Four Italian Air Force crews have been qualified as “Mission Commander”
Friday 1st December, at the Tactical Leadership Programme (TLP) in Albacete (Spain), ended on Flying Course 2023-4, which led to the qualification of “Mission Commander”of four F2000 crews belonging to the 37th, 36th and 4th Wing. Personnel and assets from various nations participated in the course, including Italy, whose aircraft were divided into “Blue Air”, “Red Air” and support assets.
The F2000 aircraft of the “Community Eurofighter”of the Italian Air Force carried out flight activities of a type swing role within diverse scenarios developed by the TLP staff. Support for the training activities was provided by aircraft and personnel of the 51st Wing, the 1st Aircraft Maintenance Department (RMV), the Technical and Operational Support Department for Electronic Warfare (RESTOGE), the 4th Telecommunications and Air Defence and Air Traffic Support Brigade of Borgo Piave (Latina), and the Automated Information Systems Department (RESIA).
During the course, the crews took turns in the position of “Mission Commander”, a figure tasked with coordinating, alongside the other specialty leaders, the various phases of planning a LFE (Large Force Employment), training in the management and employment of multiple assets with specific capabilities, including those from different partner nations (as in the case of the TLP). The objectives of the course are to develop tactical leadership capabilities on the ground and in the air of the “Mission Commanders”and to strengthen the interoperability of the air forces of the NATO.
It TLP, which has been based at the air base of since July 2009 Albacete, is an organisation founded on the basis of a “Memorandum of Understanding”signed by 10 signatory nations: Italy, Spain, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Greece, Germany and Denmark. The mission is to improve the effectiveness of air operations conducted by Allied Forces, promoting the development of both assertive leadership capabilities, and analysis, planning and execution skills, specific to a“Mission Commander. Furthermore, the TLP actively collaborates with NATO on the basis of a “Letter of Agreement”signed by the two organisations.
