U.S. Naval Institute Leadership Essay Contest 2017

The U.S. Naval Institute invites entries for Leadership Essay Contest 2017 with the winning amount up to $50000. Essay contests have been central to the work of the Naval Institute for more than 130 years. They directly fulfil the Institute’s educational mission by encouraging writing on issues of concern to the Sea Services. They provide thought-provoking articles that spur ongoing discussion of these same issues, not only in Naval Institute media, print and digital but also in other leading defence and national security forums.

• What does leadership look like to the led? What does it look like from below? From beside?
• What qualities and characteristics define leadership for those who are themselves young leaders who aspire to command?
• Can leadership be defined…or only recognized?
• Can leadership be taught…or only learned?
• How can leadership be nurtured?
• What does character have to do with leadership?
• What is the role of mentors?
• What were the great naval leaders saying about leaders and leadership when they themselves were junior officers?
• What other lessons can be drawn from naval history?
• Why do so many people believe their experience as a naval officer changed their lives – whether they continued to serve on active duty or not?

Eligibility

• Only junior officers, O-4 (LCDR/MAJ) and below, from the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, and U.S. Coast Guard will be eligible to participate.
• Essay length must be 3,000 words maximum (excludes footnotes/endnotes/sources).

Selection Process

The Proceedings staff members will evaluate every essay and screen the top essays to a special Essay Selection Committee of at least six members who will include two members of the Naval Institute’s Editorial Board and four subject experts.  All essays will be judged in the blind — i.e., the Proceedings staff members and judges will not know the authors of the essays.

Awards

• First Prize: $5,000
• Second Prize: $2,500
• Third Prize: $1,500
• The winners will be recognised at West 2018.

Official Link

Deadline: 30th September 2017