Robin Sage Special Forces exercise held this week in multiple North Carolina counties

Rachael Riley, Fayetteville Observer
·4 min read

Another round of candidates will try to earn a green beret as their final test for the Special Forces Qualifications Course kicks off in the area and elsewhere this week.

The exercise, known as Robin Sage, is held in multiple North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee counties from Sept. 15-28, a news release from the John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School stated.

The training exercise is an “unconventional warfare exercise” and the final test for soldiers going through the Special Forces Qualifications Course at the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School based out of Fort Liberty before determining if they move on to an assignment with one of the Army's Special Forces units.

“Candidates are placed in a (simulated) environment of political instability characterized by armed conflict, forcing soldiers to analyze and solve problems to meet the challenges of this ‘real-world’ training,” the news release stated.

Special Forces candidates assigned to the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School move through a water obstacle , May 27, 2023, during the final phase of field training known as Robin Sage near Hoffman, North Carolina.
Special Forces candidates assigned to the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School move through a water obstacle , May 27, 2023, during the final phase of field training known as Robin Sage near Hoffman, North Carolina.

Throughout the exercise, military and civilian personnel and community volunteers, who serve as auxiliary actors, will provide support and act as role players “to provide realism to the exercise,” the news release stated.

Military service members from units across Fort Liberty will also act as opposing forces and guerrilla freedom fighters.

“We appreciate the support and consideration the citizens of North Carolina extend to the Soldiers participating in the exercise and thank them for their understanding of any inconveniences the training may cause,”  the news release stated.

Where the exercise will be held

The news release stated the training nearby will be held in Bladen, Cumberland, Harnett, Hoke, Lee, Moore and Robeson counties.

Other North Carolina counties where the training will be held are Avery, Alamance, Anson, Brunswick, Cabarrus, Chatham, Columbus, Davidson, Duplin, Guilford, Montgomery, Randolph, Richmond, Rowan, Sampson, Scotland, Stanly, Union and Wake counties.

The South Carolina counties are Chesterfield, Dillon and Marlboro counties, while Carter County in Tennessee was also named as a location.

Special Forces candidates assigned to the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School move through a water obstacle May 27, 2023, during the final phase of field training known as Robin Sage near Hoffman, North Carolina.
Special Forces candidates assigned to the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School move through a water obstacle May 27, 2023, during the final phase of field training known as Robin Sage near Hoffman, North Carolina.

Safety precautions

Residents may hear blank gunfire and see occasional flares, the news release stated.

All of the exercise’s movements are coordinated with public safety officials within the towns and counties hosting the training, according to the Special Warfare Center and School news release.

“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 news release stated.

On Feb. 23, 2002, a Moore County deputy who said he was not notified about the exercise shot two Robin Sage participants dressed in civilian clothing.  Army First Lt. Tallas Tomeny was killed and Sgt. Stephen Phelps was injured.

Tomeny’s estate settled a lawsuit against the Moore County Sheriff's Office in October 2009. The terms of the settlement were not disclosed.

According to the suit, the soldiers believed the deputy was an actor taking part in the Robin Sage exercise, and the deputy, unaware of the exercise, shot Tomeny during a struggle and shot Phelps as he tried to flee.

Organizers of the latest exercise said controls are in place to ensure there is no risk to persons or property.

The safety protocols include notifying local law enforcement agencies, clearly marking training areas and vehicles, and students, who are dressed om civilian clothes,

will wear “distinctive orange or brown armbands.”

Special Forces candidates assigned to the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School walk through a wooded area May 27, 2023, during the final phase of field training known as Robin Sage in central North Carolina.
Special Forces candidates assigned to the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School walk through a wooded area May 27, 2023, during the final phase of field training known as Robin Sage in central North Carolina.

Robin Sage’s origins

According to the “Pineland Underground” podcast released in March 2022 by the John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School, Robin Sage is held four times a year.

The unconventional warfare exercise was first called Robin Sage in 1974, according to the Army, and replaced earlier exercises known as Operation Snowdrop, Cherokee Trail and Gobbler’s Woods.

Col. Stuart Farris, previous chief of staff of the JFK Special Warfare Center, said the name comes from Col. Jerry Sage and was part of the first exercise held in Robbins in 1952. Sage spent time in the Office of Strategic Services and was later commanded the 10th Special Forces Group.

He also served during World War II and was a prisoner of war held by the Nazis, podcast cohost Maj. Bobby Tuttle said.

Farris said that generations of North Carolina families have volunteered their time and land for the exercise as they portray guerilla fighters.

Tuttle said Special Forces candidates put into practice what they’ve learned in their 18 months of training in order to work with simulated indigenous populations who are the resistance force.

Staff writer Rachael Riley can be reached at rriley@fayobserver.com or 910-486-3528.

This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Special Forces Robin Sage exercise to be held across North Carolina