The ceremony, presided over by the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, was held at the Guidonia military airport.
This morning, on the Guidonia military airport, the ceremony took place for the awarding of honours to War Flags, Departments and personnel of the Air Force who contributed to’Operation “Eagle Omnia”, the air bridge that in August 2021 ensured the safe humanitarian evacuation of thousands of people from Afghanistan.
An extraordinary operation that saw the Armed Force at the forefront with aircraft, crews and support personnel, contributing to making Italy one of the European countries that evacuated the largest number of Afghan citizens, a good 4,890 – including 1,301 women and 1,453 children – out of a total of 5,011 people who left Afghanistan in the two weeks after mid-August 2021.
The event, which was held inside the 60th Wing's hangar, was presided over by Chief of the Air Staff, Air Squad General Luca Goretti, and was attended by numerous civil, military, and religious authorities.
The ceremony opened with the Chief of Staff of the Air Force awarding the Gold Medals for Aeronautical Valor to the War Flags of the 46th Air Brigade of Pisa, the 9th Wing of Grazzanise, the 14th Wing of Pratica di Mare, the 16th Wing of Martina Franca, and the 17th Wing of Furbara, for the extraordinary commitment shown in their respective areas of operation during the operation.
It was then the turn of the awarding of Silver Medals for Aeronautical Merit to the Aerospace Operations Command, the Mobility and Support Forces Command, and to Major General of the Air Force Alessandro De Lorenzo and Colonel Federico Merola, Commanders respectively of the 46th Air Brigade and the 14th Wing during the Operation.
The ceremony continued with the awarding of Silver Medals for Aeronautic Valour to the crews of the 46th Air Brigade of Pisa and the 14th Wing of Pratica di Mare, and personnel from the 16th “Air riflemen” Wing and the 17th “Commandos” Wing, for the courage, effectiveness, and particular skill with which they faced unprecedented and highly dangerous situations on this occasion. A Bronze Medal for Aeronautic Valour was also awarded to AM personnel employed at COVI, and Bronze Medals for Aeronautic Merit were awarded to personnel employed in various sectors of the Armed Force for the valuable coordination work carried out from the homeland in favour of the units engaged in the airbridge.
“It was one of the largest humanitarian airlifts ever put in place, certainly the largest in which Italy has ever participated.“, he said General S.A. Goretti in his speech.“Today, it is above all an anniversary that features those who, in those hectic moments in Afghan territory, showed courage, selflessness and skill. You have brought honour not only to your respective units, whose flags surround you today as silent witnesses to the oath of allegiance sworn years ago, but to the entire Armed Force, demonstrating your ability to face the most unexpected and complex challenges, firm in our principles, steadfast in the awareness of our capabilities, serene in the certainty of our values, which is what our history teaches us and what those who preceded us in the now century-old aeronautical history have shown us. The Chief of Staff concluded, “To all of you, and to the entire Armed Force, which has been able to ensure support and backing to the frontline units on this occasion, goes my thanks and my sincere closeness. Be proud to be part of an Armed Force that, facing new challenges and a speed of change never experienced before, knows how to be concretely projected towards the development and deployment of innovative and cross-cutting technologies in service of, and useful to, the community.
The Aerospace Operations Command In Poggio Renatico, a 24/7 “operational” planning cell has been established since the start of the Operation to support, with air plans continuously updated based on the evolving situation in Afghanistan, the transport requirements put forward by the Joint Operations Command (COVI). In Kabul initially, with the 46th Air Brigade's C-130Js to Al Salem, Kuwait, always safely, protected by Air Fusiliers from the 9th and 16th Wings and Raiders from the 17th Wing; then from Kuwait to Rome, with the 14th Wing's KC-767As. On board the aircraft was healthcare personnel and, to support the operation, also personnel from the 3rd Wing and other units of the Air Force Logistics Command Support Service. The Air Force's commitment was not limited solely to the airlift, but also saw personnel and assets engaged in providing the necessary logistical support for overland transport to and from the (civilian and military) facilities specifically identified for quarantine periods for all Afghan citizens arriving in Italy, as well as ensuring several hundred beds at the Air Force detachments in Montescuro and Piacenza, where it was possible to isolate Afghan civilian personnel before their integration into the “Reception and Integration System – Extraordinary Reception Centres” (SAI-CAS) programme managed by the Ministry of the Interior.
