MARADMIN 214/26 - Mandatory Completion of the Basic Artificial Intelligence Course

Scope

MARADMIN 214/26 directs the foundational step in the Marine Corps AI education framework. Every Active Duty and Reserve Marine, officer and enlisted, completes the Basic AI Course at the College of Distance Education and Training (CDET) no later than 2026-12-31. The course gives a foundational understanding of artificial intelligence and its relevance to today operating environment. Civilians within Marine Corps departments are encouraged to take the course. Applicability is the Marine Corps Total Force.

Audience

• Marines on Active Duty. Required to complete the course.
• Marines in the Reserve component. Required to complete the course.
• Marines entering service after the MARADMIN release. Complete the course within 12 months of completing entry-level training.
• Civilians in Marine Corps departments. Highly encouraged.
• College of Distance Education and Training (CDET). Hosts the Basic AI Course on the Marine Corps eLearning ecosystem (MCELE).
• Commanding officers. Track completion via MCTFS and the basic training record (BTR) in MOL.
• S-1 staff and admin. Audit unit completion rates.

Course details

• Course code. CDETBAIC01.
• Location. https://www.mcele.usmc.mil. Search for the course code.
• Login. DoW-issued CAC or MCELE username and password.
• Length. Approximately 45 minutes.
• Devices. Government or personal computers, laptops, tablets, smartphones.
• Practical application. Course content links to GenAI.mil, which requires a DoW CAC-equipped computer. Personal devices use commercially available LLM or AI tools for the practical application portion.
• Frequency. One-time training. No annual recurrence.
• Tracking. Completion records to MCTFS and shows in the Marine basic training record (BTR) in MOL at the unit level.

Future capability

Intermediate and Advanced AI courses are in development. Both are scheduled for FY27.

The Basic AI Course supplements existing AI-centric coursework available through MCELE, JKO, Digital University (USAF), GSA, and other federal resources. The new course offerings are not replacements.

Action items

1. Brief every Marine in the unit on the 2026-12-31 deadline.
2. Pull the unit MOL BTR report. Track completion against the deadline.
3. Schedule course time for Marines who do not have ready computer access.
4. Track newly arrived Marines from entry-level training. Confirm the 12 month completion window.
5. Use the MCELE help desk (1-888-435-8762, CDET_MCELE_HELPDESK@usmcu.edu) for technical issues.

Connection to higher policy

• US Marine Corps AI Implementation Plan, approved by the Deputy Commandant for Information, 2025-04-23.

Connection to Marine Corps doctrine

• MARADMIN 270/25. Available AI and Data Management Training Solutions. Companion training catalog.
• MARADMIN 018/26. Enterprise Generative AI Availability and Governance. Companion governance message for GenAI.mil.
• MARADMIN 135/26. FY26-2 AI Fellowship Programs. Advanced training pathway.
• MCO 5231.4. Marine Corps Data and Artificial Intelligence.

Status

Released 2026-05-08, DTG R 071256Z MAY 26. Originator CG TECOM. Release authorized by Lieutenant General Benjamin T. Watson, Deputy Commandant for Training and Education. Applicability is the Total Force. POCs Ryan Bair (CDET, 703-784-6731) and Major Sean P. Morrow (CDET, 703-784-0268). Effective immediately. Completion deadline 2026-12-31.