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| US Army 'to cut 40,000 troops by the end of 2017' | US Army 'to cut 40,000 troops by the end of 2017' |
| (about 20 hours later) | |
| The US Army is to reduce the size of its force by 40,000 soldiers over the next two years, according to US media. | The US Army is to reduce the size of its force by 40,000 soldiers over the next two years, according to US media. |
| The cost-cutting exercise will also see an additional 17,000 civilian employees cut from the army. | The cost-cutting exercise will also see an additional 17,000 civilian employees cut from the army. |
| The plan, which could be officially announced later this week, would see the US troop level drop to about 450,000 soldiers by the end of 2017. | The plan, which could be officially announced later this week, would see the US troop level drop to about 450,000 soldiers by the end of 2017. |
| The US army had about 570,000 troops at the height of the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. | |
| A drastic cut like this has long been on the table - in early 2014, the then Pentagon chief Chuck Hagel proposed trimming the active-duty Army to 450,000 personnel, after two costly foreign wars. | A drastic cut like this has long been on the table - in early 2014, the then Pentagon chief Chuck Hagel proposed trimming the active-duty Army to 450,000 personnel, after two costly foreign wars. |
| Nearly 10,000 US troops still remain in Afghanistan after plans for a gradual withdrawal were delayed until 2016. | Nearly 10,000 US troops still remain in Afghanistan after plans for a gradual withdrawal were delayed until 2016. |
| In Iraq, there are about 3,500 military personnel helping Iraqi forces take on the Islamic State (IS) group. | In Iraq, there are about 3,500 military personnel helping Iraqi forces take on the Islamic State (IS) group. |
| There are also US troops being used to train Syrian rebels against IS, but it was revealed on Tuesday that only 60 Syrians are in training. | There are also US troops being used to train Syrian rebels against IS, but it was revealed on Tuesday that only 60 Syrians are in training. |
| The planned army staffing levels would be the lowest since 1940, a year before the US entered World War Two, when it employed about 270,000 active-duty soldiers. | The planned army staffing levels would be the lowest since 1940, a year before the US entered World War Two, when it employed about 270,000 active-duty soldiers. |
| A year before the 11 September 2001 attacks, the level was about 480,000. | A year before the 11 September 2001 attacks, the level was about 480,000. |
| The army would have to cut a further 30,000 troops if automatic budget cuts known as sequestration come into effect in October, according to USA Today. | The army would have to cut a further 30,000 troops if automatic budget cuts known as sequestration come into effect in October, according to USA Today. |