Why Military Veterans Are Uniquely Equipped to Master Generative AI

After joining the Australian Army straight out of school and being deployed on operations just nine months after enlisting, understanding and interpreting orders quickly became second nature. During my military career, and later as I transitioned into private security contracting, I relied on clear communication and structured frameworks to navigate complex tasks.

Fast-forward to today, nearly six years after leaving the security and risk sphere contracting in Afghanistan, I’ve realised these same skills are invaluable in a very different arena: interacting with generative AI tools.

About two years ago, when ChatGPT was first released, my WhatsApp was flooded with AI-generated poems—entertaining, sure, but it was clear to me that this tool could offer so much more. I knew immediately that generative AI had the potential to transform the future of work, so I made it a priority to learn how to use it effectively.

Drawing on SMEAC, a framework I’d relied on countless times in the military, I applied the same principles to crafting AI prompts. By breaking my questions into clear, logical components, I unlocked the true potential of the tool, turning broad concepts into precise and actionable insights.

Below i am going to explore how SMEAC principles can enhance your ability to communicate with AI. Whether you’re a tech enthusiast, a military veteran, or someone curious about the intersection of leadership and innovation, you’ll discover how a disciplined approach can unlock the true potential of generative AI.

1. Structured Approach to Communication

SMEAC Framework: SMEAC breaks down tasks into five sections: Situation, Mission, Execution, Administration and Logistics, and Command and Signals.

AI Prompting: Similarly, structuring prompts ensures AI understands your request, improving accuracy and relevance.

Example in Action: When preparing an AI prompt, structure it like a SMEAC order:

• Situation: "We need to analyse quarterly sales performance for 2023 to identify trends in product demand across regions."
• Mission: "Provide a summary of notable sales trends and anomalies by region."
• Execution: "Use bullet points to present the findings, focusing on regions with significant deviations from average performance."
• Administration: "Include a comparison to previous quarters and reference the attached dataset for accuracy."
• Command: "Use a professional tone suitable for a business presentation."By structuring the prompt with SMEAC, you ensure the AI understands the task comprehensively, resulting in precise and actionable insights.

This method ensures your AI interaction is as clear and actionable as a military operation plan.

2. Clarity and Conciseness

Military Orders: Direct, jargon-free communication prevents errors and ensures everyone understands their role.

AI Interaction: Clear and concise prompts minimise ambiguity, helping the AI focus on your specific needs.

Real-World Application:

• Vague Prompt: "Analyse this data."
• Clear Prompt: "Using the attached sales data, identify trends in product demand over the past year and summarise your findings in 150 words."

Reducing unnecessary complexity and being specific about the task enables the AI to deliver sharper, more relevant insights. This approach mirrors military communication, where brevity and clarity are essential for success.

3. Providing Context (Situation)

SMEAC 'Situation': Context enables soldiers to understand the mission’s environment and constraints.

AI Prompting: Similarly, providing background information ensures AI generates tailored and relevant responses.

Illustration: Instead of vaguely asking, "Analyse this sales data," provide more context: "We’re examining quarterly sales performance for 2023 to identify trends in product demand across regions. Can you analyse the attached dataset and highlight any notable patterns or anomalies by region?"

By offering situational context—such as the purpose of the analysis and relevant constraints—you give the AI a clear starting point, just as situational awareness informs military operations.

4. Defining Clear Objectives (Mission)

SMEAC 'Mission': Outlines the purpose and goals of the operation.

AI Prompting: A clear objective helps the AI understand what you want it to achieve.

Example: Prompt: "Provide a summary of the key trends in the attached sales data, focusing on product demand by region. Highlight any regions with significant deviations from the average performance."

This specific goal directs the AI to produce a focused and relevant analysis.

5. Detailed Instructions (Execution)

SMEAC 'Execution': Specifies how the mission will be carried out.

AI Prompting: Detailed instructions refine the AI’s output, ensuring it aligns with your expectations.

Example: Prompt: "Using the attached sales data, create a regional performance analysis. Include a breakdown of top-performing and underperforming regions, and present the findings in a table with key metrics such as growth percentage, average sales, and variance from the previous quarter."

