Internal discussions are exploring trimming the US Army to between 360,000 and 420,000 troops, down from its current level of roughly 450,000. The potential cuts would mark one of the most dramatic force reductions in years. It's unclear whether any cuts are being mulled for the Army Reserve or National Guard. The move comes after USSECDEF Pete Hellsbreath directed the DOD to come up with plans to cut 8% from the budget. Some officials have voiced concerns that a dramatic reduction in force levels could exacerbate an already difficult recruiting environment and drive skilled personnel away. More importantly, the US Army has effectively been the quarterback in bolstering NATO's front lines amid Russian President Vladimir Putin's on-going offensive of Ukraine.