FORT BENNING — A post official says Fort Benning has sharply reduced its growth numbers.

Instead of 28,000 new residents moving into the Columbus-Phenix City area as a result of base realignment, the new figure is about 22,000.

The Columbus Ledger-Enquirer reports (http://bit.ly/oHUF25) that George Steuber, Fort Benning's deputy garrison commander, says the post is bracing for cuts to its work force. He says there are plans to oppose cuts that would slash 15 percent from the civilian payroll.

There are more than 5,500 civilians now working on the post, which trains infantry soldiers for combat but is now in the final stages of relocating the U.S. Army Armor School from Fort Knox, Ky.

Steuber says there will be about 1,700 fewer soldiers and 600 fewer government civilians than had been estimated.