Army creates AI career field, pathway for officers to join

The 49B AOC "gives the Army a group of in-house AI and machine learning experts who support its move toward becoming a data-focused, AI-enabled force,” an Army spokesperson said.

By Drew F. Lawrence

December 30, 2025

Listen to this article

0:00

This feature uses an automated voice, which may result in occasional errors in pronunciation, tone, or sentiment.

A soldier assigned to 96th Civil Affairs Battalion takes notes during a briefing about artificial intelligence training during a tabletop exercise at Fort Bragg, N.C. Oct. 27, 2025. (U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Natalia Hernandez)

The Army recently established an artificial intelligence career field that select officers can transfer into starting next month, DefenseScoop has learned. It is also considering the potential for warrant officers to join the new role.

The service created the 49B “area of concentration” for AI and Machine Learning on Oct. 31, according to Maj. Travis Shaw, a spokesperson for the Army. Between Jan. 5 and Feb. 6, 2026 Army officers who already have a few years of service or more can apply for the role through the Voluntary Transfer Incentive Program (VTIP), which is meant to support the Army’s manning needs.

It was unclear how many officers the Army hopes to transfer into the job, but those selected will reclassify by Oct. 1, 2026, Shaw said. The service expects those personnel to have completed their transition into the AI field by the following year.

The effort comes as the Department of Defense continues to boost the use of large language model AI systems for military purposes. Earlier this month, the Pentagon launched GenAI.mil, a hub for commercial AI tools — one that DefenseScoop reported military personnel were meeting with mixed reviews and a bevy of questions about how to use it in their daily operations.

The Army has also been embracing LLMs and AI, including through its Army Artificial Integration Center (AI2C) which was established in 2018 to integrate those systems into the service.

“The 49B [military occupational specialty] gives the Army a group of in-house AI and machine learning experts who support its move toward becoming a data-focused, AI-enabled force,” Shaw said.

Military.com reported in July that the Army was in the process of establishing a new AI-centric field, citing internal service documents. DefenseScoop is the first to report details about the formalized pathway for officers and this newly created Army field.

Any officer who is eligible for the VTIP program can apply for the 49B AOC, Shaw said, but those with “strong technical or academic backgrounds will have an advantage.”

Earlier this year, the Army also established the Robotics Technician MOS, which is meant to give brigade and special forces group-level formations experts in robotics and autonomous systems. Part of that job also includes training and education about AI and machine learning.

In June, the Army directly commissioned several tech executives with artificial intelligence backgrounds from companies such as Meta and Palantir as lieutenant colonels as part of its Executive Innovation Corps (EIC). Those executives serve in the reserves as “senior advisors,” the Army said.

Shaw said that officers selected for transfer into the 49B field will receive training and practical experience on how to use AI and machine learning systems. He added that once their transition is complete, these new AI officers will help establish and manage the service’s AI systems “to support various Army missions.”