Central N.C. residents notified of Robin Sage exercises

Prospective Green Berets will engage in a two-week training exercise and the last phase of the Special Forces Qualification Course from Aug. 1-15 in central North Carolina.

The exercise called "Robin Sage," is conducted in or near Alamance, Anson, Cabarrus, Chatham, Davidson, Guilford, Hoke, Montgomery, Moore, Randolph, Richmond, Rowan, Scotland, Stanly and Union counties.

Considering the proximity of the exercise to the public, residents may hear blank gunfire and see occasional flares, neither of which poses risk to persons or property. Residents that encounter a problem should contact local law enforcement officials, who will immediately contact exercise control officials.

During the exercise, 8,500 square miles of central North Carolina becomes the Republic of Pineland. Over 1,000 people consisting of instructors, students, volunteers, civilian authorities and the citizens from the area participate. Local citizens portray natives and auxiliary forces while additional servicemembers role-play opposing and guerrilla forces to depict a realistic unconventional warfare environment.

Realism in Robin Sage is of high importance considering after the course and graduation students are assigned to operational detachments which are active all over the world. Past trainees have come back attesting to the realism they add to the exercise.