Green Beret Training Resumes, With a Few Changes in ‘Pineland’
With new precautions in place, the Army launched its first full-scale exercise Friday for Green Beret candidates since a trainee was killed in a case of mistaken identity.
The “Robin Sage” exercises have been held for 40 years. The training takes place in 10 counties, where troops try to help residents of the mythical country of “Pineland” overthrow a repressive government.
The exercise has traditionally drawn on civilian volunteers and law officers to help organize and carry out the training.
In February, 1st Lt. Tallas Tomeny, 31, of Montgomery, Ala., was killed and Sgt. Stephen Phelps was wounded in a confrontation with a Moore County deputy who didn’t know Robin Sage troops were in his area.
This time, Army officials have tried to keep local authorities better informed, said a Ft. Bragg spokeswoman.
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