Special Operations Command Pacific is conducting its inaugural artificial intelligence (AI) boot camp this week, aiming to enhance understanding and integration of AI tools among its leadership. This initiative reflects a growing recognition of AI’s potential in military operations, as highlighted by the organization’s commander, Maj. Gen. Jeffrey VanAntwerp, during a speech at the AFCEA TechNet Indo-Pacific conference in Hawaii.
Overcoming Resistance to AI Adoption
Maj. Gen. VanAntwerp acknowledged that the military’s historical reluctance to embrace AI stems from deeply ingrained habits. Many personnel have spent decades developing established workflows, leading to a natural resistance toward change. He stated, “The reasons why AI adoption has been difficult for us is because we’re creatures of habit. A lot of us have been at this for 20 or 30 years, you’ve developed workflows and processes, and we fear change.” He further emphasized that trust in new technologies is essential, noting, “At first, potentially, we don’t even trust it. We don’t trust the results.”
The command’s leadership recognizes that adaptation to AI is not optional. Commander Adm. Samuel Paparo has mandated that INDOPACOM become an AI-enabled command, reinforcing the necessity of integrating advanced technologies into military strategy.
Four-Day AI Training Session
The boot camp will span four days, bringing together directors and deputy directors to learn from experts about utilizing large language models across various security classifications, including top secret and unclassified environments. Maj. Gen. VanAntwerp expressed optimism that the infectious enthusiasm of the experts would motivate participants to act as catalysts for broader AI adoption within the headquarters.
He emphasized that AI should not replace human decision-making but rather serve as a powerful tool to assist in the process. “AI won’t be the decision maker,” he clarified. “It will aid decision making.”
In addition to AI, the command is focusing on the integration of robotics and autonomous systems within a resilient network to enhance operational effectiveness. “The combination of those three things — robotics, autonomy, and resilient networks — we think are absolutely critical for us,” VanAntwerp stated. He highlighted the importance of these technologies in disrupting adversaries’ targeting capabilities, describing this disruption as “the oxygen that we require to operate in this theater.”
Furthermore, he pointed out the lessons to be learned from how countries like China are leveraging emerging technologies to process vast amounts of data. “The really important part… is all that information you gather is great, but it’s meaningless if you can’t transport it to somewhere where you can then make a coherent picture out of it,” he explained. VanAntwerp stressed the need for a resilient network to ensure that collected information translates into actionable insights.
As the boot camp progresses, the leadership at Special Operations Command Pacific aims to lay the groundwork for a future where AI and advanced technologies play a pivotal role in strategic military operations across the Indo-Pacific region.
