Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII, builder of the Bertholf class cutters) is sponsoring a Coast Guard Essay contest with the US Naval Institute.

“Challenge: Advance new thinking about the U.S. Coast Guard’s critical role in the 21st Century. No issue is too big or too narrow as long as it makes the Coast Guard stronger. This does not mean authors canot be critical and take on conventional wisdom and current practices. In fact, we encourage you to push the ‘dare factor.'”

• Word Length: 3,000 maximum
• Deadline: 31 August 2016
• Submit to: essay@usni.org
• Winners will be announced in the October Proceedings.
• More info here: http://www.usni.org/cgessay

Cash prizes of $5000, $2500, and $1500.

I suspect there are several among the readership here that might have some ideas.