Air Brigadier General Diego Sismondini succeeds Major General Riccardo Rinaldi.
Monday 21 October, at the “Mario Ugo Gordesco” military airport in Furbara, the headquarters of the 1st Special Operations Air Brigade (BAOS), The change of command ceremony took place between Major General Riccardo Rinaldi, outgoing, and the Air Brigadier General Diego Sismondini, incoming. The event was presided over by Commander of Air Squad/1st Air Region Air Chief Marshal Alberto Biavati.
It General Rinaldi, in delivering his speech, after having paid tribute to the War Ensigns of the Special Operations Component A respectful thought was given to the fallen, and he did not hide his emotion when recounting his period in command of the BAOS, which began on January 19, 2021. When listing the objectives achieved, he highlighted the contribution of 17th Attack Wing What“with the Air Force Raiders, it fully integrates us into the world of Special Operations and allows us to operate “intra pares” with other national and international Special Forces.”and again, referring to 9th Wing What“It expresses two important capabilities: Special Operations Air Support with EVOS (Special Operations Flightcrews) and the HH-101 helicopter, and Personnel Recovery, guaranteed by STOS (Special Operations Tactical Support) operators.”.
The outgoing Commander also wished to dedicate a special thank you to the men and women who supported him through the challenges of these years; to his Commander, the General Biavati and all’Admiral Pezzutti, Commander of COFS.
It was then the turn of General Sismondini who thanked the higher authorities for the trust placed in him, underlining the complexity of the assigned task and stressing that “The world of Special Operations is constantly evolving. Special Forces operate where all other forces are forced to stop, and for this reason, they receive the toughest of training within the Armed Forces.”.
In his speech, the General Sismondini he thanked his predecessor and said he was ready to take the reins of a Brigade “Perfectly trained, equipped, and ready to act in the country's interest”.
It Air Squad Commander/1st Air Region, General Biavati, in his speech, wished to emphasise that “This moment, the handover, recurs periodically, linking the Air Force of the past to that of the present day with a long historical thread.”It was highlighted that at the end of an evolutionary process, the 1st Air Brigade joined the analogous units of the other Armed Forces synergistically within the Special Forces Department of the Defence (COMOS), bringing specific capabilities and new operational peculiarities typical of aerospace power into the joint sector. General Biavati then addressed all the men and women of the Special Operations Department to remind them that “Without the contribution of those personnel, represented by the departments assembled here today, it would not have been possible to achieve the important goals mentioned today during this ceremony.”The General Biavati he continued to express his esteem and pride in General Rinaldi and his confidence in General Sismondini“I am sure you will be able to work in continuity with your predecessor. – said General Biavati – and to make an important contribution to the pursuit of the Armed Force's objectives, always in service of the country”and finally wishing him future satisfaction in carrying out his duties as Commander of the 1st BAOS.
The 1st Special Operations Air Brigade (BAOS) Ensures the qualification, training, specialisation and readiness of Special Forces (Commandos), and of Special Operations Air Support (S.A.O.S.) Forces and for Personnel Recovery activities, guaranteeing the constant updating, standardisation and interoperability of tactics, techniques and procedures at the Armed Forces, Joint Forces, Interagency and International levels.
Furthermore, it is tasked with outlining the capabilities required to establish a highly specialised, versatile, and operationally ready Joint Special Operation Air Task Group (J.S.O.A.T.G.) for exercises and operations. The 17th Wing Incursori (Commandos) of Furbara and the 9th Wing of Grazzanise are subordinate to the 1st BAOS. The 1st BAOS is hierarchically subordinate to the Air Squadron Command/1st Air Region of Milan.
