The Marine Corps pushes into 2018 under a cloud of uncertainty.
The Corps’ leadership wants to grow the force, but how to pay for it remains unclear. Marines are still in Afghanistan training, advising and assisting in a classic counterinsurgency fight, but the Corps also feels a growing urgency to prepare for a full-scale conventional fight against a near-peer adversary like Russia or China. The readiness problems of the past five years are more pressing than ever — especially in Marine Corps aviation — but the top brass has been unable to offer a long-term solution.
Here’s a preview of what’s in store — and what’s in flux — for the Marines in 2018.
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Plans to grow the force may be on the back-burner in 2018.
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Marines in Hawaii have been testing the new tropical uniforms.
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The Marine Corps will be adopting the Army’s enhanced 5.56mm rifle round for Marines in combat.
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F-35Bs will deploy with two Marine expeditionary units in 2018.
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The first four new heavy-lift helicopters will be delivered in 2018.
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Troops will have to decide to stay with the traditional military retirement system or move to the new Blended Retirement System.
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Is your doctor part of the new Tricare network?
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The annual pay raise and ongoing military housing reform proposals will once again be a defense budget focus in 2018.
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In what appears to be a bit of deja vu for America’s longest war, U.S. troops will once again be patrolling alongside their Afghan counterparts in far larger numbers and at a more tactical level than the previous years.
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The Islamic State group’s physical caliphate in Iraq and Syria has been destroyed, but the group is not defeated.
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The Marines will select a new combat Assault Amphibious Vehicle to replace the current fleet.
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The workhorse vehicle will remain in use until 2035.
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The Ground/Air Task Oriented Radar has been under development for a decade.
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Lt. Col. Joshua Kissoon was charged subsequent to the death of recruit Raheel Siddiqui.
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Benefits will expand for post-9/11 Purple Heart recipients.
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Each service was directed to provide recommendations on how to streamline training requirements.
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Many battles that have a special place in Corps history will have major anniversaries in 2018.
Tara Copp, Natalie Gross, Karen Jowers, Jeff Schogol, Leo Shane III, Shawn Snow and Todd South contributed to this report.
There are no immediate plans to shoot it down, due to concerns about debris. But steps have been taken to prevent the collection of sensitive information.
A jury found that Gunnery Sgts. Josh Negron and Danny Draher had violated a lawful general order by consuming alcohol while deployed to Iraq.
The United States and the Philippines have announced an expansion of America’s military presence in the Southeast Asian country.
The Pentagon has grown increasingly concerned about the potential for a conflict with China, which would require improved maritime capabilities.
Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough joined a group in Washington for a census survey of homeless veterans.
Rep. Mike Bost takes over as committee chairman after serving as ranking member last year.
Gunnery Sgts. Josh Negron and Danny Draher were acquitted on charges of involuntary manslaughter and negligent homicide.
North Korea for decades has described the United States’ combined military exercises with South Korea as rehearsals for a potential invasion.
On this episode of The Spouse Angle podcast, Army spouse Sergio Rosario Diaz, founder of Soy Súper Papá, shares tips for building a community.
Taiwan's Defense Ministry says 20 Chinese aircraft crossed the central line in the Taiwan Strait that has been an unofficial buffer zone between the sides.
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