Marines, civilians, and industry professionals interested in the future of artificial intelligence (AI) within the U.S. Marine Corps should make a note of an important event scheduled for March 9-12, 2026. Originally set for last month, this workshop at Quantico was postponed due to a federal government shutdown, as indicated in a new MARADMIN release issued recently.
The workshop, organized by the Marine Corps’ Service Data Office (SDO), aims to delve deeply into generative AI and the emerging concept of agentic AI. Capt. Christopher Clark, the AI lead at the SDO, emphasized that the inclusion of “agentic AI” in the workshop’s title is a reflection of the technology’s ongoing evolution. This adjustment highlights the necessity to stay ahead in a rapidly changing tech landscape.
The conference aims to explore high-impact applications of both generative and agentic AI across various Marine Corps operations. As outlined in the approved message by Lt. Gen. Melvin “Jerry” Carter, the goal is to encapsulate industry insights, assess potential use cases, and establish a “North Star” for the Marine Corps that maximizes the value of AI integrations. This proactive approach sets the stage for an updated framework for how AI can be effectively harnessed within military operations.
Generative AI, which has rapidly garnered attention in commercial sectors, excels in producing text, images, code, audio, and other forms of media by drawing from prior knowledge and human prompts. Tools like OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Google’s Gemini, and xAI’s Grok have become household names, showcasing the diverse applications of this technology. The military isn’t lagging behind; the Department of Defense (DOD) recently launched GenAI.mil, a platform designed for service members and DOD civilians to explore these advancements. Initial offerings include Google Cloud’s Gemini for Government products, with more expected to follow, reflecting the DOD’s commitment to remaining competitive in the AI space.
Moreover, the Pentagon is acutely aware of the AI developments being made by potential adversaries. In its latest annual report to Congress concerning China’s military advancements, officials noted significant progress in large language models, underscoring the importance of diligence in this tech domain. As the DOD emphasizes the importance of progressive technologies, it is imperative to stay one step ahead in the ongoing global technology race.
“GenAI is advancing rapidly with broad applicability to augment Marines across the spectrum of functional areas and activities,” the recent MARADMIN message states. This rationale forms the basis for much of the interest and urgency surrounding the upcoming workshop.
Agentic AI represents a novel frontier in artificial intelligence, where systems can autonomously pursue goals. By employing generative AI models as a core reasoning engine, these systems are capable of memory usage and accessing external tools. This ability enables AI agents to plan and execute complex, multi-step tasks with limited human intervention, which could revolutionize how military operations are conducted.
Earlier this year, the Marine Corps outlined its AI implementation plan, which called for the development of a comprehensive use case process by March 2026. This initiative aims to identify and prioritize AI applications across all warfighting functions while also addressing potential roadblocks in policy and infrastructure that may hinder innovation and implementation.
The Corps is actively soliciting registration for the workshop from commands, inviting Marines and civilians with demonstrated expertise in the field of artificial intelligence to participate. The registration deadline has been set for February 1, and previous registrations have been maintained, meaning resubmission is unnecessary unless changes are needed.
