Pentagon proposes to shrink US army to pre-war levels

The Pentagon plans to scale back the US Army to its lowest levels since 1940, before the American military dramatically expanded after entering World War II. Signaling a shift after more than a decade of ground wars, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel recommended shrinking US forces from 520,000 active duty troops to between 440,000 and 450,000. In a speech outlining the proposed defense budget, Hagel said military leaders no longer plan to “conduct long and large stability operations” after Iraq and Afghanistan. Hagel said it was time to “reset” military spending for a new era, adding the move will “fully reflect” a transition away from a war footing that has been in place for 13 years. A senior defense official said the proposed 13% reduction in the army would be carried out by 2017.

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