- published: 24 Feb 2014
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Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel has unveiled plans to shrink the US Army to its smallest size since before World War Two. Outlining a budget plan, the Pentagon chief proposed trimming the active-duty Army to between 440,000 and 450,000 personnel - from 520,000 currently. Cold War-era Air Force planes - the A-10 attack jet fleet and the U-2 spy plane - will also be retired. The US military is under pressure to downsize after two costly foreign wars. Referring to budget pressures, Mr Hagel said at the Pentagon on Monday: "The reality of reduced resources and a changing strategic environment requires us to prioritize and make difficult choices." The number of active-duty US Army members was already expected to be pared down to 490,000, as the US prepares to end its combat role in Afghanistan later this year. 'Tough choices' Noting the current US Army strength, Mr Hagel added: "Since we are no longer sizing the force for prolonged stability operations, an Army of this size is larger than required to meet the demands of our defense strategy." The proposed Army staffing levels would be the lowest since before the US entered World War Two in 1940, when 267,000 active-duty members were employed. By the end of that conflict, 8.2 million active-duty US Army members were employed. The figure peaked at 1.6 million both during the Korean War, in 1952, and during the Vietnam War, in 1968. The number was 482,000 in 2000, a year before the attacks of 11 September 2001. After those attacks, the force peaked at 566,000 in 2010. According to the Wall Street Journal, Mr Hagel will also recommend reducing housing allowances and other benefits, limiting pay raises and increasing healthcare premiums. However, the military cost-cutting drive could well cause ructions on Capitol Hill, which is gearing up for November's midterm elections. The plan is said to take into account government cutbacks as well as US President Barack Obama's pledge to end land wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. "You have to always keep your institution prepared, but you can't carry a large land-war defence department when there is no large land war," a senior Pentagon official told the New York Times. Under the proposed cuts, the military would still be able to defeat any adversary, unnamed officials told that newspaper, but be too small to engage in protracted foreign occupations. This month Army Chief of Staff General Ray Odierno said an Army force of 420,000 would be too small in a time of such uncertain national security. "I'm on the record saying, as a minimum, I think our end strength needs to be around 450,000," he said TAGS: abc breaking news, bbc, bbc football, bbc iplayer, bbc news, bbc news america, bbc persian, bbc sport, bbc weather, bbc world news, breaking celebrity news, breaking election news, breaking late news, breaking local news, breaking music news, breaking news, breaking news alerts, breaking news canada, breaking news headlines, breaking news in atlanta, breaking news in nigeria, breaking news india, breaking news pensacola florida, breaking news plane crash, breaking news story, breaking sports news, business expensive news home media world, christian world news, cnn, cnn breaking news, cnn money, cnn news, cnn news breaking news, cnn news world, detroit breaking news, global news, headline, headline news, health care technology news, hot latest global news, internet technology news, las vegas breaking news, latest breaking news, latest celebrity news, latest information technology news, latest music news, latest news, latest news headlines, latest news update, latest sports news, live breaking news, local breaking news, local news today, msn breaking news, nbc breaking news, nbc world news, news of the world, news report us world, news today news, news updated daily, solar technology news, sports news today, technology news, the latest news, today news, us news and world, us news and world report, us news and world report magazine, us news and world report web site, us news world report, world news, world news daily, world news headlines