The ceremony took place today, Monday 9 March, at the Furbara military airport. Frightening 10th Advanced Course Air Force Special Operations Forces (BIAM), which sanctioned the official entry of the new commandos into the 17th Wing, Special Forces department of the Air Force operating under the 1st Special Operations Air Brigade.
At the ceremony, presided over by Chief of the Defence Staff, General Luciano Portolano, numerous military authorities took part – including the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, Air Squadron General Antonio Conserva, the Commander of the Joint Special Operations Command, Fleet Admiral Paolo Pezzutti, the Commander of the Squadra Air Combat Command and 1st Air Region, Gen. S.A. Silvano Frigerio, and the Commander of the 1st Air Brigade for Special Operations (BAOS), Gen. B.A. Diego Sismondini – and local authorities and representatives, in particular from the neighbouring municipalities of Cerveteri and Ladispoli.
The three participants of the 10th BIAM Course who successfully completed the demanding training programme, a highly selective course lasting approximately two years, received their brevet, sand-coloured beret and commando dagger on the occasion, symbols of their entry into the Special Operations Branch. The beret and dagger, in particular, recall the tradition of the Royal Air Force's Elite Saboteurs (ADRA), established in 1942 as the first Special Forces unit of the Royal Air Force and forerunners of today's AM Raiders.
«Today, at a particularly difficult time in the international context, I wanted to be here with you.», he stated It Chief of the Defence Staff, Gen. Luciano Portolano In his speech, and recalling the responsibility and value required of those who operate in the most complex contexts, he added: «You will find yourselves intervening in scenarios where rapid decision-making will make the difference between success and failure, in environments where the margin for error will be minimal or almost nil, in operations where the country will demand immediate, discreet and decisive results. You will need to know how to act and complete the mission even in degraded contexts, when the systems and modern technological capabilities at your disposal will be denied, disrupted or rendered unavailable. Be aware that the most challenging day will be the one when, in crisis contexts or in an operational theatre, you will have to make a decision in a matter of seconds, knowing that the lives of your comrades and the honour of the country will depend on it. And act with honour and determination. I am proud, honoured to be your commander, I look at you with respect, the Defence looks at you with pride.»During the ceremony, General Portolano also awarded the Bronze Medal for Aeronautical Valor to an experienced operator who distinguished himself in operational field activities. He also highlighted the recent accreditation of Combat Controller Skill Level 1 and the official accreditation by the US Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC), further confirmation of the excellence of the 17th Wing and the Italian Air Force's contribution to the operational readiness of the national military instrument.
“The 'imbascamento' is not a formal gesture, but it is the act by which the Armed Force recognises that you have acquired the skills, maturity, and moral fortitude necessary to become part of an absolutely excellent component of the aerospace structure.”, the words of Chief of Staff of the Air Force, Gen. S.A. Antonio Conserva. “The current context requires rapid, precise, and integrated intervention capabilities. Special operations represent a tool of the highest strategic value: not for quantity, but for quality, specificity, and function. The ongoing review project of the Defence's Special Forces component aims precisely to adapt the command and control of special departments and forces to the emerging challenges posed by a continuously evolving operational environment, in order to ensure the conduct of operations aimed at protecting and safeguarding national strategic interests. You, divers, with the specific capabilities belonging to the Air Force, are integrated into this system as absolute protagonists.“.
The investiture ceremony opened with a welcome address from Commander of the 17th Raiders Wing AM, Colonel Michele Anelli, who after thanking the authorities, guests, and family members present, addressing the newly qualified personnel, stressed: “Trainees of the 10th BIAM course, you have overcome two years of physical toil and mental trials that would have broken anyone else. You have learned that limits are merely an illusion and that individual strength is nothing without group cohesion. You will be called upon to operate in volatile, uncertain, complex, ambiguous, and rapidly changing environments, where the most advanced technology of our Armed Forces merges with the millennia-old resilience of man. Wear this beret with humility, but with the pride of those who know they are the tip of the spear for Italian Defence. Be proud of the milestone you have reached, be aware of the responsibility that awaits you, and always be worthy of your oath and the uniform you wear..”
Concluding the formal part, the authorities and guests present were able to witness a historical re-enactment of an ADRA training camp, with historical vehicles, equipment and uniforms of the era, set up thanks to the support of associations engaged in the recovery and preservation of the historical and cultural heritage of the Armed Forces. Subsequently, in a training area adjacent to the ceremony venue, a dynamic display was held during which the authorities and guests were able to witness a simulation of a hostage rescue in a hostile environment, one of the operations attributed to the Special Forces Department. The activity was conducted by a team of Commandos from the 17th Wing with the support of remotely piloted aircraft and Eurofighter jets for aerial reconnaissance and the neutralisation of enemy air defences, and HH-101A helicopters from the 9th Wing for the infiltration of special forces operators onto the field, the establishment of a command and control post, and the subsequent exfiltration and safe recovery of the hostage. The event concluded with the aerial drop from HH-101 of Commando personnel and three paratroopers carrying the Flags of the 17th Wing, the Air Force, and the Italian Republic.
It 17th Attack Wing Their task is to select, train and equip personnel destined to operate in high-risk environments, carrying out special reconnaissance missions, direct action, military assistance, and hostage rescue, both domestically and internationally.
