The Sirrush course students undertook educational visits to the 4th Wing and Pratica di Mare Airport. On the 15th and 16th, the attendees travelled to the 4th Wing in Grosseto. The visit included the 20th O.C.U. Group, where all pilots destined for the Eurofighter line undergo operational transition, specifically the EFA equipment and simulator room, and the IX Fighter Group, which ensures the defence and surveillance of national airspace. Here, it was possible to attend a briefing on air defence and one Scramble simulated two EFA, the Aircraft Efficiency Group, with a corresponding briefing held by specialists in the Aircraft Construction, Avionics and Air Armament categories. Over the two days, the students also met the Commander of the Air Force Dog Centre, Lieutenant Colonel Emanuele Baldini, and attended a demonstration of explosive detection and obedience, as well as a briefing by the 4th Wing's Force Protection Group, with particular reference to the NATO Reaction Forces validation obtained by the Wing in 2009. The Commander of the 4th Wing, Colonel Luca Spuntoni, in welcoming the students, expressed his satisfaction with the choice of the Tuscan Wing as the venue for the Sirrush course visit, and also recalled how the Marshal Students are an important resource for the Armed Force as they represent the backbone of what will be the Air Force of the future. On 17 and 18 July, the activity took place at Pratica di Mare Airport. The simultaneous presence of multiple Departments with different missions and characteristics represented an important opportunity for the students to broaden their knowledge of the Armed Force's various activities. The Flight Experimental Centre was visited, in particular the Ballistics Investigations Group and the Conventional Armament Group of the Armament Department, the Software Management Group, with in-depth study on the information and digital management of the EFA and the Tornado, the CIGA, where the students were able to deepen their understanding of map digitisation processes and their use in the “Fight”, and RACSA, where, after a greeting from Commander Colonel Gennaro Lo Console, it was possible to visit the CTA/DA laboratories. The visits also allowed for a deeper understanding of Re.S.T.O.G.E., where the Cadets were received directly by Commander Colonel Giuseppe Secco. In particular, some important aspects of electronic warfare were discussed, and the Gulfstream G-550 SIGINT-ELINT aircraft was visited. Finally, the Cadets also visited the 85th C/SAR Group and had the opportunity to see the HH3F helicopters first-hand.
A decidedly busy week for the Marshal Cadets of the 15th Normal Course Sirrush, who in a few days will be choosing their categories of belonging.
