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Fay Observer: Robin Sage contractors may lose jobs
Posted April 17, 2011 at 20:08 in clips
By April Dudash
Staff writer
The Fayetteville Observer
Hundreds of civilian role-players have spent years helping set the stage for Robin Sage, the final exam for Special Forces candidates that takes place eight times a year.
But for the first time in the history of the major training exercise, Fort Bragg’s JFK Special Warfare Center and School is starting to embed new Special Forces students as role-players into Robin Sage.
During the most recent March exercise, 40 Special Forces candidates who just began the Special Forces Qualification Course got to experience the final phase of their training firsthand.
Special Warfare Center and School spokesman Maj. Dave Butler wrote, “By integrating new students into Robin Sage, we will help them see what ‘right’ looks like before they are exposed to the concepts in the classroom.”
However, employees of NEK Advanced Securities Group, the global company that hires civilian role-players as independent contractors for Robin Sage, have voiced concerns that their contracted civilians may lose their positions as a result.
The 408 role-players NEK contracts for each round of Robin Sage come from all over the state, with a majority found in the Asheboro area. From military retirees and teachers to out-of-work laborers and firefighters, they represent every age and background. They help create the fictitious country of Pineland that Special Forces candidates have to maneuver through.
However, half of those 408 role-playing positions may be filled by Special Forces students starting July 1.
NEK program manager Butch Young said he worries about the replacement of civilian role-players with students who may not know the area or the exercise.
Each civilian role-player is paid a daily rate during Robin Sage, but if civilian positions are cut, Young said he fears a potential backlash from the participating community. Locals who have allowed the Army to use their land and equipment in the past may revoke those invitations now that they’re not receiving any form of compensation, he said.
NEK hopes to transfer those people to other contract work if their Robin Sage roles are cut.
“We have a great rapport with those people out there, and we don’t want to screw that up,” Young said.
He said NEK helps the government pump $1.2 million back into the region’s economy during each exercise.
The contract responsible for organizing the materials, communications and role-players needed for the exercise will soon be up for bid, and NEK, which is owned and operated by retired Special Forces soldiers, is once again vying for the job.
NEK has held the Robin Sage contract since 2007, and it expires June 30. Raytheon, the prime contractor, had put a statement of work up for bid, but it was retracted this week to be reexamined.
Young said NEK will submit paperwork to continue its work with Special Forces.
NEK focuses on information operations, advanced skills and tactics training, and intelligence support. Headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colo., NEK has an operations facility in Fayetteville and employees based at Camp Mackall.