“SF has been running a similar exercise in central NC since the 1960’s - it’s called “Robin Sage”.”
Uh, no. This is NOT Robin Sage. Not even close. RS is a much smaller, confined, and finite exercise.
Same principle. SF has lost its edge in unconventional warfare due to doing mostly direct action missions in the last few years and the exercise is to sharpen those skills
Anybody else remember the SWIFT STRIKE Exercises? Four divisions as I recall.
Robin Sage - Training Exercise conducted off post in civilian areas - but on a smaller scale. For SF students.
I participated in Robin Sage as a student, G and adviser.
I participated in both the Bold Eagle and Solid Shield Exercises, both multiple state FTXs that had UW portions on civilian lands.
This new FTX is an attempt to exercise the various higher headquarters in UW warfare. Since the War on Terror the higher commands have not been able to focus on UW.
The multi state play area is required to stress the ability to insert, support and extract the lower level operators.
As such the head quarters made a slid show and briefed many civilian agencies that may play a part - or be nearby - that’s where the slides came from.