The latest reports show that, as of March, there are 479,172 active-duty soldiers, 154 fewer than the post-Cold War drawdown in 1999, Army.com reports. This means the US currently has the smallest force since 1940, when the number of soldiers on active duty stood at 269,023.
The ongoing reduction is said to be the result of budget cutbacks and Obama Administration troop number reductions.
“Without congressional or Defense Department intervention, the drawdown will continue for two more years, with endstrength hitting 460,000 soldiers in 2017, and 450,000 in 2018,” Army.com reported.
There are still 548,000 soldiers in reserve, bringing the total number to 1,027,196, but under the drawdown, that number will be reduced to 980,000 by the end of 2018.
