2027-1 Artificial Intelligence Fellowship Programs | USMC

R 301615Z SEP 26
MARADMIN 471/26
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC DCI WASHINGTON DC//
SUBJ/2027-1 ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE FELLOWSHIP PROGRAMS//
REF/A/DODI 1322.06/OSD/12OCT16//
REF/B/MCO 1524.1/CMC/20AUG18//
NARR/Reference A is DoD Instruction 1322.06, which covers fellowships, legislative fellowships, internships, scholarships, training with industry, and grants provided to the Department of Defense or its personnel for education and training.
Reference B is MCO 1523.1, the Marine Corps Graduate Education Program.//
POC/C D CLARK/CAPT/Artificial Intelligence Lead, DC I CDAO/703-692-3780/[email protected]//
POC/H YOO/CTR/Senior Consultant, DC I CDAO/571-488-3966/
[email protected]//

GENTEXT/REMARKS/
1. Purpose. This message asks for nominations for the 2027-1 Marine Corps Artificial Intelligence (AI) Fellowship programs.

2. Background. The Deputy Commandant for Information (DC I), Chief Data & AI Office (CDAO), is working with the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) to select Marines for a project-based AI fellowship at NPS. The program aims to make important advances in AI through research projects. Teams include people from different fields who work together to develop new algorithms, technologies, and solutions to problems related to military missions.

3. AI Project. Every application must include an AI use case as its main project. The applicant will develop this project during the fellowship. To help participants start work right away and use their time well, the project must be approved by the applicant's command, must be unclassified, and must be practical to carry out. The applicant must already have access to the necessary data or have a reasonable expectation of getting it.

4. Program Structure. During the program, AI Fellows will be under the operational control of NPS. They should work remotely and are expected to telework every day. Their current command will continue to handle their administrative control.

4.a. At least two people will be selected for each USMC NPS AI Fellowship group.

4.b. The fellowship lasts five months. It includes three temporary additional duty (TAD) trips to the NPS campus in Monterey. The sponsoring unit must pay for these trips.

4.c. The planned dates for the three TAD trips for the next group are: TAD 1 – 11 to 14 January 2027; TAD 2 – 05 to 08 April 2027; TAD 3 – 07 to 10 June 2027.

4.d. Sponsoring commands should expect to pay about $5,000 for TAD costs.

4.e. To graduate successfully, participants must produce a high-quality research paper based on their final project that is suitable for publication.

4.f. Use of the training and service obligations. To make sure the Marine Corps benefits from its investment and that program funds are used responsibly, Marines who are selected for and complete the AI Fellowship must serve an additional 15 months on active duty. At the start of the program, Marines must have at least 20 months of required service remaining. This covers the five-month fellowship and the 15 months of service afterward. Marines who do not have the required 20 months of service remaining when the program begins will not be considered.

4.g. Exceptions to Policy. Marines who want to leave active duty, separate, or retire before completing the required 15 months of service may still submit an Exception to Policy (ETP) request. All ETP requests must go through the Marine's chain of command and be sent to the Manpower Management Office Assignments 3. Each request will be reviewed individually.

5. Application Process.

5.a. Applications must be received no later than 2359 hours Eastern Standard Time (EST) on 30 October 2026. Late applications and incomplete applications will not be accepted.

5.b. Applicants must meet the requirements in paragraph 6 when they submit their applications, regardless of their personal circumstances or deployment status. Anyone who does not meet the requirements is not eligible and must apply for a future group after meeting them.

5.c. Applicants must obtain an endorsement letter signed by the first O-6 commander in their chain of command. The letter must be attached to the application in the online portal.

6. Eligibility Requirements. Marines and civilian employees must meet the following minimum requirements to be considered for the program:

6.a. Applicants must have an unclassified AI use case that their command supports and that can be acted on. The data needed to work on the project must also be identified.

6.b. Rank or grade requirements: active-duty officers from O-1 through O-5; active-duty enlisted Marines from E-4 through E-8; active-duty chief warrant officers from CWO-1 through CWO-5; and civilian employees in GS-5 through GS-14 positions.

6.c. Marines must have an assigned Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) and must have completed it. Marines who have not completed an MOS, or who currently have a student or training MOS (such as 7599), are not eligible.

6.d. Marines must not be marked as ineligible for promotion, and they must not have an approved resignation or retirement date when they apply.

6.e. Applicants must be able to work remotely or telework. They must have a personal computer and an internet connection throughout the program.

7. Application and Selection Process:

7.a. The online application is available at:
https:(slash)(slash)forms.osi.apps.mil/r/KuXD4BgLmg

7.b. The selection committee is expected to meet on or around 04 November 2026. The Deputy Commandant for Information may override the committee's results if mission needs require it.

7.c. Applicants will be told whether they were selected no later than 20 November 2026. Those selected will receive additional instructions about the next steps.

8. Send all questions to Maj Christopher D. Clark, [email protected], 703-692-3780, and/or Hannah Yoo, [email protected], 571-488-3966.

9. Release approved by Lieutenant General J. A. Matos III, Headquarters Marine Corps, Deputy Commandant for Information.//