The Chief of Staff of the Air Force, Air Force General Luca Goretti, presided over the ceremony
Thursday 11 July, within the Taranto Air Force Volunteers' School (SVAM), The swearing-in ceremony of the Trainees Volunteer in Initial Service belonging to 28th “Ladone II” Course” – 1st enrolment of 2024.
The ceremony, which was held in solemn form, was presided over by Chief of Staff of the Air Force, Air Force General Luca Goretti, and which also saw the participation of the Commander of the Air Force Schools and of the 3rd Air Region, Air Force Corps General Silvano Frigerio, from the President Chief of the Warrant Officers, Non-Commissioned Officers and Other Ranks, the 1st Lieutenant Mario Bonaventura alongside the main civil, military and religious authorities of the city.
The ceremony involved as many as 522 pupils Having arrived at SVAM on June 6th for the basic training phase, which will be followed by the specialist phase preparatory to operational deployment in the Italian Air Force.
The beautiful waterfront of the “Luigi Bologna” Hydro-aerodrome provided the setting for an event rich in moments of high significance, which marked the solemn act of loyalty to the Italian Republic by the young oath-takers. Their oath was enhanced by the presence of the Band of the Air Force Schools Command / 3rd Air Region and a flypast by a patrol of 4 aircraft from the nearby 61st Wing of Galatina, both on the occasion of the solemn “I swear!” while reading the Aviator's Prayer.
Particularly evocative was the moment when the “godfather”, a graduate belonging to the “Ladone” course held in Taranto in 2008, handed over the “gagliardetto” to the top of the class through the hands of the Chief President of Warrant Officers, Graduates and Troopers; a ritual that best represented the symbolic passing of the baton between the old and new generations called to honour the traditions and values of the Armed Force.
Before the oath is read, Colonel Alessandro Del Buono, Commander of the SVAM, after a deferential salute to the SVAM Institute Flag, a symbol of unity and guardian of the ethical and moral values inherent to all military personnel and an inspiration for daily service to the country, he turned to the young airmen and said to themAbout a month ago, you arrived from different backgrounds, from all over our beautiful country with varying levels of preparation and distinct cultural baggage.. In this past month at SVAM, you have lived side-by-side, sharing difficulties and joys in facing the daily and frantic activities of the School. I have followed and observed you closely, and I was able to appreciate your ambition, your commitment, and your steadfastness from the outset. Hold fast, in all your daily actions, to the values and sound principles that have been indicated to you from the beginning of this journey, namely passion, competence, ethics, and discipline, which find a precise synthesis in the motto of the Ladone II course – Defendi, Vivi, Honora.”He then continued: “Make us proud of the work done, never give up, always be proactive and willing to propose alternative solutions, be diligent and determined protagonists, concrete, generous, and always loyal soldiers in your actions.”.
The Chief of Staff of the Air Force, Air Marshal Luca Goretti, in his speech, he highlighted:“In the second century of the Air Force's life, you are the new blood that will invigorate the Armed Force's Departments where you will be assigned. You have the task of bringing your freshness, your availability, your youth to the service of the organisation in which you are about to experience an intense and exciting period, but also a difficult and arduous one due to the many new things to face.” He then continued, adding: “From its very beginnings, our Air Force has always founded its excellence on the quality of its personnel, on team spirit, on dedication to service, on an intrinsic propensity for excellence, and on the will never to be satisfied. May you too become bearers of these distinctive characteristics, contributing with a full sense of responsibility towards the fulfillment of the Armed Force's fundamental tasks, so that it can continue its flight with wings spread wide towards the future.”.
The ceremony concluded with the symbolic tossing of caps, a liberating moment with which the students sealed the significant occasion they had experienced, before being warmly embraced by their numerous family members.
The SVAM It is the only national training and educational centre that provides basic military and moral training for troops destined to serve in the Air Force, as well as specific vocational instruction. The School reports to the Air Force Schools Command/3rd Air Region, one of the three top Commands of the Armed Force. This Command is tasked with ensuring the selection, recruitment, military, cultural and vocational training of Air Force personnel, and flight training (at an international level). It achieves this through the study and adoption of innovative teaching and training methodologies focused on the learner, and informed by innovation, creativity, optimisation of human and material resources, environmental sustainability, and constant engagement with institutions and the local area in service to the community.
