Rear Admiral Bodhuin met all the entities from the Sicilian Airport involved in the European Union operation. On Monday, 14 January, Rear Admiral Olivier Bodhuin, Deputy Commander of the European Union Naval Force in the South Central Mediterranean (EUNAVFOR Med – operation SOPHIA), visited Sigonella Airport to verify the operational readiness of the deployments located at the Air Force base (AM) within the activities of the European Union (EU). After being welcomed by Colonel Gianluca Chiriatti, Commander of the 41st Wing and Sigonella Airport, Admiral Bodhuin was briefed on the various activities and arrangements made by the Sicilian Airport, with particular reference to national and foreign assets. The Commanders of the individual foreign assets deployed in Sigonella (Luxembourg, Spain, and Poland) illustrated the progress of ongoing operations. On the sidelines of the day's events, Admiral Bodhuin, addressing Colonel Chiriatti, wished to thank the entire Air Force for the support provided to all activities from Sigonella. Furthermore, he stated he was very satisfied with the organisational aspects and what he had observed during the visit, also appreciating the perfect synergy found in all personnel – of various nationalities – involved in operation SOPHIA.
Sigonella is one of those Air Force bases ready to provide support to Operation EUNAVFORMED and host foreign assets (Spain from 13/09/2015, Luxembourg from 30/09/2015, Poland from 01/03/2018, as well as other assets from France and Portugal hosted sporadically). The airport personnel perform support functions to facilitate and ensure all ground operations for the reception and accommodation of crews, from flight line services to meteorological services, air traffic control, infrastructure security, and all those minor but necessary services for the national and international realities of the Sicilian Airport to best undertake the assigned activities. The Sigonella Airport Command, hierarchically subordinate to the Air Force Support and Special Forces Command in Rome, is tasked with providing technical, logistical, administrative, and operational support to the 41st Anti-Submarine Wing, the 41st Flying Group, and the deployed and transiting units at the Air Base of the same name, while simultaneously ensuring the necessary services for the safe and effective conduct of flight activities. Operation SOPHIA, led by Italy, is the first European maritime security military activity operating in the central Mediterranean, with the main objective of combating the illicit trafficking of human beings and is part of the broader EU commitment aimed at ensuring, through a comprehensive and integrated approach, the return of stability and security to Libya. It is also the first example of high integration of European military and civilian components (police forces), capable of operating in a complex international scenario represented by numerous military and civilian, governmental and non-governmental actors.
