Special Forces candidates will conduct a training exercise starting Saturday across 15 North Carolina counties as a final test of their training in the Special Forces Qualification Course.

More than 100 of these students will participate in Robin Sage, the final Special Forces training exercise before students graduate and move to an assignment with one of the U.S. Army's Special Forces units. Robin Sage is a two-week exercise run eight times a year, once for each class of Special Forces candidates.

These candidates are students at the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School, based out of Fort Bragg. The exercise runs through Aug. 3.

The fictional country of Pineland encompasses 15 counties in North Carolina including Alamance, Anson, Cabarrus, Chatham, Davidson, Guilford, Hoke, Montgomery, Moore, Randolph, Richmond, Rowan, Scotland, Stanly and Union counties. Throughout the exercise, Special Forces candidates and Robin Sage role-players not only conduct missions, but also live, eat and sleep in these areas.

All Robin Sage movements and events have been coordinated with public safety officials throughout and within towns and counties hosting the training, an Army news release said.

Residents may hear blank gunfire and see occasional flares. Controls are in place to ensure there is no risk to persons or property. Residents with concerns should contact local law enforcement officials, who will immediately contact exercise control officials.

With the help of civilian authorities and local residents, Robin Sage has been conducted for nearly 50 years. The exercise is run through the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School, and safety is always the command's top priority, the Army said.

The following measures have been implemented:

n Formal written notification to the chiefs of law enforcement agencies in the affected counties, with a follow-up visit from a unit representative.

n All civilian and nonstudent military participants are briefed on procedures to follow if there is contact with law enforcement officials.

n Students will only wear civilian clothes if the situation warrants, as determined by the instructors, and will wear a distinctive armband during these instances. Personnel role-playing as Pineland law enforcement officers wear distinctive hats and armbands, as well.

n Training areas and vehicles used during exercises are clearly labeled.

Many of those measures resulted from a tragic misunderstanding in 2003 when a Moore County sheriff's deputy on routine patrol near Robbins shot and killed one student soldier and wounded another. The deputy was unware the soldiers and a civilian role-player were taking part in a military training exercise.

About 200 military service members from units across Fort Bragg will also support the exercise. These military members act as realistic opposing forces and guerrilla freedom fighters, also known as Pineland's resistance movement. These troops play a critical role in the training exercise.

To add realism of the exercise, civilian volunteers throughout the state act as role-players, the Army news release said.

Robin Sage is the U.S. military's premiere unconventional warfare exercise and the final test of more than a year's worth of training for aspiring Special Forces Soldiers. Candidates are placed in an environment of political instability characterized by armed conflict forces soldiers to exercise analytical problem-solving to meet the challenges of this "real world" training, the release said.

The mission of these soldiers is to infiltrate areas in small groups, training guerilla forces to independently and effectively use tactic force to liberate the country by teaching guerrillas to communicate, move, fight and provide medical aid.

"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 Army said in the release.