Robin Sage which constitutes the last phase of the Special Forces Q School for prospective Soldiers, will begin today and run through Sept. 19 across central North Carolina.
The exercise is conducted in or near Alamance, Anson, Cabarrus, Chatham, Davidson, Guilford, Hoke, Montgomery, Moore, Randolph, Richmond, Rowan, Scotland, Stanly and Union counties.
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.
Robin Sage had its beginnings in 1952, when Col. Aaron Bank noticed the need for “real world” training. Originally, Robin Sage was known as the Cherokee Trail and Gobbler's Woods because the first exercise was played out in the Chattahoochee National Forest of Georgia. As the exercise expanded it moved to National Forests in North Carolina, Pigsah and Uwharrie.
The name changed to Robin Sage when moved closer to Robbins, N.C., and to pay tribute to a former Army Col. Jerry Sage, a WWII veteran and OSS officer who taught unconventional war tactics.
Seven years of war have brought many changes to the U.S. Army Special Forces SFQC (Special Forces Qualification Course / Q School).
This is the year long process by which Soldiers are turned into Special Forces operators. The major changes are that the trainees going through Robin Sage, are getting more realistic training for the specific part of the world they are going to (usually Iraq or Afghanistan).
Trainees now get their first language training in the SFQC. Previously, you went to language school after SFQC. Many still do, but they already have some working knowledge of the language.
Tactical training is much more realistic, and loud. Before 2005, trainees fired only about a hundred rounds of live ammo during SFQC, now they fire at least 3,400. There's much more tactical training. Much greater use is made of computer simulators and wargames. Most of this stuff didn't exist before 2001. The sims provide more training, more realistically, and in less time. There's more training on cultures, and how to play cultural quirks.
The old training system (which was phased out three years ago) went on for 63 weeks, although there was a lot more time spent waiting around (for aircraft, special equipment, whatever). Now the training is more intense, and there's much less wasted time. The current training is kept as close to real operations as possible.
The new system works. The Special Forces have been able to expand the size of the force. Many believed that would be impossible, if high standards were also maintained.
Currently there are five active duty Special Forces Groups and Two National Guard Special Forces Groups. Each special forces group has a small headquarters unit and three Special Forces battalions. Each Special Forces battalion has a small headquarters (known as a C detachment), three operational companies (known as a B detachment) and one support company. Each operational company has six Operational Detachment Alpha (ODA) of twelve men. Total strength of a Special Forces company is 83 men.
Total strength of a Special Forces Group is about 1200 troops, when at full strength. Currently, strength is at 111 percent.
Starting next year, and for each of the next five years, an additional battalion will be added to the current force of fifteen battalions.
Students attending the Special Forces Qualification Course here will conduct a two-week training exercise across a 15-county area in central North Carolina beginning March 23.
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.
Conducted by the 1st Special Warfare Training Group here, Robin Sage is designed to provide realistic training in unconventional warfare tactics and techniques. It is the final training exercise before graduation and assignment to one of the operational Special Forces groups.
Robin Sage has been conducted for more than 40 years with the help of civilian authorities and the citizens of central North Carolina.
To add realism of the exercise, auxiliary forces consisting of civilian volunteers throughout the state will act as role-players during the training. Participation by these auxiliary members are crucial to the success of the Special Forces training, and anecdotal evidence gathered from past trainees attests to the realism they add to the exercise.
The students conduct the unconventional warfare training scenario in the notional country of Pineland. Approximately 200 servicemembers will support the exercise from units across the military to include Fort Bragg. These military members will provide realistic opposing and guerrilla forces the students will encounter in the country of Pineland.
Robin Sage which constitutes the last phase of the Special Forces Q School for prospective Soldiers, will begin today and run through Sept. 19 across central North Carolina.
