The Harding Fellowship

Attention Army leaders! This is an incredible broadening opportunity. We strongly encourage you to apply!

Four military personnel in uniform pose by the Jayhawk statue, mascot of the University of Kansas. A brick building and a sign reading 'The University of Kansas' are visible in the background. The image highlights a connection between the military and the university, under a clear blue sky.
CPT Matt Becker, CPT Jared Petersen, CPT Steven Denaro, and CPT Thepnakone "Tommy" Souimaniphanh, pose with a Jayhawk statue at the University of Kansas during their orientation visit Feb. 24, 2025. The four individuals are the second group of Harding Fellows. Their cohort is the first to experience the expanded broadening opportunity that includes a civilian master's degree program. (Photo Credit: Sarah Hauck)

The Harding Fellowship is a competitive, three-year broadening opportunity for Army leaders who combine operational excellence with a passion for ideas, communication, and professional development.

The Fellowship selects talented captains, master sergeants, and chief warrant officers to serve as editors-in-chief of the Army's branch journals. Fellows begin their journey with a fully funded year of graduate study, earning a Master of Science in Journalism and Mass Communications at the University of Kansas. They then serve for two years at their respective Center of Excellence, leading the editorial direction of their branch's professional journal.

Harding Fellows carry forward the legacy of Maj. Gen. Edwin "Forrest" Harding (opens in new tab), who revitalized Infantry Journal during the interwar years and helped reestablish the journal as an essential platform for Army thought. Like Harding, today's Fellows work to ensure Army journals are relevant, accessible, and grounded in the needs of the force.

A Fellowship in Three Phases

  • Graduate Study (Year One):

    Fellows attend an intensive, in-residence graduate program at the University of Kansas' William Allen White School of Journalism and Mass Communications (opens in new tab). The curriculum strengthens analytical thinking, writing, and editorial skills—preparing Fellows to lead Army publications with professional rigor and creativity.

  • Editorial Leadership (Years Two and Three):

    After graduation, Fellows report to their assigned Center of Excellence to serve as the full-time editor-in-chief of their branch journal. They work directly for their branch commandant, shaping the journal's content and driving professional discourse within their community.

  • Return to the Field:

    After their Fellowship, participants return to the force with sharpened communication skills and deep familiarity with the most pressing issues in their branches—well-equipped to lead, influence, and innovate.

Eligibility

The Harding Fellowship is open to active-duty:

  • Captains who have completed the Captains Career Course and are key-developmental (KD) qualified
  • Master Sergeants who have completed the Master Leaders Course
  • Chief Warrant Officers 4 who have completed the Warrant Officer Intermediate Level Education (WOILE) and are KD qualified

Applicants must also:

  • Hold a bachelor's degree. A minimum 3.0 GPA is preferred. A GPA below 3.0 may be waived with an existing graduate degree or an Academic Readiness statement; applicants with a GPA below 2.5 and no graduate degree will not be considered.
  • Not hold an Army-funded graduate degree at the time of application
  • Serve in a specialty within a participating branch for the given cycle
  • Not be in a promotable status. Applicants selected as CPT(P), CW4(P), or MSG(P) are not eligible.
  • Obtain a waiver if they have 17 or more years of Active Federal Service (AFS).

Participating Branches (FY27 Cycle)

The following branches will nominate fellows in the FY27 application cycle. Participating branches rotate each year to align with the structure of the Army's professional journal ecosystem.

Participating branches and assigned Center of Excellence locations
Branch Location
Air Defense (AD) Fort Sill, OK
Infantry (IN) Fort Benning, GA
Military Intelligence (MI) Fort Huachuca, AZ
Cyber (CY), Signal (SC) Fort Gordon, GA
Adjutant General (AG), Finance (FI), Ordnance (OD), Quartermaster (QM), Transportation (TC) Fort Lee, VA
Civil Affairs (CA), Psychological Operations (PO), Special Forces (SF) Fort Bragg, NC

Service Obligation

Selection for the Harding Fellowship carries a service obligation. Be sure you understand the following commitments before you apply:

  • Officers and Warrant Officers incur an Active Duty Service Obligation (ADSO) at a 3-to-1 ratio—three days of service for each day in the academic program. This ADSO is served consecutively with any other ADSOs.
  • Noncommissioned Officers incur a Service Remaining Requirement (SRR) in accordance with AR 614-200, Table 4-1.
  • All Fellows complete a mandatory 24-month utilization assignment serving as editor-in-chief of their branch journal.

How to Apply (Deadline - 15 August 2026)

The official application window opens each summer through the Army's Broadening Opportunities Program, published by Human Resources Command. Applications are due not later than 15 August 2026. Selectees report to the University of Kansas in May 2027, begin graduate study in June 2027, and assume their editorial roles in summer 2028.

Applicants must also apply to and be accepted by the University of Kansas graduate program separately, in accordance with university admission requirements. The University of Kansas application deadline is 1 February 2027.

For the most up-to-date application information:

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