The ceremony was presided over by Air Division General Vitantonio Cormio. The event was presided over by Air Division General Vitantonio Cormio, Deputy Commander of the Air Force Schools Command/3rd Air Region of Bari. 361 cadets, including 68 women, who won the public competition for the enlistment of 755 cadets scheduled for 2013, took the oath of loyalty to the Fatherland. They were organised under the command of the Course Commander and Deputy Commander of the School, Lieutenant Colonel Tommaso Corona. Present at the ceremony were civil and military authorities, the Banner of the city of Taranto, the Standards of the Veteran and Service Associations, as well as a large audience of spectators, mainly comprising the cadets“ families, who had travelled from all over Italy. Colonel Filippo Avola, Commander of the School, in his speech preceding the reading of the oath formula, addressed the young cadets, stressing the importance and solemnity of the Oath, stating: “Today's ceremony marks the acceptance of military duties, highlighting the act of loyalty to the Fatherland and urging us to take up the moral legacy of those who preceded us on the path of duty and sacrifice.”. Colonel Avola, therefore, concluded with a hopeful wish for the future: “May the inner motivation and enthusiasm that light up your eyes today sustain you in times of difficulty and guide you to honour the commitment you are undertaking in serving the Nation.”. The ceremony was then sealed with the traditional “I swear!”, followed by the singing of the Mameli Anthem by the entire course and the reading of the “Aviator's Prayer” by a young student. General Cormio, after expressing his gratitude “to the men and women of the SVTAM and, in particular, to the instructors, capable and aware of the importance of their mission, whose professionalism, competence and passion are the best guarantee of optimal training for young students”, The General addressed the jury, emphasising the importance of the training period for their future employment with the Armed Forces“ bodies and departments. General Cormio concluded his speech by inviting the young students to repay the trust placed in them with pride in being part of the Blue Army and a constant commitment to self-improvement.“having the courage to face, with honesty of intent and conviction, the daily duties”. SVTAM is the national centre for basic training of Italian Air Force volunteer troops. Its duties include managing the selection phase, enlistment, and initial military training of fixed-term one-year volunteers (V.F.P.1) who join the Armed Force through public competition. The School also conducts training courses for fixed-term four-year volunteers (V.F.P.4) and for enlisted personnel who, at the end of their predetermined fixed term, transition to permanent service (V.T.S.P.), through which the Armed Force's bodies and departments are staffed. Within the framework of the Eurotraining Defence 2011-2013 Project in the Puglia Region, SVTAM of Taranto was identified as the Eurotraining centre for the creation of training pathways for young VFP1-VFP4 military personnel, to enhance their professional profiles through certified English language and IT skills acquisition courses.
