US Army Cutting 24,000 Job Openings in Future Force Design

The cuts come as the branch has struggled with recruitment for several years.

Paratroopers from the U.S. Army 173rd Airborne Brigade take part in the Saber Junction 16 military exercises near the Hohenfels Training Area near Grafenwoehr, Germany, on April 12, 2016. Matej Divizna/Getty Images

The U.S. Army has decided to cut about 24,000 positions from its ranks as the service attempts to refocus its warfighting efforts and adjust to ongoing recruiting challenges.

This week, the Army finalized a plan to reduce its force structure by about 5 percent by fiscal year 2029. The plan comes about following extensive consultations between Army leaders and members of Congress over the past year.