For the first time, the “Force Protection Seminar in AM” was organized, to which representatives of the Air Force Departments and industry participated. On Friday, October 12, at the 16th “Force Protection” Squadron in Martina Franca (TA), the 1st Seminar on Force Protection (FP) in the Air Force concluded. A “three-day” of open and constructive discussion between representatives of operational departments and industry convened, initiated by the greeting of Air Division General Gianpaolo Miniscalco, Commander of the Support and Special Forces of Rome, from whom the Squadron depends. The seminar audience included qualified representatives of the Air Force General Staff, the Support and Special Forces Command, and the Commanders of the Force Protection Groups (GPF) of the most important squadrons and departments of the Armed Forces. The participation of representatives from some companies operating in the sector was significant, as they presented the views and proposals from the industry in certain specific areas, such as training using virtual simulation and new systems for integrating surface and aerial assets. A moment of exchange of views in short Regarding the issues related to the 16th Stormo’s sector, which, by its mission and designation, is the Force Protection Division, and which is also the National Training Center for the Armed Forces, this opportunity has also fostered mutual knowledge between the Commanders of the GPF, a prerequisite for gathering impressions and solutions directly from the experts on the ground, and providing a qualified contribution to the review process. Force Protection of the Italian Air Force. An event of unprecedented character, with specialized focus on ongoing activities, topics of common interest and emerging issues: the launch base for subsequent editions of the Seminar as a moment of joint reflection for the generation of ideas with a perspective of the future where the reduction of resources imposes new solutions for security. The 16th Squadron is the Air Rifle Division of the Air Force. Since 2004 it is based at the base in Martina Franca. The 16th Squadron descends from the 6th Group of Aeroplanes that distinguished itself in the battle of Istrana in 1917. Today it is a combat division of the Air Force Command, subordinate to the Support and Special Forces Command, with tasks of protecting forces. Since 2004 it has operated in 37 different international missions, in 18 operational theaters around the world, accumulating over 36 thousand flight hours, of which 25 thousand for the safety of the Air Force aircraft and those on board. From August 2005 to December 2014, the Air Riflemen were present in Afghanistan to ensure the protection of the Herat Base. On April 5, 2015, the War Flag of the 16th “Protection of Forces” Squadron was awarded the Silver Medal for Military Valor by the President of the Republic.
