A long and exciting training experience, full of challenges and difficulties, the one that ended last November 10, for two young Navy officers.
At the end of 14 months characterized by very demanding physical tests and tactical teachings, the second lieutenants Luca Guerra and Daniele Rigliano have successfully concluded the Young Officers Course (YOC) of the British Royal Marines, thus obtaining the prestigious "green beret" symbol of the "Commando" specialty.
Listed as one of the toughest infantry courses in the world, the YOC requires the achievement of exceptional psychophysical standards, unchanged since the Second World War, and leads young visitors to consolidate the leadership skills essential to command a marine infantry unit, in hostile areas of operation, through insertion with special means, land, landing and helicopters.
After a tough initial selection at the Lympstone School of the British Marines, the two officers, the first in the Italian Armed Forces to have faced this experience, underwent tests in any type of operational environment (desert, mountain, jungle), in severe climatic conditions. , thus achieving full familiarity in the use of sophisticated weapons and equipment and an in-depth knowledge of the technical-tactical procedures of land combat.
The course, which culminated in the famous Commando Phase, saw the two officers face extreme conditions alongside their English colleagues in selective tests such as the 12-mile fast march with a 35 kg set-up, the 70 km march on rough terrain and with 70 kg of individual equipment (Young Officers' Marines Peace) and the infamous 30 Miler which features 30 miles (48,3 km) of crosscountry with 20 kg of equipment and individual weapon.
Acquired the qualification Commando, the young officers took part in the NATO exercise Baltops in Northern Europe and the Baltic Sea, carrying out a joint training period with the US Marines at the Quantico base in Virginia (USA) for about a month, to consolidate their professional background and obtain the qualification Combat Ready (ready to fight).
In the coming days, the second lieutenants Guerra and Rigliano will return to Italy and will officially join the ranks of the 1st San Marco regiment.
