The participants in the course “Air Gunners” carried out a complex exercise together with units of the 32nd Stormo of Amendola and the Aeronautic Detachment of Jacotenente From February 2 to 5, the visitors of the 20th and 21st course “Air Riflemen”, which began on September 9 at the 16th Storm Wing “Protection of Forces” of Martina Franca, They conducted an exercise in the territory of Gargano. The 16th Wing is the Air Riflemen’s Unit. Since 2004, it has been based at Martina Franca. The 16th Wing descends from the 6th Aeroplanes Group, which distinguished itself in the Battle of Istrana in 1917. Today, it is a combat unit of the Air Squad Command, under the Support and Special Forces Command, with Force Protection tasks. Since 2004, it has operated in 37 different international missions, in 18 operational theatres worldwide, accumulating over 36,000 flight hours, of which 25,000 were for the security of Air Force aircraft and those on board. From August 2005 to December 2014, the Air Riflemen were present in Afghanistan to ensure the protection of Herat Base. On 5 April 2015, the War Flag of the 16th Wing “Force Protection” was decorated with a Silver Medal of Aeronautical Valour by the President of the Republic.
