The Commander of the Air Force Schools / 3rd Air Region, Air Chief Marshal Silvano Frigerio, was present at the ceremony.
Monday 15 April, at the Sala Teatro del’Air Force Academy a Pozzuoli, the individual swearing-in ceremony took place 73 Second Lieutenants from Course Borea VI. The young Officers – 34 Pilots, 8 from the Weapons Branch, 16 from the Aeronautical Engineering Corps, 8 from the Aeronautical Commissariat Corps, and 7 from the Aeronautical Medical Corps – have sworn their oath. loyalty to the Italian Republic individually, before the Institution's Flag, in the presence of the Deputy Commander of the Air Force Academy, Colonel Roberto Leo, and the Commander of the Courses, Colonel Antonio Corrado.
To give the ceremony even more prestige, the presence of Commander of the Air Force Schools / 3rd Air Region, Air Marshal Silvano Frigerio, Godfather of the Borea IV Course and of the Air Force General Giovanni Mocci, Godfather of the Borea III Course, as a testament to the strong bond that unites the different generations of the Borea Corsi.
Also at the exciting event, which constitutes one of the solemn moments of the academic training path, a representation of the permanent staff, as well as the families of the future Commanders of the Armed Force, who travelled from all over Italy to share a significant stage of their lives, took part.
In his opening address Air Division General Luigi Casali, Commander of the Air Force Academy, after greeting and thanking the attending Godparents and all the family members, he highlighted the commitment undertaken by the young Officers with today's oath: “I want to share how proud I am of the results you've achieved, of your growth journey, of the choices you've made. Well done!”
At the conclusion of his speech “In just under a year, you’ll start leaving the Academy to embark on a professional path that is nothing short of exciting; not simple, not trivial, certainly unique. You will have the opportunity to be protagonists in the aerospace domain, which looks towards future technologies, taking us to the moon shortly and then even further, towards ever more ambitious goals.”.
Following this, he took the floor General Frigerio: “Today, you have moved me by reciting the oath formula, a formula that contains some very important concepts that I would like to highlight, first and foremost, loyalty to the Italian Republic. With today's oath, you have sworn allegiance to all Italian citizens and to guarantee their freedom through your actions, for the defence of the Fatherland and the safeguarding of free Institutions. You, before any other citizen, are called to do so, by reason of your status and, shortly, by going to train further at the Training Departments and Flying Schools, completing the academic process, it will mean that you are ready to do so.”
Before leaving the stage, General Frigerio presented the Borea VI Course with a copy of a Futuristic painting exhibited at the Air Force Palace which represents a group of fourteen flying boats, commanded by Italo Balbo, which successfully completes first Atlantic cruise following the Orbetello – Rio de Janeiro route. A very significant plaque has been affixed: “May the example of the aviators inspire us to always act with courage, boldness and passion!”
The individual oath represents one of the key stages in an Officer's career, a pivotal ceremony within the Academy that seals the bond of each individual Officer with the Armed Force. The swearing-in Second Lieutenants, belonging to the fourth class of the regular courses, by signing the oath become de facto permanent Officers, ready to leave the Academy to join the Flying Schools and Operational Units of the Air Force.
The Air Force Academy is under the Command of the Air Force Schools / 3rd Air Force Region. It is a military institution of higher education of university character, tasked with recruiting and training young people who aspire to become Officers of the Air Force. By attending the Regular Courses of the Academy, one can become a Second Lieutenant in Permanent Active Service of the Air Force, in the normal Navigational Role (pilots) and in the Normal Role of Weapons, Aeronautical Engineering, the Air Force Commissariat Corps, and the Air Force Health Corps. The Institute also provides courses for Reserve, Fixed Term and Direct Appointment Second Lieutenants (both Normal and Special Roles); finally, the Academy's Study Plan includes courses with a specialised aeronautical focus, for foreign personnel and other Armed Forces.
