Viterbo, 17 April 2026. Today, at the Army Non-Commissioned Officers School, the Solemn joint swearing-in ceremony of 136 Marshal Cadets of the’Italian Army and 287 of the’Italian Air Force.
The ceremony was presided over by the Chief of the Defence Staff, General Luciano Portolano, in the presence of the Chief of Staff of the Army, General of the Army Corps Carmine Masiello and of the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, Air Force Corps General Antonio Conserva. Among the military authorities who intervened, the General Corps d'Armée Antonello Vespaziani and the Air Force General Francesco Vestito, responsible for the high-level Commands of the training of the two Armed Forces. Many civil authorities from the region were also present: the’Honourable Mauro Rotelli, the Mayor Chiara Frontini, the Prefect Sergio Pomponio and the President of the Province of Viterbo Alessandro Romoli.
The ceremony began with the entry of the City and Province of Viterbo's Gonfalons, accompanied by the Banners of the Veteran and Armed Associations, preceding the formation of the flags of the two training institutions. The reading of the “awareness speech” by a swearing-in Army member was moving, recalling the value of the choice made by every soldier who chooses to serve their country and the profound meaning of the oath as an act of commitment, responsibility, and self-sacrifice.
Subsequently, the Commander of the Army NCO School, Major General Maurizio Taffuriand the Commander of the Air Force Marshals School, Colonel Dario Ricci, they recited the oath, sealed, at the moment of “I swear”, by a flypast of an Italian Air Force helicopter formation.
In his speech, the Chief of the Defence Staff, General Luciano Portolano, recalled the meaning of the oath as a solemn commitment to the service of the Republic and its Institutions, recalling that we live in a context that is more complex than ever and emphasising that «Our era is characterised by hybrid conflicts capable of eroding even the cohesion of international organisations, national structures, and down to the smallest systems. Cohesion is therefore the true centre of gravity that we must always preserve. Cohesion is not something that can be improvised but is built day by day. And for us military personnel, cohesion is also achieved through training, which constitutes the truest form of respect for our servicemen and women called upon to risk their lives for the Fatherland and the means of mitigating risks for our soldiers, sailors, airmen, and carabinieri engaged in operational theatres.
It General Portolano he continued by reminding the Aspirant Marshals, as future non-commissioned officers, that «Success will depend on the daily work with your collaborators, on the level of training, and on the degree of technical preparation you manage to achieve. You all, together with your team, will form a fundamental cog in the complex structure of the Defence. You will be the exact point where military strategy meets reality, where orders are translated into action, where the values of the Armed Forces take shape in concrete behaviours - every day, in every circumstance.” General Portolano finally recalled that ”the efficiency and effectiveness of the Armed Forces begin precisely with you. Never forget the weight and honour of this responsibility. Because this is the true strength of the oath you have taken today. This is the true strength of those who have chosen to serve Italy, our homeland, in arms.»
It General Taffuri, in addressing his guests, highlighted: «Cadets of the 28th “IMPETO’ Course, the oath of allegiance to the Republic that you are about to take is the most significant commitment of your professional life. This promise seals the value-based pact of acceptance and full sharing of the ethical principles of our military institution. It is a bond that will accompany you throughout your journey, conscious of serving the Homeland by placing the good of the community above yourselves, even at the cost of your lives. You will become platoon commanders: have courage, meticulously attend to training, set an example, be soldiers. I am sure that you will do your best to honour the trust that has been placed in you, aware of the importance of your role and the value you will know how to offer in every circumstance, even in the most difficult conditions. Be proud of the path you have embarked upon.
It Colonel Dario Ricci has in turn taken the floor, citing the importance of the training path and the spirit of service: «We are living in an extremely complex international context, where many realities, often very different from each other, are called to coexist and to confront one another. This is precisely the greatest challenge, that is to have the strength and preparation to sustain this confrontation, both from a values and skills perspective. On the national territory, as well as in the current theatres of operation where the Air Force is engaged daily, what makes the difference are not only technologically advanced means but above all the men and women who use them. And among these men and women, in a few months» time, you will also be there. You who best represent the future backbone of the Air Force, a concentration of professionalism, technical skill and discipline.
Particularly significant was the christening of the 28th course of the Air Force, which officially took the name “Laran II,” followed by the blessing of the Course's Standard by the Episcopal Vicar for the AM. Monsignor Antonio Coppola, passed from the hands of the Warrant Officer, Sergeant, and Airman President of the Italian Air Force to the Course Godfather and subsequently to the Course Leader, in a unified gesture of strong symbolic and identity value.
