The first 100 years of life of the main Air Force Training Institute were celebrated with a gathering.
held on Sunday, 5 November, at the’Italian Air Force Academy of Pozzuoli, in the presence of Commander of Schools and the 3rd Air Force Region, Air Force General Silvano Frigerio, the gathering to celebrate the first 100 years of the Institute's life. The ceremony began in the Piazzale Medaglie d’Oro, where the Unit Flag Raising and the laying of a wreath on the fallen took place, in the presence of the attendees and the Institute's participants.
A significant event attended by a representation of former Commanders, former Deputy Commanders, and former Heads of Service who have served in recent decades, and to whom the warmest “welcome back” was extended by Commander of the Air Force Academy, Air Division General Luigi Casali.
Afterwards, with Holy Mass celebrated in the Institute's Chapel, the visitors had the opportunity to tour the historic corridors, where the colours of all the regular courses are kept, along with material and photos that tell the 100 years of history of the Aeronautical Academy.
At the end, all the participants gathered in the Theatre Hall, where the spoke. General Frigerio, present both as Commander of the Air Force Schools/3rd RA and as an organiser. After thanking all the participants and conveying the greetings of Chief of Staff of the Air Force, Air Force General Luca Goretti, General Frigerio addressed the attendees: “Here, we don't just prepare excellent students. The Italian Air Force Academy's task in its first 100 years has been to train all the Commanders who, from 1923 onwards, have taken turns to form a decidedly modern, up-to-date Armed Force, whose value is recognised worldwide. The Italian Air Force Academy's task in the next hundred years will be to train the next Commanders. But that's not enough; your commitment is required. You must first and foremost be commanders of yourselves. You must learn to control your emotions, to recognise your strengths so that you can mitigate your weaknesses. Remember that among you will be those who will have to pilot 6th-generation aircraft; there will be engineers and doctors who, along with pilots, will be part of flight crews to go to the first lunar base and perhaps even on space missions to Mars. I therefore urge you to command yourselves and learn to be good Commanders; this is my wish for the next 100 years of the Italian Air Force Academy!”.
It General Casali, before his speech he read a thank-you letter from the Lady Urania Valli, nephew of Admiral Giulio Valli, a pioneer of the Air Force and the first Commander of the Air Force Academy in 1923. Subsequently, the General gave a briefing on the Academy of today and tomorrow, focusing on some peculiar aspects such as the “Mission”and the “Vision”, the new selection model that will see a significant increase in the number of recruits and training in the near future, with particular reference to the “Gladiator” project and the Training Units. At the close of the presentation, the General wished to highlight the motto of the Italian Air Force “With value towards the stars”, which inspires and guides all members of the Armed Forces: “The Air Force Academy has the responsibility of training the future leadership of the Armed Force, based on solid values and the traditions that have distinguished the Armed Force in these first 100 years of life, but with an eye towards innovations in our selection and training processes. The final farewell was for the cadets, the future of the Air Force: ”Continue to face all challenges with determination; what awaits you is an exciting journey of growth that will lead you to ambitious goals. It is your duty to face it with the utmost dedication and determination. Remember that the satisfaction our profession gives us is certainly greater than the sacrifices it demands. Good luck!“”.
At the end of the speeches, two books were presented for the occasion: “100 years of the Air Force Academy!”, containing a photographic collection of the Institute’s various locations from 1923 to the present day, created by some attending Officers, and an essay “From Livorno to Pozzuoli, The Air Force Academy in a century of history”, curated by Prof. Maurizio Erto.
Before leaving the Institute, guests also attended the inauguration of the “Gate Guardian”, a Tornado aircraft from the 6th Wing of Ghedi.
Even in this circumstance, as in the course of the other events of Centenary of the Italian Air Force, the initiative “A gift from heaven for AIRC”collection of voluntary donations that the Armed Forces has promoted throughout the national territory to finance the purchase of cutting-edge medical equipment available to’AIRC Foundation Institute of Molecular Oncology (IFOM) and thus support scientific research activities for the cure of cancer.
L‘Air Force Academy It depends Air Force Schools Command / 3rd Air Region. It is a university-level military institute of higher education responsible for recruiting and training young people who aspire to become officers in the Air Force. By attending the Academy’s regular courses, students can become Second Lieutenants in the Permanent Active Service of the Air Force, in the standard Flying Branch (pilots) and in the standard branches of the Air Force, the Air Force Engineering Corps, the Air Force Quartermaster Corps and the Air Force Medical Corps. The Institute also runs courses for Officer Cadets (Reserve and Fixed-Term Pilots and Navigators) and directly appointed Second Lieutenants (in both the Regular and Special Branches); finally, the Academy’s curriculum includes courses with a specialised aeronautical focus, designed for foreign personnel and members of other armed forces.
