The swearing-in ceremony for the Fixed-term Volunteers was presided over by the Commander of the Air Force Training Command / 3rd Air Region.
Friday 18th October, at the Taranto Air Force Volunteer School (SVAM), in the presence of Commander of the Air Force Training Command / 3rd Air Region, Air Force General Silvano Frigerio, the oath-taking took place Volunteers on Initial Service del 28th “Ladone II” Course” – 2nd intake of 2024.
The event, attended by the most important civil, military, and religious authorities of the city, saw the 475 VFI attendees to swear before their numerous family members who, having arrived from all over Italy, shared an emotive ceremony with the young airmen. The solemn act of loyalty to the Italian Republic, espresso via the “I swear!”, took place in the historic square of the “Luigi Bologna” seaplane base where evocative moments followed one another, enhanced by the reading of the “Aviator's Prayer” by the Head of Course and the release of a Gonfalon containing the names of the 475 attendees, as a symbol of the flight that the protagonists of the day were about to undertake.
In his speech, the Commander of the SVAM, Colonel Alessandro Del Buono, wanted to stress the value and importance of the oath as “Solemn undertaking of maximum fidelity to our beloved Homeland by the Airmen”, stressing that “Your promise and your commitment mean that from today an entire nation, millions of Italians, will place their hopes, pride and faith in you for an ever more efficient, flexible institution, ready to face the challenges that the difficult, complex and highly tumultuous international context calls us to confront.”Finally, Col. Del Buono reiterated to the young Airmen how much the Armed Force “We need to be able to rely on men and women who can be examples of loyalty, courage, moral strength, dignity and love for their neighbours.”.
In conclusion, the Commander of the Air Force Schools Command/3rd Air Region, Air Brigadier General Silvano Frigerio, addressing the young jurors, stressed the importance of the ceremony: “Fidelity, honour, discipline and sacrifice; these are the words contained within the oath just taken, words which do not represent a mere empty proclamation, but which clearly and unequivocally embody the values that each of you, as citizens in uniform, must inspire your daily actions by. From today – he continued – Ahead of you lies a life of commitment, and at times, of renunciation and sacrifice, a life fraught with responsibility, but at the same time rich with the rewards of feeling up to important challenges in service to the country.”. Finally, addressing the relatives present, he concluded: “You have entrusted your children to us, and as a father, I know they are the most precious possession. I assure you that we will educate them according to the soundest ethical principles and based on the best cultural and professional training. Shortly, they will be employed, each in their own field of work, and they must be ready to contribute without hesitation to the defence and security of the Nation, wherever necessary. I therefore ask you to always support them with understanding and affection, but allow them to serenely follow the path that awaits them, with the hope that Our Holy Patroness, the Madonna of Loreto, will always protect us in our daily work.”.
The ceremony concluded with the traditional throwing of caps by the Airmen, who were then able to embrace relatives and friends.
The SVAM It is the only national training and educational centre that provides basic military and moral training for the personnel of the Troops destined to serve in the Italian Air Force, as well as their specific professional instruction. The School is subordinate to Air Force Schools Command / 3rd Air Force Region, one of the three Joint Commands of the Armed Force tasked with ensuring the selection, recruitment, military, cultural and professional training of Air Force personnel and flight training (at an international level), 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, eco-sustainability, constant dialogue with institutions and the territory in service of the community.
