Military Writers Guild Awards

The Military Writers Guild (MWG) fosters a community of writers who explore complex topics related to the military, security, and defense sectors. MWG awards seek to recognize Guild member contributions to their relevant fields, as well as writers outside of the community who engage with military affairs. We encourage our members to submit their work and give us the opportunity to read, recognize, and highlight the outstanding writing being produced across the Guild.

Submissions are open from 1 February to 30 June every calendar year, with the announcement of the winners in August of that year.

2026 Winners

Professional Writing

Winner: Controlling Command — Dr. James Giordano and Dr. Elise G. Annett

Honorable Mention: Restructuring by Reassembly— LTC Brad Hardy, PhD

Creative Writing

Winner: Service/No Service — JGP MacAdam

Honorable Mention: The Burning Question — Daniel J. Lehnherr

Emerging Writer

Winner: The Intelligence Nobody Could See — Sarah Clark

Honorable Mention: Chemical and Biological Warfare during the Rhodesian Bush War — CPT Matthew David Turner, MD

Submission Categories

Professional Writing: This category is for MWG members only. Submissions can include scholarly articles, in-depth analyses, research papers, policy papers, and historical works from journal articles, policy briefs, or detailed historical accounts. If the submission has already been published, it must have been published in 2025 or 2026.

Requirements:

  • Word Count: Typically between 2,000 and 3,000 words.

  • Citations: Proper citation of sources is required using a recognized style (APA, Chicago, etc.).

Creative Writing: This category is for both members and non-members. Submissions can include works of fiction, poetry, personal narratives, and other imaginative forms of writing from novels, short stories, memoirs, poems, and screenplays that explore military themes, characters, and experiences. If the submission has already been published, it must have been published in 2025 or 2026.

Requirements:

  • Fiction/Non-Fiction Prose: Up to 5,000 words for short stories or essays.

  • Poetry: Up to 5 poems per submission, not exceeding 200 lines total.

Emerging Writers: This category is for both members and non-members who are new or less-experienced writers making their initial forays into military-related writing. Submissions can include any material that fit into the professional or creative categories above, published or unpublished, as long as they are from first-time authors, student essays, early-career policymakers, and aspiring writers presenting fresh takes on military topics. If the submission has already been published, it must have been published in 2025 or 2026. Submissions for this category will be evaluated based on potential, creativity, and original perspective, rather than depth, polish, or experience.

Requirements:

  • Essays and Articles: Up to 5,000 words.

  • Short Stories and Memoirs: Up to 3,000 words.

  • Poetry: Up to 3 poems per submission, not exceeding 100 lines total.

Awards