On Thursday 10 March, the handover ceremony with Colonel Camera took place, in the presence of General (Air Force) Lamanna, Commander of the 1st Air Force Wing. In his speech, Colonel Camera emphasised how the high level of professionalism and tireless commitment demonstrated by the personnel of the 17th Wing had enabled them to earn, within a sector of excellence such as the Special Forces, the respect and esteem of the Air Force high command and colleagues from the other Armed Forces. Colonel Rinaldi wished to highlight the operational importance of the Unit and, at the same time, the Wing’s War Flag – the youngest in the Italian Air Force, awarded by the President of the Republic on 14 July 2008. He also emphasised that it is his firm intention ”to consolidate the high standards of effectiveness and efficiency achieved by the Unit to date, by adapting the training and operational deployment of personnel, in joint and international contexts, to the tasks that the political and military authorities will identify from time to time”. General Lamanna expressed his appreciation to the Commander and the personnel of Stormo for the excellent results achieved, both nationally and internationally, in operations conducted across various theatres of operations and in major exercises involving the Special Forces. Colonel Camera, after more than two years in command, will take up a post with the 1st Air Brigade. Colonel Rinaldi, born in Treviso in 1961, enlisted in 1980 as part of the ’Zodiaco III’ intake at the Air Force Academy in Pozzuoli (Naples), graduating with a degree in Aerospace Sciences. His roles have included: member of the ‘Falchi Blu’ Parachuting Aerobatics Team; Head of the Public Relations Office of the 313th Aerobatics Training Group and PAN spokesperson; Commander of the Special Operations Support Section; Commander of the Defence Group of the 9th Air Brigade; Head of the 5th Support Forces Planning Section of the 1st Office of the 3rd Department of the Air Force General Staff; Head of the Training and Exercises Section of the J3 Office at the Joint Forces Command for Special Operations (COFS); Head of the J7 Office at COFS; Head of the Operations and Training Plans Office of the 1st Special Operations Air Brigade; Head of CJ5 of the SOCCE (Special Operational Command and Control Element) of ISAF in Afghanistan, Chief of Staff of ISAF SOF at the ISAF Special Forces Command in Afghanistan. The 17th Incursori Wing, in addition to having the specific task of conducting the full spectrum of special operations, has the capability to provide training in operational survival in war zones to personnel from both the Italian Armed Forces and other national armed forces and military corps. A further capability is provided by the EOR/EOD unit, which specialises in the detection and disposal of explosive devices.
