{"id":36018,"date":"2017-12-26T19:59:51","date_gmt":"2017-12-26T19:59:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/uncategorized\/2017\/12\/26\/new-in-2018-everything-you-need-to-know-heading-into-the-new-year\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T19:43:16","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T19:43:16","slug":"new-in-2018-everything-you-need-to-know-heading-into-the-new-year","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/news\/your-navy\/2017\/12\/26\/new-in-2018-everything-you-need-to-know-heading-into-the-new-year\/","title":{"rendered":"New in 2018: Everything you need to know heading into the new year"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Navy is steaming into 2018 amid a sea of uncertainty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Navy leaders have only just begun to implement the fleet-wide changes prompted by soul searching after catastrophic collisions killed 17 sailors last summer. And naval aviators are still struggling with serious \u2014 at times fatal \u2014 readiness problems. Whether sailors across the force feel safer is likely to top the list of questions for the new year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At home, big changes are coming for how sailors are trained and how their careers are managed. The Navy\u2019s top personnel officials will be pushing ahead with an ambitious slate of reforms that is likely to change the nature of ratings and traditional advancement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2018, many military leaders are wondering whether the Trump administration will make good on its promises to grow the military in general and specifically put the Navy on a path toward a fleet of 355 surface combatants. So far, there\u2019s been no big windfall of cash for Pentagon coffers. But among military leaders, optimism remains for this year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s a rundown on what you can expect in 2018 as sailors brace for change both inside and outside the Navy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n