US could reduce army by further 15 per cent: Hagel

The US Army could be reduced by a further 15 percent, with cuts to the numbers of full-time active soldiers as well as reserves, Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel said today.

He said a review found that priority missions could be handled with between 420,000 and 450,000 active troops -- compared to the current 490,000 envisaged after cuts -- and between 490,000 and 530,000 reserves, rather than 555,000.