The Navigation Officer of the ‘Eolo V’ course obtained his pilot’s licence at the Naval Air Station in Pensacola (Florida) and was awarded the prize for ‘Top Graduate’. The ceremony was attended by the community of the Italian Air Force Representation (RAMI) in Sheppard (Texas – United States) take great pride in seeing Second Lieutenant Pini honoured with the ‘Paul F. Lorence Award’, the prize reserved for the ‘Top Graduate’ in the Strike Fighter programme, and who was also placed on the Commodore’s List for the third time during the training syllabus, an honour reserved for the ‘Top Scorers’ in the various training phases. The ‘Guest Speaker’ at the ceremony was Rear Admiral William G. Sizemore, Commander of US Navy Air Training (CNATRA), who recalled and emphasised the universality of the US Navy’s values – ‘Honour, Commitment, Courage’: honour, dedication and courage will be the guiding principles for the career of every young aviator in a multinational and joint-forces context. The Commander of the Italian Air Force Schools/3rd Air Region in Bari, Air Marshal Giampiero Gargini, having been informed of Second Lieutenant Pini’s extraordinary performance, expressed, via a telegram, his heartfelt congratulations to the newly appointed and multi-award-winning pilot. Colonel Piccolomini, Head of RAMI, whilst congratulating Second Lieutenant Pini on his excellent result, urged him to always act in an exemplary manner in the name of those ethical and moral values that characterise the ‘military status’ and are enshrined in the oath taken. At the Pensacola Base, known as the “Cradle of Naval Aviation”, Naval Flight Officers/Navigators from Italy, the USA, Germany, Saudi Arabia and Singapore are trained to fly various naval aircraft. The RAMI in Sheppard is also responsible for the courses held at the Florida air base, through a ‘Country Liaison Officer’ and navigation instructor – currently Major Mauro Casini, from the 156th ‘Le Linci’ Group – who oversees activities on site. There are currently seven navigator officers still undergoing training, belonging to the ‘Eolo V’ and ‘Falco V’ courses; once they return to Italy after a short period of study at the Air Force Academy in Pozzuoli (Naples), will be assigned to the Tornado squadron.
