Puzzle Palace Submission Guidelines
Articles
WHAT WE WANT
- Articles submitted in Microsoft Word format only
- Articles containing no more than 5,000 words and no less than 800 words.
- Articles in English.
- Articles relating specifically to the Commando Community with a trend towards the following topics:
– Future Commando Force
– Leadership
– Career Management
– Amphibious Strategy and Tactics
– Retention
– Capability Development
– Operational Vignettes (lessons learned)
– Training
– Welfare
– ‘Outside the box’ thinking
- Articles using endnotes must use a recognised system. Articles do not have to contain citations unless necessary (e.g. quotes, stats).
- Evidenced based arguments to support opinion.
- Articles that are well written, structured, intelligent and even provocative or witty, without being overtly critical.
- Articles that lead towards optimism over pessimism.
- Articles re-butting or countering the ideas of previously published articles in PP are welcome and encouraged.
WHAT WE DO NOT WANT
- No articles that exceed 5,000 words (not including endnotes)
- No articles representing political opinion
- Cynical Drips
ARTICLE AND SUBMISSION DETAILS
It is best if your question/argument will be in your title. Keep it short and succinct.
- Example 1: “Should high readiness Commando Forces be compensated the same as conventional forces?”
- Example 2: “Does Commando training prepare Marines for the Future Operating Environment? Discuss.”
- Example 3: “Is the GD branch still relevant?”
Articles are to be submitted electronically to PP and the author must state whether they wish to remain anonymous or not. A short biography can be used.
Book Reviews
WHAT WE WANT
- Make a point. Have an argument / thesis, similar to writing an article.
• A reviewer must submit something more than a synopsis of a book. The writer must explain why this book does or does not matter to the Commando Force.
• Reviews must be as objective as possible, well-written, structured, intelligent and even provocative or witty, without being simplistic, vacuous, slanderous or rude.
• Only reviews of the book’s ideas, not its author.
• No more than 1,000 words and no less than 500 words.
• Reviews submitted in Microsoft Word format only.
• Reviews in English
WHAT WE DO NOT WANT
- No reviews that only offer a synopsis of the book.
- No reviews that simply summarize a book without an argument. Be objective.
- No reviews that exceed 1,000 words (not including endnotes)
- No review representing political opinion.
Ideas Repository
Created to provide a platform to receive raw ideas, which can be refined further by the PP community. We are still working on the coding for the functionality of this, but please offer your ideas, so we have a stockpile ready.
What we want:
- Short innovative ideas 50 – 1000 words
- Contextual summary of the topic
- Explanation of how it is applicable
- Assessment of the benefit it will offer
- In English
What we don’t want:
- Rude or offensive submissions
- Illogical or irrelevant ideas for Commando Forces
- Ideas over 1000 words
