FY26 Artificial Intelligence Fellowship Programs

1. Purpose. This purpose of this message is to
solicit nominations for the FY26 Marine Corps Artificial
Intelligence (AI) Fellowship programs.  
2. Background. The Deputy Commandant for Information (DC I),
Service Data Office (SDO), in partnership with the Department
of the Airforce (DAF), is sending Marines to the Massachusetts
Institute of Technology (MIT) for a project-based AI fellowship.
The program is designed to make fundamental advancements in AI
to improve operations while addressing broader progress in the
field of AI.  The cohorts are comprised of interdisciplinary teams,
including Marines and Airmen, who collaborate across disparate
fields of AI to create new algorithms, technologies, and solutions.
Based on a desire to increase throughput of Marines in such
programs, the SDO asked the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) to
create a parallel program, pilot tested with an initial cohort
starting in August of 2025. The successful pilot has led to the
continuation of a parallel program at NPS in Monterey, CA. 
3. Use Case Identification.  All applications will include an AI
use case as the primary project that will be worked on throughout
the fellowship. To ensure candidates can begin work immediately
and maximize the productivity of their time in the program, this
use case must be endorsed by the command, unclassified, actionable,
and the applicant must have access to, or reasonably assume they
will be able to obtain the necessary data.  
4. Program Structure. AI Fellows will be under operational control
to the DAF AI Accelerator or NPS for the duration of the program and
will be expected to telework daily.   
4.a. Two individuals will be selected to participate in each Phantom
cohort, and no more than six will be selected to participate in each
USMC NPS AI Fellowship cohort 
4.b. Both fellowships last 5 months and include three unit funded
temporary additional duty (TAD) trips to the main MIT campus in
Boston or the NPS Campus in Monterey.   
4.c. Dates for the TAD trips for the upcoming cohort are as follows:
TAD 1: 12 to 16 January 2026;
TAD 2: 6 to 10 April 2026;
TAD 3: 1 to 5 June 2026. 
4.d. There are no costs for sponsoring commands associated with
participation other than approximately $5k to cover TAD.  Marines
who are selected to participate in the program should remain remote
throughout its duration. 
4.e. As a requirement for successful graduation, participants must
produce a publishable, quality research paper based on their
capstone project. For more information, please visit the official
Phantom program website at:  https:(slash) (slash)aia.mit.edu.  
5. Application Process.  
5.a. Applications must be received NLT 26 October 2025.  Requests
to submit late or incomplete applications will not be accepted.   
5.b. Applicants must meet program requirements in accordance with
paragraph 6 at the time of submission, regardless of their personal
situation or deployment status.  Applicants who do not meet the
requirements are ineligible and must apply to a future cohort once
the requirements are met.   
5.c. Applicants must inform their chain of command of their intent
to apply and are required to submit a command endorsement letter
signed by the first O-6 commander in their chain of command via
the application portal. Applicants missing this endorsement letter
will not be considered. 
5.d. Candidates may indicate whether they wish to be considered for
either or both programs.   
6. Eligibility Requirements. Marines and civilians must meet the
following minimum eligibility requirements for consideration for
this program: 
6.a. An unclassified command sponsored, actionable AI use case, with
associated data identified, for solutioning by the selectee in
the program. 
6.b. Rank/Grade: O1 - O4; E4 - E7; CWO 1-5; GS-3 through 13. 
6.c. Demonstrated experience of self-directing and exceling in
a semi-unstructured environment. 
6.d. Be remote/telework capable (personal computer and internet
connection is required throughout). 
7. Submission/Selection Process: 
7.a. Online application portal will close at 2359 (EST) on or about
26 October 2025.The application is located at: https:(slash) (slash)
forms.osi.apps.mil/r/XG7fkQPhWc. 
7.b. The board will convene on or about 31 October 2025. The
applications will include input from the DAF-AIA and NPS members
as applicable. If there is a tie, the relevant applications will
be briefed to the Service Data Officer to adjudicate the tie.
The Deputy Commandant for Information reserves the right to modify
board results based on mission requirements. 
7.c. Applicants will be notified of selection/non-selection NLT 5
December 2025. The selected applicants will receive additional
coordinating instructions. 
8. Direct all questions to MARADMIN POCs. 
9. Release authorized by Lieutenant General M. G. Carter,
Headquarters Marine Corps, Deputy Commandant for Information.