Trench Gascoigne Essay Prize

This Competition aims to encourage original writing on contemporary issues of defence and international and national security. It is open to authors of any nationality and entries are particularly welcome from members of the Armed Forces. One or more prizes within a total of £1,000 may be awarded. The closing date for the 2008 Prize is 31 October 2008.

RUSImotifAwards will be made on the basis of originality, logical argument, sound analysis, style, clarity and conciseness.

Rules and requirements for the 2008 Prize

  • Authors may be of any nationality, but must present their work in English. They need not be members of the Institute.
  • Work originating in Staff and War Colleges is eligible.
  • The first prize is not generally awarded to the same author in successive years.
  • Essays should not be more than 3,500 words in length, but will not be penalized if they are briefer.
  • Essays must be type-written and double spaced. The author’s name should not be included on the actual essay. The author's name will not be made available to the judges until after the judging.
  • Essays must be received by 31 October 2008:
    a. By e-mail attachment in Microsoft Word. The covering message should contain full rank (where applicable), name, address and age on the closing if wishing to be considered for the special prize for authors under 30.
    b. By post accompanied by a separate sealed envelope containing full rank (where applicable), name, address and age if under 30 and wishing to be considered for the special prize for authors under 30.

Essays should be sent either by email (preferred) or recorded delivery to:

The Director of Military Sciences (codner@rusi.org)
Royal United Services Institute
Whitehall
London
SW1A 2ET
United Kingdom

Previous award winners:

2007: Dr Julian Lewis MP
Double-I, Double-N: A Framework for Counter-Insurgency

2006: Group Captain Peter Layton RAAF.
Redefining Warfare

2005: Dr Julian Lewis MP.
Nuclear Disarmament Versus Peace in the 21st Century 

2003: Stevyn Gibson.
Open Source Intelligence: An Intelligence Lifeline

2002: Ian Bellany.
Men at War: The Sources of Morale

2001: Major Jim Storr.
Neither Art nor Science - Towards a Discipline of War

2000: Lieutenant Commander Chris Tweed.
From Doughnuts to Toffee Apples - A New Model of War and Peace