also ineligible. (As an exception to this rule, U.S. Army Command and General Staff College students submitting papers to the General Douglas MacArthur Military Leadership Writing Competition may submit the same paper to the DePuy Competition. Thus, it is possible to recognize a single paper for both competitions).
• Contestants are expected to conduct in-depth research to support their papers to include consulting current doctrine, proponent organizations, and subject matter experts. However, unpublished original research based on primary as opposed to secondary source material is preferred.

What do winning writers receive?

This writing contest is provided in partnership with AUSA.

How will the papers be evaluated and judged?

Articles will be comparatively judged by a panel of senior Army leaders on how well authors have clearly identified issues requiring solutions relevant to the Army in general and/or to a significant portion of the Army; how effectively detailed and feasible solutions to the problems identified are presented; and, the level of expository skill the author demonstrates in developing a well-organized article using professional standards of grammar, usage, critical thinking, original insights, and evidence of thorough research in the sources provided. See enclosure 1 for the general criteria used in evaluating papers.

How do I submit a paper?

• Complete an enrollment form (see enclosure 2) and submit it together with the proposed manuscript via email by Monday, 30 June 2025.
  Email: usarmy.leavenworth.tradoc.mbx.armyu-aup-military-review-public@army.mil
• The essay will use endnote citations and not bibliographic references. Essays will not use the automatic endnote citation feature of software. Instead, endnotes will be hand typed in numerical order as referenced in the essay and listed at the end of the submitted document.
• All entries should be submitted using the sample format found at the following link: Sample Format.

If you have questions contact:

Managing editor of Military Review, at +1 (520) 669-4003; or via email usarmy.leavenworth.tradoc.mbx.armyu-aup-military-review-public@army.mil.

Combined Arms Center 2024 General William E. DePuy Special Topics Writing Competition Winners.