The solemn oath, sealed by the traditional passing of the Tricolour Flags, took place in the presence of the Undersecretary of State for Defence, Mr. Giorgio Mulè
Today, Wednesday 13 April, the Oath-Taking and Baptism Ceremony for the students of the 1st class of the Regular Courses of the Institute, the Centauro VI Course, took place at the Aeronautical Academy in Pozzuoli.
80 young cadets, from all regions of Italy and selected from over 6,500 applications for admission, swore allegiance to the Italian Republic and its institutions and formally committed themselves to upholding the ideals of loyalty, courage and sense of duty, fundamental principles of the Armed Forces.
The ceremony took place in the presence of Undersecretary of Defense, On. Giorgio Mulè, of Chief of the Defence Staff, Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone, and of Chief of the Air Staff, General of the Air Force Luca Goretti. Several military and civilian authorities were present, including Under Secretary of State for Defence, Senator Stefania Pucciarelli, i Presidents of the two permanent Defense Committees of the Senate (Senator Roberta Pinotti) and of the Chamber of Deputies (On. Gianluca Rizzo).
It Commander of the Air Force Academy, General Paolo Tarantino, Brigadier of the Air Force, after thanking the authorities and the guests who intervened, addressed the protagonists of this day: “Students of the First Course, you will swear allegiance to the Homeland, in a historical moment that reaffirms the fundamental role of Democratic Institutions and that provides everyone with the opportunity to reflect on the true meaning of being a soldier, of being at the service of the community and of being in defense of its free institutions.“. Before reading the oath formula, he concluded: “Gridate the Your pride and your commitment; it will be a hope for all of us for the future and an encouragement to think that this country can continue to produce a young generation that is clean and animated by precise and unwavering values capable of ensuring a future of peace and prosperity for this world, today more than ever before, complex and uncertain.“.
Following the Oath ceremony, the Course was baptized, a moment in which the banner, through an ideal handover between the sponsors of the previous Centauro Courses, was entrusted to the Course Captain of Centauro VI. The students of Centauro VI thus received, symbolically, the official welcome from their sponsors into the ranks of the Italian Air Force. The two moments of the Oath and the Course Baptism were crowned by the flight of the National Acrobatics Patrol, which spread the traditional tricolor in the sky.
“With your Oath and Baptism, the Air Force welcomes you into its ranks and into its history, which is marked by passion, rectitude, courage, and generosity.“, he stated Chief of the Air Staff, General of the Air Force Luca Goretti, addressing the trainee jurists.“It will be a fascinating, exciting, fantastic adventure, but not without difficult moments and uncertainties. You will be called upon to operate in the emerging fields of aerospace and cyber to carry out the Armed Forces’ mission on a daily basis and with excellence: to ensure defense and security, freedom and well-being, wherever and whenever necessary. Be proper, active Officers, respectful of the principles of living together and proud to be part of an organization that, with almost 100 years of history, is today a modern air force that tackles the present with a compact spirit of teamwork and sacrifice, and looks to the future imagining how to ride the change that awaits us rather than undergo it.“.
Then spoke the Chief of the Defence Staff, Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone, addressing the students of the Course, said: “To you, Alvei and Alunos, the Armed Forces make available the best resources to provide you with the tools necessary to take on the operational environment that will see you as protagonists for the rest of your professional life; aerospace is an absolutely vital dimension for our country, but also very difficult and treacherous.. From your ranks – concluded the Head of SMD – The Commanders will come; the leaders who, in synergy with their colleagues from the other Armed Forces, the other Departments, the Security Agencies and other State Departments, will support the unified action of the country’s system.“.
“The Aeronautical Academy forms the elite of Italy that recognizes the values expressed by our Constitution. This is a certainty for the country, especially at a time when the very We are claiming these values on the field, in international theaters where we are called upon to intervene with our professionalism.“, he stated Undersecretary of Defense, On. Giorgio Mule’, in his speech. Then addressing the students: “You are called to ascend the highest step of the Altare della Patria, to honor the duty of defending Italy and being faithful to the Republic: your profession, unlike all others, is the only one that requires the utmost sacrifice. This is the meaning of the secular vocation of serving the Homeland, by pledging obedience, loyalty, and fidelity that belongs to those who decide to wear the starlets.“.
On this occasion, as is tradition, the “Day in Honor of the Gold Medals for Military Valor of Italy” was also celebrated, during which the General of the Army Corps of the Carabinieri Rosario Aiosa, decorated with the Gold Medal for Military Valor, wished a happy New Year to the young cadets who have just taken their solemn oath.
Some information about the Centauro VI Course:
The course consists of 86 participants – 60 men and 26 women – and specifically: 42 Pilots, 12 of the Weapons Role, 16 of the Air Corps of Intelligence, 8 of the Corps of Commissariat and 8 of the Air Medical Corps. In their academic path, the young cadets are accompanied by 6 foreign students belonging to the Centauro VI Course, from 3 different countries (Libya, Niger and Tunisia), in accordance with the international cooperation agreements in place formalized by the Air Force in the field of training. As per a tradition restored with the sixth generation, which assigns a color to each course, the Centauro VI will have the identifying color of malachite green.
Specifically, these include:
· 37 Pilots (5 women);
· 11 Role of Weapons (3 women);
· 16 Aeronautical Engineering (7 women);
· 8 Police Corps (7 women);
· 8 Air Medical Corps (4 women).
The Air Academy is subordinate to the Command of the Schools of the Air Force/3rd Air Region. It is a military institute of higher studies of a university nature that has the task of providing for the recruitment and training of young people who aspire to become Officers of the Air Force. By attending the Regular Courses of the Academy, one can become Second Lieutenants in the Regular Service of the Air Force, in the Normal Navigational Role (pilots) and in the Normal Role of the Arms, the Air Corps, the Corps of Commissariat Aeronautique and the Air Medical Corps. Furthermore, the Institute also offers Courses for Officer Trainees (Pilots and Complementary and Fixed Navigator) and Second Lieutenants by direct appointment (both in the Normal Role and in the Special Role); finally, in the Study Plan of the Academy, there are courses with a specialized aeronautical focus, for foreign personnel and other Armed Forces.
To watch the video of the ceremony: https://youtu.be/otiUFILy5qs
