On Thursday 28 April, over 300 runners took part in the ‘joint forces’ cross-country race organised by the Air Force Marshals” School. The event was attended by all cadets currently undergoing training at the Marshals” School, as well as its permanent staff, as well as personnel from the Army Non-Commissioned Officers” School, the Army Aviation Command, the 4th Scorpione, the Italian Red Cross Military Corps, the State Police, the Prison Service and the Fire Brigade stationed in the city of Viterbo. In total, over 300 military personnel lined up at the starting line – including Colonel Antonio Gaetano Coppola, Commander of the Air Force Sergeants‘ School – who competed on the approximately 7.5 km course set against the stunning backdrop of the Cimini Mountains. Victory went to Chief Airman Durante Francesco (Air Force Marshals’ School), who finished in 28.02‘17, ahead of EI Non-Commissioned Officers’ School Cadet Marshal Daniele Gennaro (29.04.07) and State Police Assistant Federico Bastianini (29.37.46). The ‘non-competitive’ event forms part of the activities organised as part of the ‘Ludi Sportivi 2011’, which see Air Force Marshal Cadets competing against one another in various sporting disciplines; the initiative was launched not only to highlight the importance, even within the military, of sport and the values it embodies, but also to celebrate, on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the Unification of Italy, that spirit of unity and shared ideals which has always characterised relations between the various civilian and military components of the ‘security and defence’ sector. On this occasion, the Marshals’ School also organised a fundraising campaign to support the ‘Vitersport’ Sports Association, enabling it to run sporting activities for athletes with disabilities. Below are the overall podium finishers (men’s and women’s) and those in the various categories established by the organisers.
