Information Sheet
General’
Law no. 331 of 14 November 2000, entitled “the establishment of a professional voluntary military service”, outlined a professional military instrument on an exclusively voluntary basis.
In view of the Nation's ever-increasing commitments, particularly within the UN, EU, and NATO, personnel can be supplemented by voluntary Reserve Forces.
These forces are made up of retired military personnel who, in the presence of adequate financial allocations, are selected for specific, previously identified and defined roles and, after verification of their availability and suitability for service, are recalled for fixed periods (known as “conscription periods”) and integrated into the Armed Forces' structures.
According to current regulations, Officers, Non-Commissioned Officers, Volunteers, and Other Ranks who are on reserve status – meaning they are not bound by a permanent employment contract with the Armed Forces but are still subject to legally regulated service obligations – may form part of the Reserve Forces. Those on absolute retirement are excluded.
At this particular historical juncture, the focus for the Air Force, and other Armed Forces, is primarily on recalling officers. Examples include young Complementary Officers (AUC) who, upon completion of their period of service, did not transition to permanent service, and Officers on Fixed-Term Service (AUFP) who, at the end of their term, did not have the opportunity to regularise their employment status. The Reserve Forces can also include retired Complementary Officers appointed under Royal Decree 819/1932, better known as the “Marconi law”, a regulation now incorporated into Article 674 of the Military Organisation Code (Legislative Decree 15/03/2010 n.66).
The Italian Air Force intends to equip itself with an adequate pool of retired military personnel from which to draw when necessary to supplement active personnel and complete its units, either domestically or abroad. A portion of the pool of Completion Forces, referred to as the ’Selected Reserve,“ will be used to meet requirements for particularly high and specialised professionalism, which is either not found or is rare within the permanent service ranks of the Armed Force or within the pool of retired personnel.
The opportunity to be part of the Selected Reserve is also open to individuals from civilian life, in respect of whom it is possible, according to current regulations, to grant the rank of Auxiliary Officer (Reserve officer) of the Air Force. Upon appointment, such personnel fall into the category of military personnel in reserve and, as such, are liable for recall and deployment in exactly the same way as those who have actually served in the past.
HOW TO BECOME PART OF THE COMPLETION FORCES
Upon the discharge of military personnel, the Corps Commander shall ensure adequate information is provided regarding the possibility and procedures for joining the Reserve Forces, collecting any declarations of availability for recall.
Corps Commanders send declarations of availability for recall and personnel-related documentation to their respective Air Regions/COMAER. Personnel already on leave can submit the declaration of availability for recall to the Department they belonged to or directly to the Air Regions/COMAER, who will collect the documentation.
Subsequently, the Armed Force assesses its operational needs and, if necessary, identifies the most suitable personnel from the Reserve Forces to meet them, arranging for their recall.
The choice naturally falls on those who, in possession of the general requirements anyway, offer professionalism and skills that the Armed Force most needs, compatible with the financial resources available.
Selected Reserve
Personnel who are particularly qualified and professionally specialised, and who declare their availability for recall, may be included in the Selected Reserve. This is a “pool” of personnel into which the Armed Force, at its own discretion, places certain more select elements, but it is, for all intents and purposes, part of the wider pool of personnel available for recall into the Complementary Forces.
Forming this particular “reserve” is useful for the Armed Forces in rationalising personnel recruitment and selection processes, as it is geared towards professional figures who are not necessarily “traditionally” military but are necessary to bring the Organisation up to the standards required by today's commitments.
The Selected Reserve is an integral part of the Italian Air Force's Supplementary Forces and is accessed by reserve officers who have been discharged and appointed under Article 674 of the Military Code of Organisation and Ordering.
APPOINTMENT OF SUPPLEMENTARY OFFICER PURSUANT TO ARTICLE 674 OF THE CODICE DELL'ORDINAMENTO MILITARE (LEGISLATIVE DECREE 15/03/2010 NO. 66)
In accordance with Article 674 of the COM (formerly Royal Decree No. 819 of 1932), citizens who, in possession of particularly high professionalism and skills, are considered capable of providing valuable service to the Armed Forces. Therefore, prior service is not necessary. An assessment of unreserved suitability for military service and possession of the general requirements for appointment as an officer are foreseen; in the event of appointment, initial military training is planned, and, as mentioned, automatic inclusion in the Selected Reserve.
The Italian Air Force is particularly focusing on expertise that is either not present within the Armed Force or, even if present, needs to be “supplemented”.
The FA's interest extends to a variety of professional profiles [1], including, to name a few:
Other professional profiles, whether present in the Air Force or not, can be identified for specific needs within operational, training, and support activities abroad or on national territory.
Staff may only be employed after successfully completing the training period and obtaining medical fitness to work on Out-of-Area Operations (OFCN).
For interested citizens, the’application for appointment To an Official of the Air Force, pursuant to Article 674 of the COM (Legislative Decree 15/03/2010 n.66), it must be duly completed and delivered to the addresses indicated therein.
It is necessary to attach a detailed curriculum vitae, preferably in the so-called common European format, and a copy of a valid identity document. Naturally, it is also necessary to possess the specified requirements below.
This refers to staff who possess, in addition to the required professionalism and qualifications, a broad and consolidated background of work experience and professional maturity consistent with their educational qualifications and age.
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR The payroll AD OFFICIAL PURSUANT TO ARTICLE 674 OF THE MILITARY ORGANISATION CODE AND THE SUBSEQUENT RECALL
For the purpose of conferring the appointment as a Supplementary Officer of the Air Force pursuant to Article 674 of Legislative Decree 15 March 2010, n. 66, interested parties must possess the following requirements:
The Armed Force evaluates the proposed professional qualifications and, at the end of a thorough selection process, the Chief of Staff forwards the selected names to the Ordinary Advancement Committee, which establishes the role and rank to be assigned based on the requirements set out in Table “C” attached to the ministerial decree of 15 November 2004.
Once appointed as a retired Air Force Officer, the individual becomes part of the Air Force's Selected Reserve/Reserve Forces and, to be recalled to service, must meet the requirements for recall into the Reserve Forces, the same ones that apply to retired personnel with prior military service.
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR THE RECALL TO SERVICE OF RESERVE FORCES
Discharged Aeronautical Officers, to be recalled to service, must possess the following requirements (art. 3 D.M. 15 November 2004):
USERS ARE INFORMED THAT ALL MATERIAL AVAILABLE IN THIS SECTION OF THE ITALIAN AIR FORCE WEBSITE IS FOR DISSEMINATION PURPOSES ONLY AND NOT FOR IT REPLACES THE LEGAL AND REGULATORY PROVISIONS WHICH SHOULD BE REFERRED TO FOR ANY FURTHER DETAILS.
Further information and more details regarding the professional characteristics to which The Armed Forces will be periodically announced through this space.
