CP's: seems like this might be a chance to preach the PGP sermon and possibly make $2500 - no doubt crypto tech is an issue here:
Contest seeks essays on joint warfare
ALEXANDRIA, Va. (Army News Service) -- If you can write about joint operations, you could win $2,500. After four years of sponsoring the Warfighting Essay Contest, the U.S. Naval Institute, Annapolis, Md., is opening the contest to other services. Named for the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Colin L. Powell Joint Warfighting Essay Contest offers $2,500, $2,000 and $1,000 for the three best entries. The competition seeks "those who are motivated to enter this contest not by a need to 'toe the policy line,' but who are devoted to the security of this great nation," Powell said. All servicemembers and civilians are welcome to enter. They should write about combat readiness in a joint context -- discussions of tactics, strategy, weaponry, combat training or other issues involving two or more services. Essays can feature one service in detail, but they must apply to joint force structure, doctrine, operations or organization for combat. They may discuss the interoperability of hardware and procedures, within the context of combat readiness. Entries can be no longer than 3,000 words, and must be postmarked no later than April 1. Shorter opinion pieces or "professional notes" -- typically 2,000-word technical arguments -- may also be competitive. Following are the entry rules, as set by the U.S. Naval Institute -- -- Essays must be original, not to exceed 3,000 words, and not have been previously published. An exact word count must appear on the title page. -- Mail entries to: Colin L. Powell Joint Warfighting Essay Contest; U.S. Naval Institute; 118 Maryland Ave.; Annapolis, Md.; 21402-5035. -- Entries must be postmarked on or before April 1. -- For fairness, entries will not be identified by the author's name -- the name must not appear on the essay. The author will give the essay a motto, in addition to a title. This motto will appear on the title page, with the title. It will also be written by itself on the outside of an accompanying sealed envelope. Enclosed will be the author's name, address, phone number, Social Security number, a short biography, essay title and motto. Envelopes will not be opened until the winners are chosen. -- Entrants must submit two complete copies of the essays, typewritten, double-spaced, on 8-1/2x11-inch paper. Authors who use computers are also asked to submit IBM-compatible disks and specify which word-processing software was used. -- The essays will be screened by a panel of officers from the five armed services. The panel will recommend six essays to the Naval Institute's Editorial Board, which will award the three cash prizes. -- The winners will be notified by phone in late May. Letters notifying all other entrants will be mailed by mid-June. Awards will be presented in July. -- The three top essays will be published in "Proceedings," the Naval Institute's magazine. Non-winning essays may also be published; their authors will be paid at the magazine's regular rate.