Exercise Robin Sage

Robin Sage is a training exercise conducted by the John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center at Fort Bragg, North Carolina [http://www.marquette.edu/rotc/army/training/robin1.shtml robin1.shtml ] ] for US Special Forces candidates. It is the last phase of the 18-30 months of training that soldiers complete before they receive their "Green Berets".

"Pineland"

For more than half a century, around a third of North Carolina has served as the fictional "People's Republic of Pineland" for the 28-day [ [http://www.training.sfahq.com/article_final_exam_green_berets_02_10_27.htm Final Exam for Green Berets ] ] exercise which cumulates with the 19-day [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/ops/robin-sage.htm Robin Sage ] ] "Robin Sage". Pineland is located in the Alamance, Anson, Cabarrus, Chatham, Davidson, Guilford, Hoke, Montgomery, Moore, Randolph, Richmond, Rowan, Scotland, Stanly and Union counties of North Carolina [http://news.soc.mil/advisories/Press-Media%20Releases/2007/June/070619-01.html 070619-01 PRESS RELEASE: Special Forces exercise ‘Robin Sage’ to begin ] ] .

The training

During the unconventional warfare (UW) exercise, the Special Forces students are required to apply and exercise the skills taught in the Special Forces Qualification Course Officer and noncommissioned officer students are formed into Special Forces Operational Detachment-A teams and evaluated on their conduct of their mission in Pineland.

This exercise involves approximately 100 Special Forces students, 100 counter-insurgent personnel (OPFOR), 200 guerrilla personnel, 40 auxiliary personnel, and 50 cadre. The local communities of North Carolina also participate in the exercise by role playing as citizens of Pineland [ [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/news/2005/03/mil-050311-usmc04.htm Marines train alongside soldiers at Robin Sage exercise ] ] . The exercise is conducted in approximately 50,000 square miles of North Carolina and all participating personnel, except the auxiliary, are Active Military Duty. Students are isolated for 5 days and issued an operations order. They begin the intense planning process and study material required to execute their detachment's mission during the exercise [http://www.ghostrecon.net/html/gr2-3-robin-sage.htm Ghost Recon - Robin Sage SFQC ] ] .

On the last day of isolation the detachment presents its plan to the battalion command and staff. This plan will explain how the commander intends to execute the mission. The next day, the students make an airborne infiltration into the country of Pineland. They then make contact with the guerrilla forces and begin "Robin Sage". Students will then begin their task of training, advising, and assisting the guerrillas. The training will educate the guerrillas in various specialties, including weapons, communications, medical, and demolitions. The training is designed to enable the guerrillas to begin liberating their country from oppression.

Goals of the course

The following lessons are goals of Robin Sage.
*Troop leading procedures
*Mission planning: (Warning Orders (WARNOs), Patrol Orders, Frag Orders (FRAGOs))
*Small unit tactics: (Raids, ambushes, recons)
*Air operations (Drop Zones (DZ), Landing Zones (LZ), message pick-up)
*Basic field craft: (survival, expedient navigation, etc..)
*Demolitions
*Medical skills
*Communications
*Weapons
*Common skill tasks

Deaths

On 23 February 2002, during an off-post traffic stop, Moore County Deputy Randall Butler shot to death 1st Lieutenant Tomeny, 31, and wounded Staff Sergeant Phelps, 25, during a Robin Sage exercise. [http://www.training.sfahq.com/article_conflicting_version_02_11_1.htm Conflicting version of Robin Sage Incident ] ] The two soldiers had presumed that Butler was aware of the Robin Sage training, and when stopped, attempted to bribe him with "Pineland Money", which looks similar to Monopoly Money. The deputy used his entire supply of chemical spray on Tomeny, who backpedaled and screamed, shaking his head. Phelps continued to think that the deputy was part of the play of the exercise and grabbed the bag holding his machine gun, running for cover. Butler proceeded to shoot Tomeny once, turn, and shoot the fleeing Phelps twice after telling him to show his hands. Prior to the accident, there was confidence within the military establishment that the law enforcement community of North Carolina was well familiarized with the exercise. Unfortunately, the lack of common sense and training within the remote and rural North Carolina Law Enforcement community contributed greatly to this senseless murder. Butler's lack of common sense, panic and reason is obvious. [http://news.soc.mil/advisories/Press-Media%20Releases/2007/June/070619-01.html Press releases] are now issued before an exercise commences and law enforcement officers who participate in the training are now required to wear a distinctive uniform. (On October 15, 2002, the television show "JAG", starring Catherine Bell and David James Elliot aired Episode 162, "Dangerous Game", loosely based on this incident.)

References

* [http://www.usnews.com/usnews/news/articles/070610/18forces.htm U.S. News & World Report June 18, 2007]
* [http://www.special-operations-technology.com/print_article.cfm?DocID=1507 Special Warfare. January 1, 2006. Transforming Robin Sage] .

External links

* [http://www.fayobserver.com/article?id=263976 Pinelanders get thanks for their roles] June 3 2007