At the Pozzuoli Air Force Academy, the individual swearing-in ceremony of 73 Second Lieutenants – Cronaca Flegrea

POZZUOLI – The individual swearing-in ceremony of 73 Second Lieutenants of Corso Borea VI took place on Monday 15 April in the Theater Hall of the Air Force Academy in Pozzuoli. The young Officers – 34 Pilots, 8 from the Army Corps, 16 from the Aeronautical Engineering Corps, 8 from the Aeronautical Commissariat Corps and 7 from the Aeronautical Medical Corps – swore loyalty to the Italian Republic individually, in front of the Flag of the Institute, in the presence of the Vice Commander of the Air Force Academy, Colonel Roberto Leo and the Course Commander, Colonel Antonio Corrado. To give even more prestige to the ceremony, the presence of the Commander of the Air Force Schools/3rd Air Region, Air Team General Silvano Frigerio, Godfather of the Borea IV Course and of the Air Team General Giovanni Mocci, Godfather of the Borea III Course , testifying to the strong bond that unites the different generations of the Borea Corsi. Representatives of the permanent cadre also took part in the exciting event, which constitutes one of the solemn moments of the academic training course, as well as the families of the future Commanders of the Armed Forces, who attended from all over Italy to share a significant stage of their life. In his greeting address, General of the Air Division Luigi Casali, Commander of the Air Force Academy, after having greeted and thanked the Godfathers who attended and all the family members, highlighted the commitment undertaken by the young Officers with today’s oath: «I want to share how proud I am of the results you have achieved, of the growth path, of the choices you have made. Well done!” At the conclusion of his speech «In just under a year you will begin to leave the Academy to embark on a professional path that is nothing short of exciting; not simple, not banal, certainly unique. You will have the opportunity to experience as protagonists the aerospace domain that looks to future technologies, which will soon take us to the moon and then even further towards increasingly ambitious goals”. Next, General Frigerio spoke: «Today you moved me by pronouncing the oath formula, a formula that contains some very important concepts that I would like to highlight, first of all, loyalty to the Italian Republic. With today’s oath you have sworn loyalty to all Italian citizens and to guarantee their freedom with your actions, for the defense of the homeland and the safeguarding of free institutions. You, before any other citizen, are called to do so, due to your status and, shortly by going to further train at the training departments and flight schools, completing the academic process, it will mean that you are ready to do so.» Before leaving the stage, General Frigerio donated to Corso Borea VI a copy of a futuristic painting exhibited at the Air Force Palace which represents a group of fourteen seaplanes, commanded by Italo Balbo who completed the first Atlantic cruise following the route Orbetello – Rio de Janeiro. The plaque that has been affixed is very significant: “May the example of the flyers be an incentive to always act with courage, daring and passion!”

THE OATH – The individual oath represents one of the key steps in an Officer’s career, a key ceremony within the Academy which seals the bond of each individual Officer with the Armed Forces. The swearing second lieutenants, belonging to the fourth class of the regular courses, with the signature on the oath become officers in permanent service, ready to leave the Academy to reach the Flight Schools and Operational Departments of the Air Force. The Air Force Academy depends on the Air Force Schools Command/3rd Air Region. It is a military institute of higher education of a university nature, which has the task of providing for the recruitment and training of young people who aspire to become Air Force Officers. By attending the Academy’s Regular Courses you can become a Second Lieutenant in Effective Permanent Service of the Air Force, in the Normal Navigator Role (pilots) and in the Normal Role of the Arms, of the Aeronautical Engineers, of the Air Commissariat Corps and of the Aeronautical Medical Corps. Courses are also held at the Institute for Officer Cadets, Complementary Pilots and Navigators and Fixed Stations and directly appointed Second Lieutenants (both in the Normal Role and the Special Role); finally, the Academy’s Study Plan includes specialized aeronautical courses for foreign personnel and other Armed Forces.