FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. — Special Forces candidates will participate in the Robin Sage training exercise between March 27 and April 11, conducting the final test of their qualification course training across 21 North Carolina counties.
The two-week exercise represents the culmination of more than a year of training for aspiring Special Forces soldiers. Students from the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School at Fort Bragg will be placed in an environment of political instability and armed conflict, forcing them to analyze and solve problems in conditions simulating real-world scenarios.
The training’s notional country of Pineland encompasses Alamance, Anson, Cabarrus, Chatham, Cumberland, Davidson, Davie, Guilford, Harnett, Hoke, Lee, Montgomery, Moore, Randolph, Richmond, Robeson, Rowan, Scotland, Stanly, Union and Wake counties.
Military and civilian support personnel, including community volunteers serving as role-players, will participate in and support the exercise. Military service members from Fort Bragg will act as opposing forces and guerrilla fighters. Civilian volunteers are essential to adding realism to the training, according to the school.
All Robin Sage movements and events have been coordinated with public safety officials. Residents may hear blank gunfire and see occasional flares, but controls are in place to ensure no risk to persons or property.
Safety measures implemented for the exercise include written notification to law enforcement agency chiefs in affected counties, briefings for civilian and military participants on contact procedures with law enforcement, and clearly labeled training areas and vehicles. Students will wear distinctive brown armbands when wearing civilian clothes, as determined by instructors.
Residents with concerns should contact local law enforcement, which will immediately contact exercise control officials.
For more information, contact the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School Public Affairs Office at (910) 396-9394 or pao_swcs@socom.mil.
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