Tuesday 12 September, at the Dobbiaco Airport Detachment, in the presence of Commander of the 1st Air Region of Milan, Air Squadron General Francesco Vestito, The handover ceremony took place between Lieutenant Colonel Alessandro Alfonsi, outgoing Commander, and Lieutenant Colonel Nicola Bolzan, incoming Commander.
The event took place in the halls of Villa Irma, in front of the assembled personnel of the Detachment, with the participation of local civil, military, and religious authorities.
It Lieutenant Colonel Alfonsi, after reading the Order of the Day, he extended a warm welcome to the attendees, including the Government Commissioner for the Autonomous Province of Bolzano, Dr. Vito Cusumano, and the Mayor of Dobbiaco, Mr. Martin Rienzner.
In your speech, you highlighted: “I thank General Vestito and the Armed Forces” Summit for granting me the honour of commanding such a prestigious unit as the Dobbiaco Airport Detachment. Thank you, General, for your authoritative and invaluable guidance during my two years of command. My period of command has been characterised by excellent relationships with the local institutions and the fantastic environment of the Upper Puster Valley. The results achieved by the Detachment in all areas have been excellent, and for this, I want to thank the personnel of the Detachment. Know that these are the result of teamwork supported by the sacrifice, passion, and professionalism that you have always demonstrated. Thank you very much for this experience.
It Lieutenant Colonel Bolzan, in his speech, after thanking the Superior Authorities for their trust and appointment to the new position, without hiding his emotion, he highlighted: “I am proud to assume Command of the Dobbiaco Airport Detachment precisely in the centenary year of the Air Force, a year for all of us in the Blue Army that is very important and full of celebratory events. To the personnel of the Detachment, I wish to recall the importance of the oath taken, and to those words contained in the formula that are a guide for all of us in our daily work, and to which I refer as a beacon to ensure the guarantee of my work as Commander. Thank you Alessandro for your work, my command action will be committed to effective and substantial command continuity, as I will continue the great work you have carried out in building solid relationships with civil and religious authorities and with the other Armed Forces and Police Forces present in the territory.”.
It General Dress, in his speech he stressed: “Dobbiaco Airport is the highest in Italy and boasts a strategic location. Among its primary functions, the department must ensure its operational readiness in the event of emergencies and natural disasters, carry out ground-level meteorological parameter detection, and support the training of Air Force personnel thanks to its specific high-mountain conditions. A non-secondary activity is constant collaboration with other armed forces and local institutions, such as granting a detachment facility to house the helicopter for the air ambulance service, during the refurbishment of the landing area at Bressanone hospital.”
As part of the ceremony, the simple collective commendation, which General Vestito wished to bestow upon the unit for the military and professional values shown, the exceptional preparedness possessed by the personnel, the performance of the highest value provided, and the deep sense of belonging to the Armed Forces, which make the Dobbiaco Airport Detachment of the 1st Air Region a clear example of undisputed professionalism.
The Dobbiaco Airport Detachment, subordinate to the 1st Air Force Region Command in Milan, provides support to Mountain Survival Courses (Flight Safety) and to Training departments (International exercises, Glider Airmanship Maintenance Courses, etc.), and also seamlessly carries out the detection of ground meteorological parameters at the established times and in the established ways. The Department also carries out its own actions for the management of Villa Irma, one of the Organisations which, within the Defence Administration, carries out social protection activities for members of the Armed Forces and their families.
