MARADMIN 635/24 - Guiding Principles for the Ethical Use of Artificial Intelligence by Communication Strategy and Operations

Scope

MARADMIN 635/24 sets the guiding principles for the ethical use of artificial intelligence (AI) by the Communication Strategy and Operations (COMMSTRAT) community. The MARADMIN supersedes MARADMIN 602/24 (dated 2024-12-17) with broader wording on the scope of permitted AI use. Principles include national security safeguards, transparency about AI-enhanced content, human oversight, and acknowledgment of AI limitations.

Audience

• COMMSTRAT community. Apply the ethical principles to AI use in execution and evaluation of communication plans and strategies.
• Public affairs officers and Marine Corps communicators. Mandatory adherence to the principles.
• Commanders relying on COMMSTRAT products. Verify products follow the principles.

Guiding principles

1. AI use aligns with the DOD Principles of Information. Released information is truthful and accurate. AI use is authorized to increase editorial efficiency, inform understanding, support legitimate command narratives, and counter misinformation, disinformation, and malinformation.
2. AI use upholds the responsibility to protect information. Adherence to security, accuracy, privacy, and propriety standards. Only DoD-approved AI technologies are authorized.
3. Imagery and video are uniquely truthful and compelling mediums for informing understanding. AI is barred from creating photo-realistic imagery, video, or news stories for public dissemination. AI is authorized for reviewing written products or for corrective techniques applied to visual information per the DoD Visual Information Style Guide. Products adjusted with AI annotate the adjustment in caption and metadata (example, basic color correction done with AI).
4. AI use is authorized to automate processes and enhance understanding of the information environment.
5. COMMSTRAT protects the trust of key publics and the integrity and legitimacy of commands and missions through the content released. Over reliance on AI risks atrophy of creative and technical skills and challenges proficiency in conventional content creation methods.

Connection to higher policy

• OMB Memorandum M-24-10. Advancing Governance, Innovation, and Risk Management for Agency Use of Artificial Intelligence, dated 2024-03-28.
• DON Memorandum on Guidance on the Use of Generative AI and LLM, dated 2023-09-06.
• DoDI 5040.02. DoD Visual Information Style Guide, dated 2018-04-20.

Connection to Marine Corps doctrine

• MARADMIN 602/24. The prior version of these guiding principles. Cancelled by this MARADMIN.
• MCO 5231.4. Marine Corps Data and Artificial Intelligence, dated 2024-03-11.
• MARADMIN 018/26. Enterprise GenAI Availability and Governance.
• MARADMIN 270/25. Available AI and Data Management Training Solutions.

Status

Released 2024-12-30, DTG R 301807Z DEC 24. Originator CMC CD Washington DC. Release authorized by SES April Langwell, Director of Communication, Communication Directorate. Active. Replaces MARADMIN 602/24 with broader wording on the scope of permitted AI use. POC LtCol Kendra N. Motz, Branch Head Occupational Field Support, CD, 703-692-1825, kendra.n.motz.mil@usmc.mil.