On Wednesday 31 March, the ‘Tigre’ Task Group’s deployment in Afghanistan came to an end. Thanks to its operational flexibility, the unit is capable of carrying out a wide range of missions: from CASEVAC (CASualties EVACuation) to MEDEVAC (MEDical EVACuation), including in support of the civilian population; from NEO (Non-Combatant Evacuation Operations) to joint operations with Special Forces; and, last but not least, the tactical transport of dismounted troops. The Task Group has surpassed 765 flight hours across more than 560 sorties carried out since August 2009, when flight operations began in Herat as part of the ISAF mission for the sixth consecutive year, whilst the flight hours logged by the Italian Air Force’s AB212 component in Afghanistan since 2006 total over 2,100 across more than 1,800 sorties. From June 2009 to the present day, the personnel of the 21st Group have been supported by flight crews from the Armed Forces‘ flight units operating the AB-212, in particular the 651st Liaison Squadron at Istrana, the Experimental and Air Gunnery Standardisation Unit (RSSTA) at Decimomannu (Cagliari), the Air Force Unified Firing Ranges Centre at Perdasdefogu, and the Experimental Flight Unit at Pratica di Mare. The professionalism, passion and dedication of the personnel who have served in this theatre of operations have enabled the Task Group to grow over time, achieving capabilities and levels of efficiency that are widely recognised within ISAF. For the men of ’Tigre‘, today marks an important and significant milestone, which has been made possible in part thanks to the professionalism of the technical staff of the Aircraft Efficiency Section, who will remain in theatre for a further month to complete the repatriation of equipment and vehicles. The commanders who have successively led the ’Tigre’ Task Group have been Lieutenant Colonel Domenico Bove, Lieutenant Colonel Francesco Morra and Major Fabrizio Ottaviani; yet far more important than their names is the capability of the ‘Tigre’ Task Group that they have represented, what it truly is lies in its personnel, from the newest recruit to its commanders; it lies in the many faces that have served in the Afghan theatre of operations, and in the esprit de corps that they have been able and willing to instil in the Task Group.
