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ubmissions and supporting documentation should be (which is particularly important in identifying random-
Ssent to editor@JSOMonline.org. ized, controlled trials). Authors should include all infor-
mation in the title that will make electronic retrieval of
the article both sensitive and specific.
Submission Criteria
2. Authors’ names with each author’s highest aca-
1. Use the active voice when possible. This is our most demic degree(s), and institutional affiliations.
common editorial problem and often requires extensive 3. The name of the department(s) and institution(s)
re-writes. Use the sequence “subject - verb - object.” Pos- to which the work should be attributed.
sible exceptions are times when the passive voice is more 4. A brief informational bio on each author that in-
appropriate than active voice to help preserve the goals cludes military rank.
of research (i.e., to focus on the results rather than on the 5. Disclaimers, if any. Authors should disclose any
author). funding sources and any other disclosures, e.g.
2. Secure permission before including names of per-
sonnel mentioned in your piece. Do not violate copyright Financial Disclosure: The authors have indicated they
laws. If the work has been published before, include that have no financial relationships relevant to this article to
information with your submission. disclose.
3. Be sure the document allows for editing with
no restrictions. We reserve the right to edit all material Funding: This work was supported by…
for content and style. We will not change the author’s
original point or contention, but may edit clichés, ab- 6. Contact information for corresponding authors.
breviations, vernacular, etc. Whenever possible, we will The name, mailing address, telephone and fax numbers,
give the author a chance to respond to and approve such and e-mail address of the author responsible for corre-
changes. We may add editorial comments, particularly spondence about the manuscript (the “corresponding
where controversy exists, or when a statement is con- author;” this author may or may not be the “guarantor”
trary to established doctrine. However, the author must for the integrity of the study). The corresponding author
assume responsibility for his own statements, whether in should indicate clearly whether his or her e-mail address
accordance with doctrine or not. Both medical practice can be published.
and the military doctrine are living bodies of knowledge, 7. The number of figures and tables. It is difficult
and JSOM’s intent is not to stifle responsible debate. for editorial staff and reviewers to determine whether
4. Special Operations require sensitivity to natives of the figures and tables that should have accompanied a
host countries, occupied regions, and so on. We feel that manuscript were actually included unless the numbers
patronizing terms generally are inappropriate for our of figures and tables are noted on the title page. You can
pages. Realistic language of Operators (including some either designate within the text of the manuscript were
“four-letter” words) may be tolerated in anecdotal and you want your figures and tables placed or you can place
historical articles, especially when used as direct quotes them in the text. However, ALL graphs and images need
or when such use is traditional among Operators. We to be provided as separate hi-res images (prefer jpegs).
will delete or change blatantly offensive use. 8. Provide a list of keywords for all feature articles.
5. All articles written by USSOCOM members must
be reviewed and pre-approved by your commander,
com ponent surgeon, and PAO prior to submission to the Conflict of Interest Notification Page
JSOM. Authors must adhere to standard OpSec practices To prevent potential conflicts of interest from being over-
and refrain from mentioning specific units, specific loca- looked or misplaced, this information needs to be part
tions, troop strengths, names of actively serving SOCOM of the manuscript. The ICMJE has developed a uniform
personnel, TTPs, vulnerabilities, and any other informa- disclosure form, which is to be used by all JSOM authors.
tion that could be of use to an adversary. When discussing a product, the author(s) must specify
whether the product was purchased by them or their
unit, or supplied for free by the seller or manufacturer.
Title Page
Finally, author(s) must disclose any relationship with the
The title page should have the following information: manufacturer or seller, whether financial, R&D, or other.
1. Article title. Concise titles are easier to read than
long, convoluted ones. Titles that are too short may, how- For our detailed Article Structure Guidelines, please visit
ever, lack important information, such as study design https://www.JSOMonline.org/SubmissionCriteria.html.

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