Army Fellowship Provides Paid Degree and Editorial Positions to Revitalize Journals

The Army has introduced a new fellowship program designed to enhance writing skills among officers, offering a paid graduate degree in journalism along with practical editorial experience. This initiative, known as the Maj. Gen. Edwin “Forrest” Harding Fellowship, is part of The Harding Project, which was launched in 2023 by the Army’s top commander to improve military writing and bring fresh perspectives to modern military challenges.

The Harding Project aims to revitalize the Army’s branch journals and magazines, including “Infantry,” “Armor,” “Air Defense,” and “Special Warfare,” which are vital for military debate and thought. The fellowship will select six individuals annually to spend a year at the University of Kansas earning a graduate degree in journalism. Following their studies, these fellows will serve as full-time editors for one of the Army’s branch journals for two years before returning to their operational units.

Gen. Gary Brito, head of the Army’s Training and Doctrine Command, compared these fellows to observer controllers at combat training centers, noting that they will return to their units as branch experts with enhanced communication skills.

Branch journals, once key sources for specialized military news and analysis, have declined in activity, partly due to high operational demands and changes in how information is consumed. For instance, “Armor” magazine has not had an in-uniform editor since 2006.

To address this, The Harding Project has adopted a more streamlined online approach, including a website for searchable articles and a chat application for mobile engagement. Additionally, the Army will release a special issue of “Military Review” in print and online, focusing on writing techniques, managing unit writing programs, and encouraging respectful dissent. This issue will be distributed to 18,000 battalion-level and higher headquarters within the month.

Maj. Emily Lopez, a civil affairs officer, and Sgt. 1st Class Ben Latigue, a special forces medic, are among the first editors selected for the program. They have been tasked with more than just editing; they are also engaging with soldiers at various educational events to gather feedback and ensure the content remains relevant and engaging.

Applications for the Maj. Gen. Edwin “Forrest” Harding Fellowship are open until September 10. The fellowship is available to active-duty captains, master sergeants, or chief warrant officers 4 in specific branches, including infantry, air defense, military intelligence, and others. Applicants must have completed the Captains Career Course, hold a bachelor’s degree with a 3.0 GPA, and have no prior Army-funded graduate degree.

An Army board will review applications in late September, with fellows announced in mid-October. More details and application information can be found on the Army’s Human Resources Command website.