These detailed instructions guide the AI to deliver a comprehensive and actionable analysis, much like precise military orders ensure mission success.

6. Addressing Support Needs (Administration and Logistics)

SMEAC 'Administration and Logistics': Covers resources and support requirements.

AI Prompting: Referencing specific resources or constraints helps the AI generate tailored responses.

Example: Prompt: "Analyse the attached sales data, referencing Q2 2023 reports for comparison. Highlight any discrepancies and include relevant metrics like average revenue and market share. Use the company’s regional classification system for consistency."

Including references to specific resources or constraints ensures the AI provides accurate and relevant information, mirroring how logistical support underpins successful operations.

7. Communication Protocols (Command and Signals)

SMEAC 'Command and Signals': Clarifies communication methods and expectations.

AI Prompting: Specifying tone, format, or audience ensures alignment with your goals.

Example: Prompt: "Prepare an executive summary of the sales data analysis for a leadership meeting. Use a formal tone and include bullet points for clarity, focusing on key trends and actionable insights."

Defining the communication style ensures the AI delivers outputs that are consistent with your professional standards, much like clear protocols facilitate effective military communication.

Future Implications of SMEAC in AI Prompting

Looking ahead, as users explore the many ways to interact with generative AI, frameworks like SMEAC can serve as a guide to make these interactions more structured, efficient, and effective.

Some might argue that frameworks like SMEAC stifle creativity. However, this couldn’t be further from the truth. SMEAC provides a foundation, not a constraint. By giving AI clear guidelines, you free it to focus on generating the most relevant, nuanced responses. Structure doesn’t limit creativity—it enhances it by eliminating guesswork and allowing room for innovation within clear boundaries.

Ethical Considerations

As AI becomes more integrated into decision-making, structured frameworks like SMEAC emphasise accountability. Clear prompts reduce the risk of biased or misleading outputs, ensuring AI is a responsible and ethical tool.?

Generative AI tools have the potential to revolutionise how we work, communicate, and solve problems—however, their effectiveness hinges on the clarity and structure of our interactions. For military veterans, the SMEAC framework—designed for precise, actionable communication—provides a natural advantage in mastering this skill.

Drawing from my experiences in the military, private security contracting, and now AI, it’s clear that structured frameworks like SMEAC can transform AI prompting into a powerful tool for driving meaningful results. By breaking down tasks into manageable components—Situation, Mission, Execution, Administration, and Command—you can guide AI to produce precise, relevant, and actionable outputs.

Why This Matters

In today’s data-driven world, the ability to extract useful insights from AI is invaluable. SMEAC principles help bridge the gap between human intent and AI capabilities, ensuring that even complex tasks like data analysis are approached with clarity and focus. For example:

• Providing context ensures the AI understands the problem environment.
• Setting clear objectives focuses the AI on what matters most.
• Giving detailed instructions ensures actionable and accurate results.

These techniques don’t just enhance efficiency—they empower users to fully leverage AI’s capabilities while maintaining accountability and precision.

Anticipating the Future of AI

As AI becomes increasingly integrated into decision-making and operations, frameworks like SMEAC will become essential for individuals and organisations alike. They provide a roadmap for:

• Improved Efficiency: Structured prompts reduce errors and ambiguity, saving time and resources.
• Enhanced Creativity: Far from limiting creativity, SMEAC lays a foundation that enables AI to deliver nuanced, innovative outputs within clear guidelines.
• Ethical Use: Structured frameworks emphasise accountability, helping prevent biased or misleading responses and ensuring AI remains a responsible tool.

Whether you’re a military veteran, a business professional, or simply curious about AI, adopting SMEAC principles can transform how you interact with generative AI. By applying the discipline and structure honed in the military to the dynamic possibilities of AI, you can unlock the full potential of this transformative technology.

As someone who’s transitioned from interpreting orders in the military, I can confidently say this structure isn’t just a skill—it’s a necessity in the world of generative AI. If you’re ready to take your AI interactions to the next level, start with a framework like SMEAC. It’s a game-changer that ensures every prompt leads to actionable insights and meaningful results.