The Pritzker Military Library Literature Award for Lifetime Achievement in Military Writing was established to honor a living author for a body of work that has profoundly enriched the public understanding of American military history. The recipient's contributions may be academic, non-fiction, fiction or a combination of the three, and their work should embody the values of the Pritzker Military Library, which focuses on the Citizen Soldier in the preservation of democracy.

Award recipients are selected by a national panel of historians, writers, and other individuals related to the study of American history and heritage, who review nominations submitted by publishers, agents, booksellers, and other professional literary organizations.

The Pritzker Military Library Literature Award includes a medallion, citation, and honorarium of $100,000, sponsored by the Tawani Foundation.