Col Moschin 40 years UNIS

(To Giusy Federici)
28/11/18

“This event, which will deal with an extremely topical issue such as the fight against terrorism - and it is 40 years since the Special Unit was set up specifically for these tasks - I believe to be doubly important. From my previous experience as commander in the NATO Joint Forces Operational Command in Brunssum, in the various exercises done, there was much, much effort and growing capability. These are forces, like the raiders, highly specialized with capabilities that evolve from year to year, with technological innovations to address the threats that, over decades, have put our families and loved ones at risk.

We always talk about dual use: I don't like this word, because it is sometimes abstract, but the essence of special forces, of raiders, has always been 360 degrees, I would dare to say "spherical and universal", because it can give, in moments of need, right answers everywhere, at home and abroad. Affectionate memories bind me to them, such as the re-enactments of the deeds of the Arditi in Bassano del Grappa in the Great War, and the population that, 100 years later, is still so tied to these men ... ". Thus began the Army Chief of Staff, gen. of the Salvatore Farina Army Corps, after thanking the participants in the conference that commemorated the 40th anniversary of the establishment of the Special Intervention Unit, UNIS, of the Ninth Col Moschin Regiment, on November 27 in Rome, in the historic Library Room of the General Staff of the Army.

"Col Moschin's raiders are not only national but also international and always one step ahead of others. The National Army Raiders Association, ANIE, collects its values, its spirit and looks to the future, as well as remembering the past of our brothers in Weapons that preceded us ... ".

The gen. Farina took advantage of the conference to give a preview and tie it to a desire: "… After due evaluation by myself and my staff, I decided to authorize the Ninth Col Moschin regiment to equip itself with the gray-green beret. I found this strong will both in the Association and on the part of the whole Department, in the current commander and in the predecessors, not all but many ... And I add: the history and the bond of the Ninth is obviously to be ascribed to the heroic deeds performed during the first and the Second World War but the Ninth, in addition to being linked to the historical roots of the Arditi, is linked to the Folgore Paratroopers Brigade. And therefore, in my decision I wrote that I authorize the use of the gray-green beret, but I wish - and therefore I hope (but my wish is also of the brigade commander) - that the fundamental link with the Folgore is not disregarded or cut. The links and paths made together also represent this. Then, as I suggest, but it is not a diktat, I would like that in the parade of June 2nd and in any formal event you can shout, loudly, before or after you choose it, Arditi !!! and Folgore !!! Nobody will be able to do it, only you. I think it's a beautiful thing that will distinguish you even more!".

“Every time I participate in events like this I get excited. Here today there are people who are pieces of my culture and knowing them personally becomes a personal upgrade ... Mine is a thank you, for the piece of history and for what you are doing right now, in every part of the world: we know your professionalism ", commented the Undersecretary of Defense on. Raffaele Volpi in his speech. "The gen. Farina first recalled the genesis. As I always do when I intervene on occasions like these, I have documented myself, I have seen old photographs on the internet, particular photos concerning the taking of Col Moschin as well as the other hills around Monte Grappa. And I think I can say one thing with certainty: that the same spirit that was seen in the eyes of those boys, is the same flame of honor and daring that are still today in the boys of the Ninth ... In some situations, a department turns into community, in a strong friendship, turns into brotherhood… I am happy to be able to say - and you know it better than me - that today the Ninth is one of the first special forces in the world. This means that there has been a path of professionalism and leads us to reflect on your functions. I think your preparation is particularly timely at a time when conflicts become asymmetrical and the forms of engagement within theaters change. It is necessary to know how to interpret modernity, through the specializations of training and with the need to have communication systems, weapons, adequate protections ... So in this moment in which we, as a country, have the obligation to choose what our geopolitical function is and strategic within, in particular, the Mediterranean, we can and must focus on these capabilities. Obviously, we are in a complex context, where we do not always deal with understandable realities, but we have an advantage and we are recognized in the world, that of the ability of intuition, of interpretation of these theaters. The recognition of history passes from the daring of the Grappa areas to the new theaters in which our men are engaged. Politics sometimes fails to fully recognize how the national interest should be interpreted. Sometimes, there is some smudging ...

