In this edition of the Bellows,

1. The Jamie Cullens Writing competition winners were announced
2. Changes to the submission process
3. The Forge's position on Artificial Intelligence

The Jamie Cullens Writing competition

It's with great pleasure that the Centre for Defence Leadership and Ethics (CDLE) announces the winners of the 2022 Jamie Cullen Writing Competition. It has been an exciting journey to reach this point, especially for long-time competition enthusiasts who are well aware of the anticipation that surrounds it. Although we usually unveil the winners in the early days of the new year or even before Christmas the prior year, this time, due to transitions in personnel and competing priorities, we find ourselves here in August with the winning entries now ready for recognition.

The CDLE is delighted to introduce the winners in various categories:

Category 1 - Essays

1. First Prize: CPL Caitlin Riley: Is Emotionally Unintelligent Leadership the Enemy Within?
2. Second Prize: LAC Michael Burke: Rewarding Failure
3. Third Prize: PTE Madison Sage: War and Asymmetrical Morality

Category 2 – Articles and Opinion Pieces

1. First Prize: CPL Ryan Slaven : Why a soldiers life is valued less
2. Second Prize: SQNLDR Mitch Higbed : Leaders Make Decisions

Category 3 – Short Stories

1. First Prize: AB Thomas Stone: Fangs out, Eyes Up
2. Second Prize: PTE Lachlan Hutchings : The Story of CPL Harry Draper

Category 4 - Poems

1. First Prize: LT Luke Dekkers: Roaring Rain Falls Down
2. Second Prize: Mr Mark Acebo: Unexpected Wedding
3. Third Prize: LS Jake Dell: The Aft Lookout

Category 5 - Graphic Novels

1. First Prize: FLTLT Adam Lo: One and Free

You can explore these remarkable winning entries on the Jamie Cullens Writing Competition Winners 2022 page right here on the Forge.

The Forge Submission Process

I would also like to touch upon some updates to the submission process. I strongly recommend authors use the submission form, which ensures that the Forge receives all necessary information for proper metatagging of articles. While we welcome submissions via various methods, sending them via email may lead to delays or spam filtering issues. The submission form guarantees a swift publication process.

We've revamped the guidelines and introduced a couple of new sections to the form. The first new addition lets you suggest a potential 'hero' image for your article. While we can't guarantee exact replication due to copyright considerations, we'll do our best.

The second addition involves acknowledging the conditions of submission. These largely align with the existing submission guidelines, with the primary addition being the acknowledgment of the following: "I attest that artificial intelligence was not employed to either fully or significantly compose this submission."

The Forge's Position on Artificial Intelligence

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has sparked conversations about its role in writing. It's undeniable that AI offers writers transformative benefits, from generating ideas to enhancing grammar and style. AI aids research, combats writer's block, and accelerates tasks, improving overall writing quality. Nonetheless, AI is not a panacea.

Writers should recognize AI's potential and limitations. While it aids creativity, it lacks the depth of human emotion and nuance. Originality can be a challenge, with AI often repurposing existing information. As AI advances, writers need to strike a balance, using technology to complement their work without sacrificing the authentic human touch.

We encourage writers to embrace AI as a tool, but also emphasize the importance of author oversight and limiting AI contribution to maintain ownership and preserve authenticity. Recent legal decisions suggest AI-generated content may lack copyright protection, reinforcing the need for author involvement.