A new competition is now open, encouraging people from across Army to share a story on the topic ‘Why I Serve’. It aims to showcase the diverse experiences of our people and their varied motivations for serving.

​Entries open Monday 15 May 2023 and must be submitted by 11.59pm on Friday 23 June 2023. Late entries will not be considered.

To submit an entry, email your 150-400 word story to armypeople.capability@defence.gov.au.

A total of five (5) winners will be announced in early July 2023.

Each winner will receive an invitation to the Chief of Army Symposium in Perth in August 2023 inclusive of flights and accommodation; a $500 voucher to use on an adventure of their choosing, and; a Chief of Army coin.

Army People Capability Branch is running the competition to support Army's focus on people capability and culture, ensuring we recruit, develop and retain our people - our greatest assets.

Competition Entry Rules

1. Stories must be between 150-400 words.

2. Entrants may submit multiple stories however no entrant will win more than one prize.

3. Entries open Monday 15 May 2023 and must be submitted by 11.59pm on Friday 23 June 2023. Late entries will not be considered.

4. Stories must be submitted by an individual, group entries will not be considered. There may be future opportunity to share so keep these in your back pocket.

5. Stories remain the intellectual property of the entrant, however by submitting a story entrants agree to it being shared through internal Defence communication. Entrants will be contacted prior to the release of any communication. Permission to publish stories through external communication channels may also be requested.

6. Judging will take place until 30 June 2023.

7. A total of five (5) winners will be selected.

8. Winners will be notified by email and phone early July 2023.

9. Final decisions on competition winners are made by the Director General, Army People Capability.​

10. Stories must be unclassified.

11. Entrants must have permission of all mentioned within the story or remove any identifying information.

12. Goes without saying: No swearing, no hate speech, no inappropriate content, and no slander.

13. Stories will be judged on:

    • Authenticity: Originality and creativity
    • Connection: to purpose, to Defence and Army Values
    • Compliance: Adherence to storytelling competition rules, grammar, cohesiveness.​