Irregular warfare infiltrates West Virginia this month

CAMP DAWSON, W.Va. — The West Virginia National Guard, in cooperation with the Joint Special Operations University and the Irregular Warfare Center, is hosting about 300 special operations troops and support staff for the Ridge Runner Irregular Warfare Exercise at Camp Dawson in Preston County through June 16.

Brian Abraham

The Department of Defense (DOD) defines irregular warfare as “a violent struggle among state and non-state actors for legitimacy and influence over the relevant populations.”

Active duty soldiers from the Texas-based 5/19th Special Forces Group, 92nd Civil Affairs, 6th PSYOPS, and the USMC will train alongside special operations forces from the United Kingdom, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland. Observers from Canada, Romania, Georgia, Moldova, Qatar, Hungary, Germany, Finland, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, France, Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom Special Air Service will also participate.

The operation is a validation exercise for the soldiers of the Texas-based 5/19th Special Forces. If the unit is validated in the exercise, they’ll deploy to the Baltic region soon to conduct a similar operation.

Brig. Gen. William Crane

Justice administration Chief of Staff Brian Abraham said this is another opportunity to continue spreading that message to another group of soldiers following successful training at Fola earlier this spring.

“The governor understands the opportunities that West Virginia presents to the world to be able to come and train here; we have a very unique topography here,” Abraham told MetroNews at Camp Dawson Wednesday. “We’ve got other areas of the state of West Virginia besides the Camp Dawson area—down at the Fola Mine in Clay and Nicholas counties.”

The Ridge Runner exercise takes place in the fictional country of Vandalia (West Virginia), which has been broken up similarly to the Soviet Union in the 1990s. Now, due to economic and energy concerns, “bad actors” are trying to reunify the country. Soldiers, most of whom are not in uniform, must work with local officials and residents to maintain independence.

Soldiers must pursue the objective while at the same time determining the alliances of those in the area of operations.

“So, if a bad actor decides to invade another country, there’s a resistance force that’s already in place that can hopefully get them to take their own territory back,” state Adjutant General Bill Crane said.

Ridge Runner Director Major Michael Susick said West Virginia is the perfect place to conduct the exercise to challenge the soldiers. The terrain, communications, and connectivity conditions in the state can be very similar to the conditions modern-day soldiers on the battlefield face.

“It’s very tough to make communications with very limited GPS capability, so you’re seeing more of the peer-to-peer type capability where it’s just natural here in West Virginia,” Susick said. “So, it’s very challenging for the teams to operate, and it’s very challenging for commands to control those elements.”

Military officials have land agreements to operate on 500,000 acres, role players, and some help from local officials.

The soldiers begin operations Thursday in six “lanes” across the state. “Lanes” have been established in Huntington, Charleston, Beckley, Bluefield, Morgantown, and a Nicholas/Randolph “lane.”

The operational regions will be permissive, or free for forces to interact with the population and move freely, semi-permissive, or limited movement and interactions, and non-permissive, meaning it is not safe to move freely or interact with the population.

“They’ll go through a fictitious customs or port of entry, and then from there they’ll establish a link up with a special operations liaison, an officer or non-commissioned officer (NCO),” Susick said. “So, it’s very similar to what we do when we move overseas with the embassy.”

In addition to military operations, the soldiers will work with local leaders to solve area problems and gain the confidence of the local population. The exercise is a realistic vehicle for the special forces to work with conventional forces and local populations.

“Strengthening that mechanism on how they can inform the populace, so if hostilities do occur, how can people get out or how can they hunker down to protect their citizens,” Susick said.

An after-action review will be held on June 16.





More News

News
As Yeager Airport's Wildlife Patrol Dog turns 7, a new dog comes in to learn from him
The new Border Collie is getting acclimated and receiving training for his soon-to-be role.
March 28, 2024 - 6:30 pm
News
Dunlow Volunteer Fire Department closes
The Dunlow VFD did not have a valid workers compensation insurance policy.
March 28, 2024 - 6:20 pm
News
PEIA examines financial effects of new law meant to ensure local pharmacies get fair reimbursements
Gov. Jim Justice signed Senate Bill 453 into law this week.
March 28, 2024 - 4:11 pm
News
Barbour County woman sentenced after death case sent back to circuit court by Supreme Court
Carli Reed sentenced on voluntary manslaughter conviction.
March 28, 2024 - 4:11 pm