On February 20th, at the Sala De Bernardi of Pratica di Mare Airport, the solemn ceremony of Delivery of the crowned Eagles for four officers of the’Italian Air Force who successfully completed the rigorous training programme at the Air Transport Training School (Subject to all answers).
Jurij, Francesca, Gabriele and Riccardo they were celebrated for their commitment, dedication, and skills demonstrated during the training course. The ceremony, presided over by the Air Brigadier General Edi Turco, Chief of Staff of the Air Force Schools Command/3rd Air Force Region, saw the participation of numerous representatives from military institutions, families and friends of the Officers, as well as a delegation from upper secondary schools in the municipality of Pomezia.
In his opening speech, the Colonel Pasquale Savino, The Commander of S.A.T “Military pilots, You are no longer students, from today you are professionals. Your teachers, your instructors, all of us, have guided you by the hand to this point. Now it’s up to you. Those who fly with you will watch you, and judge you. Your Commanders will judge you, your crew will judge you. And they will continue to judge you when you are the Commanders. But do not be intimidated. Always be your own harshest critics. Strict but fair. Only you will know if you have given your all. And there is nothing that matters more, even in the face of failure. If it happens, pick yourselves up and start again from where you were when you fell. Earn the respect of those who will work with you, first, and for you, later. That crested Eagle on your chest will always be there to remind you. You have a great responsibility. You represent the Air Force, each one of us is the Air Force. People will look at you and have confidence in you. Be able to earn that trust every day of your life, with or without a uniform on. It is a heavy burden, but I assure you that you will always be proud of it.
Then taking the floor was the Turkish General, who, addressing the S.A.T.A. staff, spoke words of high praise for the School: “You have tackled the daily challenges not only with the passion and expertise that distinguish you, but also with the necessary and indispensable human and character qualities required to serve as an example to the young officers in training, thereby imparting the fundamental values of our daily work.
The Turkish General then turned to the families of the newly-qualified officers, thanking them for having “I play a crucial role in this journey, instilling in these young Officers the ethical principles that have provided fertile ground for the development of their personality and their best qualities. Finally, the General turned his thoughts to the stars of the day: “Dear patentees, I invite you to take a moment to reflect on the profound significance of the badges you wear on your chests and what they symbolise. These badges represent professionalism, responsibility, courage and altruism; they mean being ready to give your all to achieve assigned objectives and, if necessary, to push your limits to go where others fear to fail. I therefore urge you to continue to persevere with the same determination and willpower that you have shown so far, so that you can face the operational activities that await you in the service of our Country with satisfaction.
The new military pilots will now begin their journey in the operational units, ready to contribute, with their skills and spirit of service, to the defence and protection of our country.
