The ceremony took place at the New Air Force Competition Hub, in the presence of the Minister of Defence Guido Crosetto and numerous civil, military, and religious authorities. In the evening, the Armed Force's constitution was celebrated with a concert by the Band at Rome-Urbe Airport.
This morning, in Guidonia, at the Armed Force's New Competition Hub, was celebrated the centenary-plus-one anniversary of the Italian Air Force. The event, which took place the day before the official date of the Air Force's constitution, born as an autonomous and independent Armed Force on 28 March 1923, was held in the presence of the Minister of Defence Guido Crosetto, the Chief of Defence Staff, Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone, and the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, Air Squad General Luca Goretti.
Among the authorities present at the ceremony were the Vice President of the Chamber of Deputies, Hon. Giorgio Mulè, the Undersecretaries of State for Defence, Senator Isabella Rauti and Hon. Matteo Perego di Cremnago, the President of the Copasir Lorenzo Guerini, and the Mayor of Guidonia Montecelio Mauro Lombardo.
The “100+1” ceremony” continues in the vein established by the special anniversary of the AM Centenary, a prestigious milestone reached by the Armed Force last year, which today provides an opportunity to affirm and consolidate the values and passion that characterise all the entities that make up the Air Force and accompany it towards an ever more challenging and changing tomorrow.
“Future”is indeed the keyword for this new chapter that the Air Force is about to write, aware of the peculiarities that characterise the aerial vehicle and ready to take up the challenge of delivering to future generations an operational tool capable of countering hybrid and broad-spectrum technological threats. To be in the future To keep pace with the evolutionary process therefore, with connectivity, artificial intelligence, big data, the cloud, interoperability and multi-domain. All of this translates, within the National Defence Tool, to the decisive role of the Air Force in service of the country's needs, to ensure security and useful services for the community.
“Today's anniversary represents our genesis, our reason for being, our constant and absolute benchmark. We celebrate over a century of the institution's life, or rather, 100 +1, to mark, with a simple mathematical symbol, the entry into a new era that makes way for future”These are the words of the Chief of the Air Staff during his speech. With further reference to the current geopolitical context, where asymmetric threats are added to classical forms of counter-action, including in new domains such as Space and the cyber, he continued: ”We will necessarily need to continue evolving to avoid providing outdated answers to modern challenges. We are an organisation characterised by complex, sophisticated, and cutting-edge weapon systems, of which 5th generation systems currently represent the pinnacle, but they are already ready to make way for subsequent ones. These systems not only create niches of operational and industrial excellence but also enable organisational growth for the entire structure and, particularly, enhance the specific capabilities required of personnel in blue, who constitute its true and undisputed value. And it is precisely on the Staff AM that General Goretti wanted to dwell on: “Structures change, machines evolve, but people remain and pass on the guiding principles. They have always been the protagonists of our story, proudly proud of our aviation identity.”.
“Today the Blue Army displays top-tier, wide-ranging capabilities, in terms of personnel, equipment, technology, and skills., stated The Chief of the Defence Staff, Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone. “Effectively competes in the protection of our southern security perimeter, contributing to its presence for defence and stability in the broader context of the wider Mediterranean. The 360-degree action of the Defence, of the Italian armed forces, has today become a reality that projects our country among the major contributors to peace and the safeguarding of the fundamental values of freedom and the protection of democratic rights. He then added: “To meet the challenges that the rapid development of emerging and so-called disruptive technologies brings, the Armed Forces must aim for continuous cultural and operational evolution, achieving and consolidating real inter-force integration and interoperability, which are essential to achieve the necessary capabilities to operate in multi-domain environments.
“The success of Defence is to guarantee peace of mind for the community. But serenity and peace require a daily, constant commitment, built on preparation, investment, and sacrifice from the Air Force, which celebrates its day today, and from the whole of Defence. I am happy to be here today and honoured to bring to each of you, to all Air Force personnel, my respect, my gratitude, and the affection of those who, like me, feel part of this family and part of the sacrifices that this family and all its members make every day.”, these are the words of the Secretary of Defence Guido Crosetto.“Deeply aware of the importance and role of the Air Force, I thank you as Minister and am grateful to you as a citizen.”.
At the ceremony, were conferred 15 honours personal and Armed Forces Departments distinguished for particular merits in a variety of activities, including missions carried out outside national borders, humanitarian aid, air rescue, and flight training. Specifically, the following were presented:
– 1 Gold Medal of Aeronautical Merit to the 70th Wing for the excellent selection and flight training of aircrew for Italian and foreign students;
– 1 Silver Medal for Aeronautical Merit To the Commander of the Italian Contingent in Kuwait within the framework of the International Operation “Inherent Resolve” in the period January-July 2022;
– 7 Silver Medals for Aeronautical Valour to the personnel engaged in the evacuation operations of Afghan compatriots and civilian collaborators from Kabul airport in 2021;
– 6 Bronze Medals for Aeronautical Merit for the helicopter crews of the Air Force Search and Rescue Centres involved in delicate rescue operations for civilians in mortal danger in Sicily in 2023 and during the 2016 and 2017 earthquake and snow emergencies in Abruzzo.
The ceremony in Guidonia was preceded this morning by a Solemn flag-raising ceremony at Palazzo Aeronautica, the institutional headquarters of the Armed Force, and by the subsequent laying of a laurel wreath by the Chief of Staff of the Air Force honour to Fallen, near the Monument dedicated to them.
The meeting is expected in the afternoon at Quirinal with the President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella who, on the occasion of the anniversary, will receive General Goretti, accompanied by a delegation of Armed Forces personnel.
On the same day the Italian Air Force Band She performed in a concert open to the public at Rome-Urbe Airport, in the presence of the Chief of Staff of the Air Force. The Air Force Band offered a moment of pleasant musical entertainment with a programme full of musical suggestions, including a tribute to Puccini, on the centenary of his death, with the intermezzo from Manon Lescaut, original compositions for band, Three Dance Episodes from the musical On the Town of Leonard Bernstein in the transcription of the Major Maestro Pantaleo Leonfranco Cammarano who directed the concert. A selection of pieces“chosen for this important occasion in order to offer the audience a broad panorama of the Band's expressive potential, its various ensembles, and its soloists”explained Maestro Cammarano, who adds: “In particular, we have included original pieces that further enhance this ensemble by renewing its repertoire.“. With this concert, the Italian Air Force Band effectively opens its 2024 season which already has many important appointments scheduled, including the Festival of Two Worlds in Spoleto, the Fiati Festival in Paestum, the Festival on the Path of the Gods in Agerola (NA), the International Saxophone Conference in Trento. The Band also participates in the most important solemn Armed Forces events and in official inter-force ceremonies, in conjunction with the other military bands.
If you want to re-watch the ceremony for the’anniversary of the “100+1” of the Italian Air Force, visit the Armed Forces YouTube channel, at the link: https://www.youtube.com/aeronauticamilitareofficial.
