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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel 'to downsize US Army' | Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel 'to downsize US Army' |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The Pentagon is reportedly about to unveil plans to shrink the nation's army to its smallest size since before World War Two, in a cost-cutting drive. | |
| An entire class of Air Force attack jets is tipped to be axed under the 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. | |
| The US military is under pressure to downsize after two costly foreign wars. | 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. | 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. |
| 'Tough choices' | 'Tough choices' |
| "We have to face the realities of our time," Pentagon press secretary Navy Rear Admiral John Kirby told the Associated Press news agency. | "We have to face the realities of our time," Pentagon press secretary Navy Rear Admiral John Kirby told the Associated Press news agency. |
| "We must be pragmatic, we can't escape tough choices. He and the [military service] chiefs are willing to make those choices." | "We must be pragmatic, we can't escape tough choices. He and the [military service] chiefs are willing to make those choices." |
| 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. | |
| Benefits to be cut? | |
| According to the Wall Street Journal, Mr Hagel will also recommend reducing housing allowances and other benefits, limiting pay raises and increasing healthcare premiums. | 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. | 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. | "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. | 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. |