FORT BRAGG — Prospective Green Berets will engage in a two-week training exercise and the last phase of the Special Forces Qualification Course from Friday to Aug. 8 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.

Robin Sage is conducted eight times annually and has been effectively training students for more than 50 years by the 1st Special Warfare Training Group (Airborne). Robin Sage is designed to provide realistic training in unconventional warfare tactics and techniques. It is the final test of skills learned over the past 12-15 months in the Special Forces Qualification Course.

During the exercise, 8,500 square miles of central North Carolina becomes the Republic of Pineland. More than 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 service members 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.

Safety is the number-one priority for this exercise and the following safety measures have been implemented:

Formal written notification is given to the chiefs of the 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.

Personnel role-playing as Pineland law enforcement officers wear distinctive hats and armbands.

Students are instructed and tested on the exercise's rules of engagement. This includes procedures to follow if there is contact with law enforcement personnel during the exercise.

Students will only wear civilian clothes if the tactical situation warrants, as determined by the instructors and will wear a distinctive armband.

What do you think? Post your comment below.