Pentagon likely to downsize US Army to pre-WW II level
February 25, 2014  09:11
The Pentagon will reportedly unveil plans to shrink the nation's Army to its smallest size since after the World War (II), in a cost-cutting drive, a BBC report said on Monday. 

An entire class of Air Force attack jets is tipped to be axed under plans, as Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel outlines his 2015 budget. 

He is expected to propose trimming the active-duty Army to between 440,000 and 450,000 personnel, as per BBC. 

The US military is under pressure to downsize after two costly foreign wars. 

The number of active-duty US Army members is already expected to be pared down to 490,000, as the US prepares to end its combat role in Afghanistan later this year. 

If approved by Congress, the move would reduce the army to its lowest levels since 1940, before the American military dramatically expanded after entering World War II. 
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