On 26 February, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Luciano Antonio Portolano, visited the 9th Wing of the Italian Air Force in Grazzanise. The Campania leg is part of a wider series of meetings that began on 23 February at operational units of the Armed Forces and the Carabinieri, built around a clear message: the value of people as the foundation of national security.
Welcomed by the Commander of the 1st Special Operations Air Brigade (BAOS) and from the Commander of the 9th Wing, General Portolano, elaborated on the capabilities of a Unit that constitutes a fundamental pillar for Special Air Operations and the Personnel Recovery.
During the briefing and subsequent visit to the operational areas, the focus was on the helicopters. HH-101A “Caesar”, symbol of a Modern and flexible aeronautical capability, projected for the most complex operational needs, from search and rescue of personnel in hostile environments to emergency medical evacuations. During the meeting, the high level of professionalism demonstrated by the personnel on the most complex missions was highlighted, recalling the effectiveness shown both during the COVID-19 epidemiological emergency, through bio-containment transports, and in the delicate operations of evacuation from Kabul, which made it possible to save compatriots and Afghan personnel with their families. The visit also highlighted the quality of the work along the entire operational chain – from the maintenance of flight assets to the planning and conduct of missions, also in support of Special Forces – what is an essential element of the national aerospace tool's readiness and intervention capability.
The Chief of Defence Staff's itinerary took him to various sites in the region, offering an overview of the synergy between the different components of the Defence. In addition to the stop in Grazzanise, General Portolano visited the Italian Army's “Garibaldi” Bersaglieri Brigade in Caserta and, in Naples, the “Ogaden” Carabinieri Interregional Command, together with the Navy's Logistic Command and the Naples Naval Headquarters, where the vital function of logistics was underscored. The tour also included the Joint Force Command Naples in Lago Patria, NATO's operational summit, concluding in Le Grazie (SP) at the Navy's Comsubin, on the occasion of the awarding of certificates to new deep-sea divers.
The entire cycle of visits has sought to reiterate a vision of Defence oriented towards recognising and developing expertise and at strengthening of modernisation processes. In every context, it has become clear how the so-called “human factor”They represent the differentiating element for the success of missions: it is the men and women in uniform, together with civilian personnel, who, through their daily commitment, guarantee national security and the protection of Italy's strategic interests.".
