Army Reserve Public Affairs Unit Trains on GenAI for Narrative Operations
U.S. Army Reserve Lt. Col. Raymond Ragan led a class on April 9 at Fort Dix, New Jersey, teaching public affairs officers how to use GenAI-the Department of War's bespoke AI platform-to produce news articles faster and counter enemy narratives.
Ragan commands the 361st Theater Public Affairs Support Element, a unit under the 99th Readiness Division that deploys mobile public affairs detachments worldwide. The class covered three core areas: using GenAI to speed article production, effective prompt engineering, and ethical constraints on AI use in military communications.
The Speed Problem in Information War
"We are in a cognitive fight, told through the narrative," Ragan said. "The enemy can lie, and a lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is putting its shoes on."
Public affairs teams face a time crunch. They must fact-check messages, verify operational security, and ensure compliance with policy before publishing. Meanwhile, adversaries move faster. Using generative AI and LLM tools can compress that timeline without cutting corners on accuracy.
The Five-Part Prompt Structure
Ragan demonstrated a structured approach to prompt engineering that produces better results than general requests. The method has five components:
- Persona: Tell GenAI it is a Defense Information School-trained Soldier
- Context: Provide the information you have on the subject
- Ask: State what you want created
- Constraints: Specify style requirements (AP style, no hyphens, no semicolons, for example)
- Interview: Instruct GenAI to ask clarifying questions before generating output
That final step matters. GenAI often identifies gaps in the user's thinking and asks questions the operator hadn't considered.
Accountability Remains With Humans
Ragan emphasized that speed cannot come at the expense of oversight. Leaders remain accountable for every piece of content that leaves the newsroom, regardless of how much GenAI assisted in drafting it.
"Nothing leaves your newsroom that hasn't been personally signed off by someone," Ragan said.
The Department of Defense Instruction 5400.19 sets clear boundaries on GenAI use in public affairs. It requires transparency when AI has been used to generate content and prohibits using AI to bypass human judgment.
Reactions From the Field
Staff Sgt. Tyler Matz, a public affairs specialist with the 326th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment, arrived skeptical. "Before this class, I've always looked at AI as something I don't fully understand and do not want to use," he said. The demonstration changed his view. He now plans to practice with GenAI and incorporate the techniques into training at his unit.
Pfc. Isabella Youngblood appreciated learning both the limits and possibilities. She plans to use GenAI to brainstorm article angles and draft approaches, understanding that it serves as a starting point, not a replacement for her judgment.
The Trajectory of the Tool
Ragan holds two AI patents and works as a chief information officer for a startup developing AI customer service tools. He closed the class with a perspective on where the technology is headed.
"No matter how bad the AI is today, it is the worse AI you will ever use," he said. "In other words, it is always going to get better."
The implication for operations leaders is clear: understanding how to work with these tools now positions teams to adapt as the capabilities improve.
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