Pentagon Plans to Shrink Army to Pre-World War II Level

The Pentagon’s proposed 2015 budget could significantly downsize the U.S. Army to pre-World War II levels. Planners are envisaging a smaller and more technologically advanced force numbering somewhere between 440,000 and 450,000 personnel.

Amid increasing tension with Russia over Ukraine, reminiscent of the Cold War, the United States would have its smallest navy since 1915 and its smallest air force in modern times, alongside its smallest army since 1940.

Lawmakers have also fiercely criticised proposals to retire the air force’s successful A-10 attack aircraft which has played an important role protecting American troops on the ground in Iraq and Afghanistan.