In the presence of the Commander of the Viterbo Training Institute, 146 third-class Marshals obtained their degrees.
Wednesday 5 July, at the historic Hangar S100 of School of the Italian Air Force Marshals of Viterbo, the ceremony was held degree of 3rd Class Marshals belonging to the 23rd Normal Course Edward 20th Internal Course addressed, that is, to personnel already enlisted and who subsequently transferred to the Marshal role.
They obtained a degree in Political Science and International Relations Curriculum in Aeronautical Professions Science and Technology 146 attendees: 84 from the 23rd Normal course and 62 from the 20th internal course.
The ceremony, which took place in the presence of civil and military authorities from the city of Viterbo and the families of the graduating students, was presided over by the Commander of the Air Force Marshals’ School and Viterbo Airport, Colonel Sandro Cascino, also representing the Commander of the Air Force Schools/3rd Air Region, Air Force General Silvano Frigerio; Also present were the Magnificent Rector of the Tuscia University, Prof. Stefano Ubertini, the members of the degree board, Colonel Luciano Cantuària Pietrani – Defence Attaché and Air Attaché of Brazil in Italy and Slovenia, Colonel Jorge Ceccarelli Vargas – Air Attaché of Peru in Italy, Dr. Luigi Pasqualetti, President of the CARIVIT Foundation (Cassa di Risparmio di Viterbo); also present was the Chief President of NCOs, Warrant Officers and Privates, 1st Lieutenant Marco Bonaventura, as well as the Presidents of NCOs, Warrant Officers and Privates of the Air Force Staff, the Higher Institute for Flight Safety (I.S.S.V.) and the NCO School, bearing witness to the constant support of aeronautical institutions for the issues of the Viterbo Institute and personnel belonging to the NCO role.
In his speech, the Magnificent Rector highlighted the great commitment of the new doctors, which leads them to tackle many subjects; some might seem useless but for the Rector “You don't just study for what you'll do later in life, you study to be better citizens.”. Addressing the new graduates, he recalled how: “You must be leaders in the society of the future. You will have the commitment, the honour, and, of course, the burden of leading other women and men, so it is particularly important that you set an example. Studying to be better citizens is a seed that then grows. Never stop in your commitment, in your updating, in your studying, also because the world we live in travels fast and we must continue to prepare ourselves.”.
The Rector then thanked the Italian Air Force “for choosing the’University of Tuscia, as partners in this journey; we have tried to improve this path every year and seeing you achieve the title today is a huge joy for all of us.” Finally, the Rector also sent a special thank you to the families: “Today's celebration is not just yours, but also a celebration of your families who have supported you, who have made sacrifices; they did not lose hope during the terrible years of the pandemic to achieve that dream that you have, indeed, achieved today.”.
At the end of his speech, the Rector formally awarded degrees in Political Science and International Relations – specialising in the Sciences and Techniques of the Aviation Professions – to the Marshals of the Deimos II Course and the 20th Internal Course.
In conclusion, Colonel Cascino took the floor and, after thanking the various entities that contributed to the realisation of this event, he focused on the historic collaboration between SMAM and Unitus, which he defined as “structured, long-lasting and future-oriented, as demonstrated by the successful introduction of the new academic process for our Aircraft Maintenance Squad Leaders, training programme which will lead them to simultaneously obtain an Industrial Engineering degree – Maintenance Science and Technology for Aeronautics curriculum – along with an Aircraft Maintenance Licence recognised by European regulations”. Addressing the new doctors, he reminded them that “Today, here you reach an important milestone, your first milestone as Marshals of the Air Force. An important part of your lives closes, a fundamental parenthesis for your training as soldiers and for your maturation as men and women. A milestone that projects you towards what will be your splendid blue history.”.
“Today's is a special milestone.” – Colonel Cascino went on to point out, on the sidelines of his speech – “achieved in a particular year: that of the centenary of the Air Force.
Once again this year, as is tradition, several important awards have been given to the most deserving attendees; in particular, the reciprocity awards between nations (Argentina, Brazil, and Peru), the scholarship offered by the CARIVIT Foundation, which has always been close to the needs of the region and in particular of the Air Force Marshal School and its Cadets, and the traditional “Certificate of Merit” symbolically awarded by the Department to the first place winner in the “End-of-course ranking”.
The School of the Air Force Marshals / Viterbo Airport Command it is under the command of the Air Force Schools Command and the 3rd Air Region of Bari; the Department carries out a dual mission: on the one hand, as institute a University character, Its task is to provide military and moral training and specific professional instruction for Marshals, as well as to perfect and update such training; on the other hand, as a military airport open to civilian traffic, it provides technical-operational support, air navigation services and activities Force protection at Tommaso Fabbri Airport.
