United States Marine Corps Artificial Intelligence Strategy ()

Key Chapter Title List

1. Preface
2. Overview
3. Problem Statement
4. Scope of Application
5. Vision
6. Guiding Principles
7. Strategic Objectives
8. AI Mission Alignment
9. AI-Competent Workforce
10. AI Deployment at Scale
11. AI Governance
12. Partnerships and Collaboration
13. Implementation Plan
14. Conclusion

Document Introduction

Against the backdrop of intensifying strategic competition between China and the United States, Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become a core enabling factor for decision advantage on the modern battlefield. The U.S. Marine Corps' release of the "Artificial Intelligence Strategy" (2024) marks a significant milestone in its digital modernization journey. Building on the demonstrated combat value of AI in accelerating decision-making speed, as revealed in the Ukraine war, this strategy focuses on the requirements of Expeditionary Advanced Base Operations (EABO) and Littoral Operations in a Contested Environment (LOCE). It aims to achieve a leap in decision-making efficiency from minutes to seconds through the integration of AI technologies.

The strategy identifies five core challenges facing the Marine Corps in the application of AI: misalignment between AI and mission objectives, widening AI capability gaps, difficulties in scaling deployment from the enterprise level to the tactical edge, the stifling of innovation by traditional governance frameworks, and barriers to collaboration and partnerships. Data management, recognized as the most critical influencing factor for current AI applications, is woven throughout the entire strategic implementation framework, highlighting its foundational role in AI enablement.

Based on the "Fighting Smart" digital modernization concept, the strategy establishes five core objectives: AI Mission Alignment, AI-Competent Workforce, AI Deployment at Scale, AI Governance, and Partnerships and Collaboration. Each objective is supported by specific, actionable sub-objectives, forming a complete logical chain from top-level design to ground-level execution. For example, it aims to achieve precise alignment of AI with operational tasks by integrating top-down guidance with bottom-up innovative feedback; and to build a comprehensive, multi-level AI capability system through emergent training and long-term workforce modernization reforms.

Regarding the implementation path, the strategy emphasizes adherence to the Department of Defense's Responsible Artificial Intelligence (RAI) principles and the establishment of data management standards that are Visible, Accessible, Understandable, Linked, Trustworthy, Interoperable, and Secure (VAULTIS). Simultaneously, it proposes building an integrated infrastructure from the enterprise level to the tactical edge, incorporating cybersecurity protections, and developing full lifecycle management specifications for AI models and algorithms to address technical risks such as model drift and hallucinations.

Cross-domain collaboration is a crucial supporting dimension of the strategy. It explicitly calls for strengthening cooperation with joint forces, allied partners, academia, and industry to maximize the utilization of existing mature capabilities and accelerate AI innovation and application. Through mechanisms such as establishing an AI Task Group (AITG) and building a use case repository, the strategy ensures effective translation from planning to execution, thereby securing decisive information advantage for the Marine Corps in competition and conflict.

This strategy is not only a key initiative for the Marine Corps to adapt to the future character of warfare but also reflects the U.S. military's overall approach to the military application of AI. It provides an important reference for understanding the digital transformation of modern military forces.