took place on Thursday 9 October, in the presence of General of Division Romeo Paternò, Deputy Commander of the Aeronautical Military Schools Command/3rd Air Region, the change of command ceremony Montescuro Air Detachment between Lieutenant Colonel Massimo Alligri, outgoing commander, and the Lieutenant Colonel Fabio D'Alessandro, incoming commander.
The event, which took place in the presence of numerous civil and military authorities – including H.E. the Prefect of Cosenza, Dr. Rosa Maria Padovano, and the Chief of Police, Dr Giuseppe Cannizzaro – it represented a moment of profound continuity and renewed commitment for the Department's staff, which has always been a benchmark for the Air Force in Calabria.
In his farewell speech, the T/Col. Massimo Alligri he drew up an intense and engaging assessment of the three years at the helm of the Detachment: “Commanding the Montescuro Air Detachment has been a privilege and an honour for me. Over these years, I have had the privilege of leading men and women who, with passion and dedication, have made every objective possible, overcoming operational and human challenges together. Representing the Italian Air Force in this splendid and complex land like Calabria – he added – to have proudly carried forward, with a sense of duty, the values of service, professionalism and solidarity that the Armed Force embodies every day.”
It T/Col. Fabio D’Alessandro, at the time of handover, expressed gratitude for the trust placed in him and for the welcome received: “Taking command of the Montescuro Detachment fills me with profound pride and a sense of responsibility. I thank the Higher Authorities for entrusting me with such a highly valued role, which I intend to honour with commitment and a sense of duty. My objective – he/she stressed – will be to continue along the path laid down by my predecessor, consolidating the Detachment's role both within the Armed Force and in the civil and institutional fabric of Calabria. Only through teamwork, cohesion, and mutual trust can we continue to be a concrete asset for the country..”
In his closing speech, the General of Division Romeo Paternò he expressed words of appreciation to the outgoing commander and encouragement to his successor: “Lieutenant Colonel Alligri has masterfully interpreted the role of commander with balance, vision, and deep attention towards the personnel, harmonising institutional objectives with the professional growth and well-being of those who serve the Air Force daily with dedication. To Lieutenant Colonel D’Alessandro – the General continued – my wish is that you continue on this path, facing the challenges of a constantly evolving operational context with determination, and contributing to maintaining the high qualitative and moral standards that distinguish the Montescuro Detachment.”
The ceremony concluded with the traditional signing of the logbook by the commanders, symbolically sealing the handover and the renewed commitment of the Detachment personnel to serving the country and the community.
It Montescuro Air Detachment, ensures the logistical support for the training activities in the area of Force Protection for the special departments of’Italian Air Force and that of the other Armed Forces.
Guarantees the operation of telecommunications equipment, operational IT, and air navigation assistance with its own specialist personnel, providing hospitality for equipment belonging to the Italian Army and the General Command of the Port Authority Corps.
Furthermore, the Meteorological Station located within the Department is included in the observation network of the Italian Air Force Meteorological Service. In compliance with the established standards
from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), it carries out the monitoring of atmospheric variables and ongoing phenomena using qualified personnel and technological measuring instruments.
