Army Special Forces Exercise to Span 28 Counties Across NC

Special Forces candidates from the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School will conduct a training operation spanning 24 North Carolina counties and four South Carolina counties between March 27 and April 9. Robin Sage serves as the culminating assessment for the Special Forces Qualification Course.

The operation launches from Fort Bragg, NC. Participants will move through several counties, including Alamance, Chatham, Hoke, Randolph, Richmond, Scotland, and several other counties in North Carolina.

Chesterfield, Dillon, Marlboro, and York counties in South Carolina will also see portions of the training.

"This exercise is the U.S. military's premier unconventional warfare exercise, designed to place candidates in a realistic environment of political instability and armed conflict to test their problem-solving skills," said a spokesperson for the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School, according to WECT.

Soldiers operate within a made-up nation known as "Pineland" throughout the two-week drill. Candidates confront mock settings that mimic upheaval and combat. They must assess each situation and devise solutions under pressure.

Robin Sage caps off more than twelve months of preparation for would-be Special Forces Soldiers. Passing this trial is mandatory before graduation and deployment to units within the Army's Special Forces community.

People living in participating counties might hear simulated gunfire. Flares could appear in the night sky. Local public safety agencies have already coordinated with military planners about all activities.

Safeguards exist to prevent any danger to civilians or their possessions. Training zones and military vehicles will display clear markings. Participants have strict protocols if they encounter police officers.

Anyone with questions should reach out to their local law enforcement agency, which maintains communication with military supervisors running the operation.