ACADEMY: THE 'MARS V' COURSE HAS BEEN SWORN IN'

The ceremony in Pozzuoli on Wednesday, 31st March, was attended by the Undersecretary of State for Defence, the Honourable Guido Crosetto. The official welcome into the ranks of the Air Force for the ninety students of the 1st year of the Regular Courses was given by the Chief of Defence Staff, General Vincenzo Camporini, and the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, Air Squad General Giuseppe Bernardis. During their speeches, they highlighted the importance of sharing those ethical, civic, and moral values connected with the Oath, which must be the basis of daily operations. In his speech, the Honourable Crosetto pointed out how “members of the Armed Forces are Ambassadors of Italy in the foreign countries where Italian contingents are engaged.” The presence of General Umberto Rocca, Gold Medal for Military Valour, at the ceremony was significant. Addressing the ‘Marte V’ students, he stated:“The Gold Medal is won in a day, but honoured for a lifetime.”In his speech, Air Brigade General Umberto Baldi, Commander of the Air Force Academy, highlighted the numerous sacrifices made by the young Cadets to achieve their dream of wearing the Air Force uniform. Among the most significant moments of the ceremony was the symbolic handover between generations of the Marte courses that have succeeded each other over the years (1932, 1952, 1971, 1990, and 2010), with the course pennant being passed by the sponsor of the Marte courses, General Fortunato Profumi, into the hands of the Course Leader of ‘Marte V’, Cadet Michele Angelino, passing through the Course Leader of ‘Marte II’, General Giulio Montinari, the Course Leader of ‘Marte III’, Air Squad General Pasquale Preziosa, and the Course Leader of ‘Marte IV’, Lieutenant Colonel Marco Lant. The ceremony concluded with a parade of all the Academy courses and, as is tradition, a flypast by the ten aircraft of the National Aerobatic Team. Multimedia contributions Video: Tgr Campania of 1 April 2010