Special Forces candidates head to the backwoods of North Carolina

[RYAN ROBERTSON]

FOLKS LIVING IN PARTS OF NORTH CAROLINA, SOUTH CAROLINA AND TENNESSEE
ARE GOING TO BE HEARING PLENTY OF GUNFIRE AND MAY SEE SOME FLARES
FALLING FROM THE SKY FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS. DON’T WORRY, THOUGH,
THERE’S NO ACTUAL COMBAT….JUST THE NEXT CROP OF U.S. ARMY SPECIAL
FORCES CANDIDATES TRYING TO EARN THEIR GREEN BERETS.
THE ROBIN SAGE EXERCISE IS THE FINAL TEST FOR SOLDIERS IN THE SPECIAL
FORCES QUALIFIATIONS COURSE AT THE U.S. ARMY JFK SPECIAL WARFARE CENTER
AND SCHOOL AT FORT LIBERTY–FORMERLY FORT BRAGG–IN NORTH CAROLINA. IT’S
BASICALLY FINALS WEEK…ONLY INSTEAD OF ALL NIGHT STUDY SESSIONS…
THE APPROXIMATELY 100 OR SO SPECIAL FORCES STUDENTS WILL PARTICIPATE IN A
SIMULATION TO HELP GUERILLA FIGHTERS IN THEIR FICTIOUS WAR AGAINST THE
OPPRESSIVE POWERS OF PINELAND.
THE SPECIAL FORCES CANDIDATES CAN’T DO THE EXERCISE ALONE, THOUGH… SO
THE ARMY HIRES PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THE AREA TO PLAY THE PARTS OF GUERILLA
FIGHTERS AND OPPOSITION FORCES.
THE FUTURE GREEN BERETS ARE TASKED WITH TRAINING AND ADVISING THE
GUERILLA FIGHTERS IN WEAPONS HANDLING, COMMUNICATIONS, FIELD MEDICINE
AND DEMOLITION….THE IDEA BEHIND THE EXERCISE IS FOR THE SOLDIERS TO EQUIP
THE GUERILLAS WITH EVERYTHING THEY NEED TO FIGHT FOR THEIR
INDEPENDENCE.
ROBIN SAGE IS CONSIDERED ONE OF THE U-S MILITARY’S PREMIERE
UNCONVENTIONAL WARFARE EXERCISES. IT SPANS MORE THAN TWO DOZEN
COUNTIES IN NORTH CAROLINA, AND DIPS A LITTLE INTO SOUTH CAROLINA AND
TENNESSEE AS WELL. THE ARMY SAYS IT WORKS DILIGENTLY TO COORDINATE THE
EXERCISE WITH LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AND RESIDENTS…THAT WAY NO ONE IS
CAUGHT UNAWARE AND WONDERING WHY A 100 OR SO SPECIAL OPERATORS ARE
TRAIPSING THROUGH THE NORTH CAROLINA BACK COUNTRY WITH A COUPLE
HUNDRED GUERILLA FIGHTERS.
ONCE THE ROBIN SAGE IS COMPLETE, AND IF THE SPECIAL FORCES CANDIDATES
PROVE TO THEIR EVALUATORS THEY HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO GRADUATE…THE
CANDIDATES WILL EARN THEIR COVETED BERETS AND BE ASSIGNED TO ONE OF THE
ARMY’S SPECIAL FORCES UNITS.
THIS ROUND OF ROBIN SAGE EXERCISES IS SCHEDULED TO RUN THROUGH
FEBRUARY 1ST.