InternationalSecurityExperience '27
Three days. One scenario. Teams from across the country build a strategy, defend it through three rounds of competition, and one is named champion.
One Scenario.
72 hours.
One champion.
Teams of four to six undergraduates receive a live national security scenario, take a full day to research and build their strategy, then defend it through four rounds of competition. Hosted by GNSI and the Future Strategist Program at USF.
How the week runs
The scenario drops the day before competition begins. Select a day to see what your team will be doing.
The conference opens the week and scenario goes out
The Future Strategist Program Conference brings students, scholars, and practitioners together around a central question in global and national security. Strategy competition teams receive their scenario following the conference reception.
A full day to build the strategy
Teams work the scenario at the Marshall Student Center - defining policy goals, weighing tradeoffs, and shaping the broad strategy they'll defend. The National Security Career Fair runs alongside, open to every attendee.
Three rounds. Judges. No script.
Teams present and defend their strategy across three rounds of competition. Judges press on assumptions, second-order effects, and what the team would do when the scenario shifts.
The memo, then the final
Round 4 is the written memo. Round 5 is the final, decided in front of a panel of practitioners and scholars. The competition closes before noon with one team named ISE 2027 Undergraduate Strategy Champions.
Agencies, firms, and
grad programs on site
Hosted with USF's Center for Career & Professional Development and the Office of National Scholars. Recent participation has included:
Hotels near
the Tampa campus
19 hotels within three miles of the Marshall Student Center, 4 of which run a shuttle to USF. Teams book their own accommodation — no rooms are held under a group block, so booking early is worth doing.
Holiday Inn
1.13 miHome2 Suites by Hilton
1.16 miLa Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham
1.17 miRed Roof Inn & Suites
1.70 miHoliday Inn Express
1.70 miTownePlace Suites by Marriott
1.88 miHampton Inn & Suites
2.28 miCourtyard by Marriott
2.47 miHampton Inn & Suites
2.54 miLa Quinta Inn by Wyndham
2.56 miRamada by Wyndham
2.58 miSleep Inn
2.69 miHoliday Inn Express & Suites
2.69 miFairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott
2.75 miExtended Stay America Suites
2.80 miDistances are to the Marshall Student Center. Confirm shuttle times and availability directly with the hotel when booking — schedules vary and are not guaranteed.
Registered Teams
Meet the teams joining the 2027 Undergraduate Strategy Competition. Additional teams will appear as registrations are reviewed.
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Arizona State University
Arizona State University
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Dakota State University
Dakota State University
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Embry Riddle Aeronautical University
Embry Riddle Aeronautical University
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Georgetown University, Security Studies Program
Security Studies Program
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Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
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Texas A&M University - Bush School of Government & Public Service
Texas A&M University
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University of South Florida
Bulls Liberation Front
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University of Tampa
University of Tampa
2026 teams
register first
If your team competed in ISE 2026, your spot is held until November 2, 2026. After that, registration opens to every team — and spots are filled in the order they come in.
Returning Teams
Reserved for teams that competed in the 2026 competition. Register before the deadline and your spot is guaranteed.
All Teams
Open to every university, new and returning. Spots are assigned first come, first served until all slots are filled.
Returning teams: your priority only holds through November 2, 2026. You can still register after that date, but from November 2, 2026 onward other teams may claim the remaining spots ahead of you.
Register your team
We'll match your details against the 2026 competition roster to confirm your priority spot. Roster changes are expected — just note them below.
Team registered
Confirmation sent to your team captain. Final roster forms and travel details follow in January.
Competition Preparation Materials
Review the practice prompts and rubrics to understand how strategies are evaluated, and explore an example draft memo to help your team prepare for the Undergraduate Strategy Competition.
Before you register
Any team that officially competed in the 2026 Undergraduate Strategy Competition — regardless of how many original members are returning. Register under the same university and team name so we can match you against last year's roster.
You can still register. What you lose is the guarantee — from November 2 onward, spots go to whoever registers first, so a new team could take the slot you were holding. Register before the deadline if you know you're coming.
March 30, 2027 — the day before the competition opens. Every registered team receives it at the same time. March 31 is a full research day to build your strategy before the first round on April 1.
Four to six undergraduates. You can adjust your roster after registering — we'll collect final names in January.
The Marshall Student Center on USF's Tampa campus. Room assignments and a full agenda go out to registered teams closer to the event, along with recommended hotel blocks.
No. There is no registration fee to participate.
Members of the top three teams will receive medals. The winning team’s name will also be added to the USF Undergraduate Strategy Competition Champion Cup, which is housed at USF.
Each team member will receive a welcome bag. Teams will also enjoy a welcome reception on March 30, beverages throughout the competition, and a brunch on April 2.