About the Journal

The Modern War Journal (MWJ) is produced by the Modern War Institute at West Point (MWI) in support of MWI’s mission to generate new knowledge for the profession of arms, enhance the West Point curriculum, and serve as an intellectual resource for solving military problems. In furtherance of MWI’s three goals of research, integrate, and educate, this journal features content from academics, policy makers, and practitioners of the profession of arms—from the cadet level to the commander in chief—presented here with one goal: to help win tomorrow’s wars, today

The MWJ seeks submissions for publication in our next edition, scheduled for summer 2026. Articles, op-eds, book reviews, and research papers in line with the publication theme are encouraged from any person in any field.

Publication Theme

For more than two decades, the United States and its allies invested heavily in building, advising, and sustaining Afghan security forces. Years after the US left Afghanistan, the results of the decades-long SFA effort remain hotly debated. To mark the fifth anniversary of the US withdrawal from Afghanistan, this edition aims to move beyond simple narratives and examine the hard truths, lessons learned, and enduring implications of SFA in Afghanistan.

Additionally, a thorough understanding of SFA necessitates examining how SFA functions outside of Afghanistan. We therefore also welcome submissions related to SFA activities carried out in other locations.

And finally, we will consider thoughtful, non-partisan reflections on the Afghan War that do not necessarily have a nexus with SFA.

War leaves lessons written in blood, time, and institutional memory. This issue seeks to ensure those lessons—especially from Afghanistan—are not lost, simplified, or ignored.

We look forward to your submissions.

Format

Please use Chicago style (CMOS) with endnotes, and avoid jargon as well as overuse of acronyms. Include a short author biography of no more than three sentences.

  • articles (1,000 to 3,500 words)
  • book reviews (1,500 words or less)
  • op-eds (1,000 words or less)
  • research papers (up to 5,000 words)

Deadline

May 31, 2026

To Submit

Send submissions to mwisubmissions@westpoint.edu, and include “MWJ” in the subject line. Because of the expected volume of submissions, we will not be able to reply to all submissions. If you do not hear back within seven working days of submission, please feel free to seek publication elsewhere.

The Modern War Journal is a production of the Modern War Institute at West Point. It is made possible by the generosity of the West Point Class of 1982 and with the support of the West Point Press.