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"This is another type of war, new in its intensity, ancient in its origin - war by guerrillas, subversives, insurgents, assassins; war by ambush instead of combat; by infiltration instead of aggression, seeking victory by eroding and exhausting the enemy instead of enraging him.... It requires in those situations where we must encounter it... a whole new kind of strategy, a wholly different kind of force, and therefore a new and wholly different kind of military training.'' - President John F. Kennedy, West Point Commencement Address, 196201
INTRODUCTION
Since 1952, the U.S. Army has conducted various manifestations of formal unconventional warfare training. Guerrilla warfare-inspired exercises under such names as Gobbler Woods and Cherokee Trail operated over the next two decades in the states of West Virginia, Georgia and North and South Carolina.02 By definition, UW consists of "operations and activities that are conducted to enable a resistance movement or insurgency to coerce, disrupt or overthrow a government or occupying power by operating through or with an underground, auxiliary and guerrilla force in a denied area."03 In 1974, what is now known as "Robin Sage," the U.S. Department of Defense's premier UW exercise, held its first training iteration. While Robin Sage has undergone numerous changes and program-of-instruction modifications since its inception, the Special Forces Qualification Course culmination exercise remains a relevant and necessary gate for entry-level U.S. Army Special Forces Soldiers in the 21st century.
This article provides an overview of the Robin Sage CULEX, particularly how the exercise trains and assesses its students in the conduct of the U.S. Army Special Forces' primary mission of UW. This article also links Robin Sage initiatives to the former U.S. Army Special Operations Command Commanding General's vision outlined in Army Special Operations Force's blueprint for future operations entitled, ARSOF 2022. As a bow to the exercise's civilian role players, a few vignettes will demonstrate how these patriotic civilians uniquely test the students' ability to navigate the Human Domain and provide for the overall support of the exercise. Finally, the article offers a snapshot of a Robin Sage cadre team sergeant's duties and responsibilities, as well as some of the challenges and benefits associated with training SF students.
ROBIN SAGE OVERVIEW
The fictional basis of the Robin Sage scenario...