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Alamance County is one of four Triad counties that will be part of U.S. Special Forces’ Robin Sage training exercise.
Held within multiple North Carolina counties over two weeks as the final test of Special Forces Qualification Course training, the exercises will take place from May 10-23 in Davidson, Forsyth, Randolph and Guilford counties. Students will participate in this exercise before graduating the course and moving on to their first assignments in the Army’s Special Forces.
The participants are students at the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School at Fort Liberty. The exercise’s notional country of Pineland encompasses Avery, Alamance, Anson, Bladen, Brunswick, Cabarrus, Chatham, Columbus, Cumberland, Davidson, Duplin, Guilford, Harnett, Hoke, Lee, Montgomery, Moore, Randolph, Richmond, Robeson, Rowan, Sampson, Scotland, Stanly, Union, and Wake counties in North Carolina, the South Carolina counties of Chesterfield, Dillon and Marlboro, and Carter County in Tennessee.
Throughout the exercise, military and civilian support personnel, as well as community volunteers who serve as auxiliary, will participate in or provide support during each of these exercises. Military service members from units across Fort Liberty will also support the exercise.
These military members act as realistic opposing forces and guerrilla freedom fighters, also known as Pineland’s resistance movement. To add realism of the exercise, civilian volunteers throughout the state act as role-players.
All Robin Sage movements and events have been coordinated with public safety officials throughout the counties hosting the training. Residents may hear blank gunfire and see occasional flares. Controls are in place to ensure there is no risk to the public or property. Residents with concerns should contact local law enforcement officials, who will immediately contact exercise control officials.
For the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School, safety is always the command’s top priority during all training events. The following measures have been implemented:
• Formal written notification to the chiefs of law enforcement agencies in the affected counties, with a follow-up visit from a unit representative.
• All civilian and non-student military participants are briefed on procedures to follow if there is contact with law enforcement officials.
• Students will only wear civilian clothes if the situation warrants, as determined by the instructors, and will wear a distinctive orange or brown armband during these instances.
• Training areas and vehicles used during exercises are clearly labeled.
Questions concerning the exercise should be referred to the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School Public Affairs Office at (910) 432-5703 or by e-mail at pao_swcs@socom.mil. In the event of an emergency, please contact your local law enforcement agency.
Jill Doss-Raines is The Dispatch trending topics and personality profiles senior reporter and is always looking for tips about businesses and entertainment events, secret and new menu items and interesting people in Davidson County. Contact me at jill.doss-raines@the-dispatch.com.