I take this opportunity to say that for my part, I will not approve absolutely any form of attack done to the Armed Forces, which I sometimes read or see. I think that the Armed Forces, Army, Navy, Air Force, Carabinieri, are absolutely intangible ... I am honored by the task I had, I feel it strongly ... I am aware of a ruling class, a capacity within the Defense staff which is extraordinary and can not be touched by anyone ... ".   

"I would like to reassure the Army Chief of Staff: we, as an Association and having already carried out our period of service within the Folgore Brigade, before the Ninth came out with COMFOSE (Army Special Forces Command, ed) , we always consider ourselves the other side of the same coin. Because it is true, of the National Paratroopers Association of Italy Anpd'I, we do almost all part and then we are also, with General Bertolini, the twins in the same coin. We will always continue to bring the Folgore brigade to the heart, because most of us were born there. We will never deny this. Folgore is history for us ", said the president of the ANIE col. Angel Passafiume.

“As regards this event, I strongly wanted it, behind the input of General Franco Monticone, whom I thank for giving me the idea and therefore we set it up, instead of the usual exercise. A forty-year rather particular for me, we managed to set up this conference in agreement with Colonel Grossi and even earlier with Colonel Angelucci ... it is important, because we recall a whole period, from that 1978 to today ... ".

Among the guests in the room, many commutites of the Ninth, from the former commander Giuliano Angelucci to the general Simone Baschiera to the gen. Roberto Vannacci, former commander of the Folgore brigade.

The gen. Franco Monticone, has commanded Col Moschin from 1978 to 1980 and also the Special Intervention Unit, which he established. He is also responsible for the establishment of the Ranger regiments, objective acquisitions and helicopters for special operations. He held a lectio magistralis on "Initial organizational and doctrinal implementations for the conduct of counter-terrorist operations", an intervention that traced the birth of the UNIS, recalling how the army and navy raiders were activated only in case of an emergency as in the late '70, (at the time of the kidnapping and killing of Aldo Moro by the Red Brigades), being departments that have similar preparation to that of police and carabinieri.

"In the 1978 the special forces of the Army and Navy were involved because, among all the operational departments, they are those who had and have the ability and the culture to conceive, organize, conduct high risk operations ...", explained the gen. Monticone, also remembering how careful the preparation for special forces conceived in this way should be, but also the great criticalities that can be encountered and that are never taken lightly, starting from the fact that if there are hostages, they must be freed and everything is done. to save their lives.

It is a theme and a concern that often recurs, even if Italians tend to forget, but yesterday it was the terrorism of the Red Brigades, today of Daesh and of the various acronyms that recognize themselves in a certain radical Islam. Perhaps also for this, because there has not been a solution of continuity, that our special forces, of all the weapons, our police forces, intelligence and monitoring on the territory have never let their guard down , in a joint, choral work, where everyone has their role but everyone works together for a common cause. Lamberto Giannini, director of the Italian anti-terrorism office on which the Nocs of the State Police also depends, spoke about it in his speech dedicated to "National security, today's situation and desirable evolutionary technical aspects".

"Right now we are facing a very particular type of threat, we have found ourselves faced with a terrorist organization that has become a state and that has declared a war, has proposed an idea that has fascinated many people, has attracted many fighters also from abroad - we are talking about over 5 thousand people from Europe who are going to fight with the idea of ​​the Caliphate - who from the very beginning had the idea of ​​expanding to Europe and this even before we realized the extent of the problem, starting with the attack on the Brussels museum by a man trained with military techniques ...", Said Giannini, recalling that Italy is still in the crosshairs, both because the center of Christianity and for our presence in the foreign theaters, where our soldiers help in the stabilization of the areas and collect a consensus that terrorists obviously do not like.  

The gen. Nicola Zanelli, commander of the COFS, has dealt with "Evolution, perspectives and strengths of the Special Forces sector in contrast to the subversive activities in permitting and other territories" and how, in various capacities, the Special Forces can collaborate with the Defense, the Government and the Interior.

The col. Yuri Grossi, commander of the Ninth, has closed the proceedings talking about "The Army raiders in the 21th century: evolutionary aspects to face the modern concept of global security".