For the young students of the Taurus course, a week dedicated to learning about the Armed Forces' Departments
During the week of 7 to 14 October 2023, the 28 cadets of the Taurus Course at the Air Force Military School “Giulio Douhet” had the opportunity to undertake an introductory visit to Units and Departments of the Italian Air Force located in Northern Italy. This activity, part of the guidance project included in the School's Educational Offer Plan, allows the cadets, at the end of their training, to gather useful information to make a well-informed decision about the path they wish to take for their future, whether in the military or civilian sector.
The “base tour” of the Taurus Course has begun at the 2nd Wing of Rivolto (UD), where the cadets were welcomed by the Commander, Colonel Paolo Rubino. After recounting the history of the longest-standing unit of the Italian Air Force, he described its operational capabilities, chief among which is its primary mission: to serve as the Air Force's Missile Hub for Air Defence both nationally and within NATO, in addition to being the entity that provides the necessary logistical-administrative support to the 313th Aerobatic Training Group. Furthermore, Colonel Rubino wished to inform the students about the other collateral activities undertaken by the 2nd Wing, particularly those in support of the community, such as guaranteeing the necessary operational support for night-time medical flights for the Friuli-Venezia Giulia Regional Transplant Centre, as well as logistical support for the region's air ambulance service.
During their stay at the Friulian department, the Douhet students also had the opportunity to visit the exhibition created by the Wing for the Armed Forces“ Centenary celebrations. At the Church of San Francesco in Udine, the student delegation traced the history and evolution of the Italian Air Force from its establishment to the present day through an exhibition comprising thematic panels and graphic boards. Finally, they were given the chance to ”climb aboard" the cockpit of the F-104 aircraft, use various flight simulator stations, view a G-91 ejection seat and numerous scale aircraft models, as well as wear the new and technologically advanced visor Oculus supplied to the National Aerobatic Team, thanks to which they experienced some of the sensations and emotions felt by the Frecce Tricolori pilots.
The tour of the departments continued on Tuesday 10 October at the 6th Wing “Alfredo Fusco”. During their stay in Ghedi, the pupils of the “Douhet" School”, they were able to gain a better understanding of the Department's specific activities and the duties of their respective Flying Groups, “The Ducks” of the 102nd equipped with the most modern and advanced fighter aircraft, the multi-role F-35 “Lightning II, i “Red Devils” of the 154th, which since last year also includes the Operational Conversion Section for the PA-200 Tornado flight crews, and the “Black Panthers” of the 155th, equipped with Tornado/ECR aircraft and specialising in the suppression and destruction of adversary electromagnetic defences.
Furthermore, the students were able to meet the personnel from the various departments of the Wing, the flight crew, technical-logistical support and maintenance staff, and share with them the highlights of their daily training activities, consequently appreciating their professional technical preparation, dedication, skills and military virtues.
The visit then continued to the Department's exhibition area, featuring historical artefacts, memorabilia, and numerous photographic reproductions that accurately trace the most significant moments in the history of the Brescia airport, and secondly, the highly appreciated Tornado Aircraft Flight Simulator, capable of reproducing all the smallest and most realistic flight details.
Following this, the students had the opportunity to view the very well-stocked static exhibition provided by the “Red Devils”.”, consisting of the ejection seat “Martin Baker”, from the engine in its educational version and the highly sought-after cockpit of the Tornado aircraft, allowing the boys and girls of the Taurus Course to climb “on board” the iconic Tornado aircraft.
The activity concluded with an address by the Commander of the 6th Wing, Colonel Luca Giuseppe Vitaliti, who, after presenting the students with a squadron lithograph, reviewed the unit's mission, tasks, and prospects, before offering some words of encouragement and advice from a senior officer regarding the growth and future of the attendees of the Douhet school.
On Wednesday 11 October, the students of the Taurus Course visited the 3rd Wing of Villafranca (VR), a body dependent on the Logistics Command that represents the Armed Force's projection logistics department, rapidly deployable for Operational and Logistic Support to deployed Forces both within national territory and beyond national borders.
The trainees, welcomed by the Commander of the 3rd Wing, Colonel Paolo Tamburro, during their visit were able to admire the capabilities “expeditionary”of the Air Force, the logistical-operational preparations to supply the components Combat Service Support, Base Servicing, Airport Transit Management, Flight Line OperationsRunway Operations and Cross Servicing), Firefighting, Medical Support, Flight Assistance, Field Replenishment, Force Protection and CBRN Defence.
For the final stage of the “Giro Basi” 2023, the students visited the 15th Wing in Cervia (Ravenna), an organisation with the primary task of recovering crews in troubleSAR – (Search and rescue) as well as contributing in the event of serious disasters to public utility activities such as the search for missing persons at sea or in mountains, the urgent sanitary transport of patients in life-threatening conditions and in bio-containment modes, the rescue of seriously traumatised individuals and support for forest firefighting activities.
Thanks to this experience, the pupils, accompanied by the Douhet School staff, were able to see the Departments with their own eyes and increase their knowledge of the Armed Force, of which they are a part, and whatever path they choose to follow in the future, they will always carry an indelible memory with them.
The “Giulio Douhet” Air Force Military School was inaugurated in Florence in 2006 and is part of the Institute of Air Force Military Sciences (ISMA). The Douhet is a secondary school that runs the final three years of secondary education in both classical and scientific streams, admission to which is via public competition. The aim of the Institute is to foster balanced growth in its students in terms of their humanity, culture, morals, physical fitness, and character, so that they possess the necessary skills to become good citizens and face the challenges of the future, regardless of each student's future life choices.
