From 27 to 31 January, 16 senior officers from the Italian Army, Navy and Air Force completed the 21st GLO/NLO/ALO “Ground/Naval/Air Liaison Officer” course, qualifying as Liaison Officers for Air Cooperation Activities.
The course, reserved for flight crew or those already qualified as “Aviation Cooperation Officer” or JTAC (Joint Terminal Attack Controller), provided the necessary knowledge and skills for effective communication and methodology between Component Commands and the tactical units' departments employed in joint operations, in order to integrate and synchronise air and space power with surface manoeuvre.
Organised by the Air Cooperation School of Guidonia (RM) and in close coordination with the relevant Commands, the course comprised training activities linked to the employment of air power in support of land and naval operations (APCLO/APCMO - Air Power Contribution to Counter Land/Maritime Operations) at entities and departments of the Navy and Air Force to maximise training and educational returns, strengthening synergy between the Armed Forces.
In particular, a large number of Officers of the Italian Army, from the various branches and specialities, destined for roles as Liaison Officers at Air Force operational units, has carried out the Training activities at the 36th Fighter Wing of Gioia del Colle (BA), where the specific tasks of integrated Air Defence, ground attack and reconnaissance operations were illustrated, as well as the specific tasks as an interface between the Flying Squadron and the supported surface forces. Through specific instruction, the trainees were able to appreciate all the essential components for the functioning of a Flying Squadron, interacted with the operators and specialists, and gained an idea of how to operate as Liaison Officers. Simultaneously, the Staff from the Naval Academy were hosted by the Space Operations Command in Poggio Renatico. (FE), responsible for the conduct of aerial operations, as well as for the doctrinal and capability development and evolution of the aerospace instrument in its continuous transformation process. Through practical experience, maximised by the Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) on-site, the trainees were able to appreciate the effectiveness of the C2 (Command and Control) tools available for managing assets and coordinating joint and inter-agency support.
The Royal Air Force officers, belonging to the navigators' role, after a welcome meeting with the Commander of the 2nd Naval Division and Italian Maritime Forces (COMDINAV DUE/COMITMARFOR) Rear Admiral Andrea Petroni, were hosted on board the Aircraft Carrier Cavour docked at the Taranto Naval Station. The Unit, flagship of the Naval Squadron, is capable of operating with F-35B and AV8B+ aircraft and fulfilling the role of a complex command centre. A highly valuable training development was their visit to the Italian Navy's Aircraft Station in Grottaglie (TA), to the embarked FW (Fixed Wing) and RW (Rotary Wing) aviation component, where the operational capabilities of the AV8 B+ and F35-B jet aircraft, and the EH 101, SH 90, and AB 212 rotary-wing assets in organic supply were illustrated.
It The 21st GLO/NLO/ALO Course represented an important opportunity for professional growth for the Officers. of the Army, Navy and Air Force, reinforcing awareness of the crucial importance of maintaining a high level of cooperation and integration between air and surface forces. Synergy between these different operational components is fundamental to ensuring the effectiveness of joint operations, enabling coordinated resource management and a timely and efficient response to operational needs. The activities carried out during the course, thanks to a multidisciplinary and inter-service training approach, have demonstrated how the sharing of experiences and skills contributes to creating a more cohesive and high-performing operational environment. Investing in joint training not only strengthens the response capability in complex scenarios but also represents one of the pillars for the success of future operations.
As recalled by the Commander of the Air Cooperation School, Brigadier General Francesco Donato Rizzo, “the invaluable collaboration and hospitality provided by the Commands involved were instrumental to the success of the course. Their support and availability made a high-level training experience possible, enriching the professional development of the participants and strengthening the bonds of cooperation between the different components of the Armed Forces.”.
The School of Aerial Cooperation, As the joint interforce training centre and the sole Defence training/educational facility accredited by NATO as an Alliance Education and Training Facility, it delivers excellent teaching, continuously evolving and keeping pace with technological innovations, contexts and operational domains, in order to ensure it consistently meets the training needs of the national Armed Forces and of allied and friendly countries.
In the field of air-surface operational cooperation and integration, the School has, in recent years, expanded its training offer to include the entire “Joint Terminal Attack Controller (JTAC)”, “Joint Personnel Recovery” and “Joint Targeting” chain. In the field of “Remote Sensing”, it conducts training courses for the management, interpretation and operational analysis of remote sensing images, originating from electro-optical and RADAR sensors, both airborne and satellite. For the training and qualification of JTACs, furthermore, the Commander of the School serves as the “National Certification Authority”.
Recently, the training sector focused on Space as an area of operation has been implemented within Multi Domain Operations (MDO), with the delivery of courses on Introduction to Space Activities (IAS) and Space Battle Management Operator/Staff Officer, developed in collaboration with the Space Operations Command of the Defence Staff.
The courses at the School of Air Cooperation are open not only to military personnel of the Armed Forces, but also to personnel outside the Defence Administration and to military personnel from NATO countries and countries participating in the Partnership for Peace (PfP) international programme, subject to authorisation from the Defence Staff.
Within this framework lies the Commander's vision of making the School of Aerocooperation relevant in training for operational effectiveness, promoting knowledge, skills, and the ability to delegate those skills, for the benefit of the national system.
The Aerocooperation School's Mission is to design and deliver, in a multi-domain perspective, advanced and specialised training in the fields of aerocooperation, remote sensing and space, for national, NATO and partner country personnel.
It 36th Fighter Wing di Gioia del Colle (BA) is under the command of the Combat Forces Command (CFC) in Milan, whose assigned mission is to acquire and maintain the operational readiness of all air defence, attack and reconnaissance units, ensuring the operational efficiency of weapon systems, equipment and materials, as well as personnel training and the constant updating and optimisation of operational procedures, in accordance with the guidelines of the Higher Commands. The CFC is under the command of the Air Squadron Command – 1st Air Region, which exercises its powers regarding the training, preparation and operational readiness of its Units, so that they acquire and maintain the required levels of operational readiness. The 36th Fighter Wing is one of the 5 Wings of the Italian Air Force that ensure National Air Defence and NATO's Quick Reaction Alert service.
