Children's Writing Contest
Enter the ROA Children’s Writing Contest!
Deadline for submission: June 15, 2026
In celebration of the 250th Birthday of America, share your story as a military connected child, describing how your family’s military service protects or protected the USA.
Contest Eligibility
Must be child or grandchild of an individual currently serving or having served honorably in the U.S. military in the Active or Reserve/National Guard component, to include: Army/Air Force/Navy/Marine Corps/Coast Guard/Commissioned Corps of the Public Health Service/National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration/Space Force.
Contestants must be between 10-14 yrs old on the date of the essay submission. Winning entries will be judged in two separate age categories (10-11) & (12-14).
By participating in the contest, entrants agree to public display of their entry materials and the terms and conditions outlined below.
Submission Requirements
Contest Entry Start Date: April 1, 2026
Deadline: June 15, 2026
Length: No more than 500 words.
Name: Name of entrant (as it will be published) must be at the top of the entry.
Title of Article: Title of the essay must be at the top of the entry.
See our official rules and guidelines for more information on submission and evaluation.
