Almost in the center of Siena there is a huge garden, immense trees and flowers everywhere; children who play carefree in the innocence of their tender age. I think of who knows how many children used to come to play among these swings and now, as adults, they find themselves working in the building opposite.
The Bandini barracks is the headquarters of the 186 ° Paracadutisti Folgore Regiment and the children could not choose better neighborhood.
The life and work of the parakeets have always had a mysterious charm. They launch themselves from the planes, you find them in the most complicated situations, they run under the midday sun with the inevitable weighted backpack and weapon. They are the ones who shout "Thunderbolt!" and you hear them two blocks away.
The commander of the Sienese Regiment - Colonel Trubiani - agrees to tell me (and explain) some of their "world", what they do and how they live.
Commander, what is the paratrooper's job and how is it used on the ground?
"The paratrooper units are organized, equipped and trained to be placed in the target area by air-landing carried out with air launch and / or air assault, to conduct an airborne operation. We launch from a plane or a helicopter in the areas where our intervention is required.
Our specialty is considered an entry force, so we can be used at short notice and in areas where in most cases there are still no other military forces.
We work by natural predisposition in combination with the Air Force - without which it would be difficult to move - and in multinational assets.
Precisely because of the peculiarity of the theaters where we operate, training and preparation in Italy must be at the maximum of our potential. From now a clear line of employment of these units begins to emerge, a task not easy to open new operating theaters .
The unknown frightens everyone and working in environments where the unknown is the daily bread requires an effort, not only physical but above all of soul, to overcome fears and limits and bring home the required result ". What are the guidelines that the paratrooper follows when he operates in Italy and abroad?
"The parachutist is born and grows up with a combative spirit, which does not mean violent but means" tenacious ", it means believing in one's work and carrying it forward with his head held high.
The versatility and cohesion in our departments is a must. Not knowing which part of the world you will be parachuted into if you don't fit in doesn't work. The men we work with become a second family and above all our protection. Motivation drives us to be united and to resist.
The spirit of the paratrooper, his ethics - which always follows him even when he is in plain clothes - are the backbone of this specialty.
The discipline for us is not blind obedience but it is the awareness of relying on our commander and our companions to be guided. This constantly improves us as Soldiers and as Men.
The spirit of body and initiative are the traits that distinguish us.
Training makes us paratroopers, it tempers us for the challenges that we will have to face and overcome, it makes us united in the difficulties amalgamating all the above mentioned cornerstones.
The staff and their families are the greatest of our resources and it is our job to make sure that they never feel abandoned. It is part of the spirit of the Brigade not to leave anyone behind, including families ".
.jpg)
Being a paratrooper is not for everyone.
There are two cases: either you are a paratrooper because you have amaranth and khaki blood or you become one by dint of overcoming your limits. There are no other ways.
However, even the most fortunate ones, those who by natural predisposition are paratroopers in the nature must pass the required process. Number of patents and stars are won on the field.
How do you become a paratrooper?
"We start by saying that if you do not pass the various training phases, you do not become a paratrooper.
For the type of work we do are required minimum essential standards and basic skills that are assimilated through various courses. Furthermore, the mental training of the parachutist and the teamwork are born and developed in the department.
The first module is called the 'KA module': it is the first barrier to enter the Folgore and lasts 8 weeks. It strengthens the body and - above all - the mind and begins to make it clear how we work. The most diverse activities take place: from weighted to topographic marches, both day and night, work alone or in groups, in teams or in quatrains in a sort of progression of difficulty. You are trained in the MCM - military combat method - weapon disassembly, masking, BLS (Basic Life Support - first aid technique, ed) and any other activity useful for carrying out the required task.
Once you have passed the course - where you are continually evaluated with theoretical tests - you get to the second module.
The 'KSP module' is the paratrooper's bread. This course prepares the future skydiver for the parachute jump and lasts 4 weeks. Techniques are taught to jump from the cockpit without problems, landing techniques (you understand why they are fundamental) and of course we explain how to solve any problems in flight or malfunctions.
At the end of the course are required three launches - with which you take the license - for the military patent are required two additional launches with a strictly ballasted backpack and weapon in tow.
If you get to the end the patent does not take away anyone, you sew it on me ".
.jpg)
Everything is soaked with sweat and effort, here nothing is given to anyone.
I realized that the paratrooper is like this: he conquers everything by paying from his own pocket and where the single does not arrive, the group arrives.
On these bases a stain is created that works in every scenario. The versatility and commitment allowed the Folgore to set foot in every operational theater and in each of them has distinguished itself for professionalism, reliability and sense of duty.
When the Brigade is not employed abroad it is practiced in particularly realistic simulations on national territory. In this context the 'Mangusta' exercise is located. Every year for more than three decades, the Mangusta is the assessment test of the Brigade and its structures, puts the spotlight on the doctrines, the means and the men to understand the criticalities and improve their work.
Two tactical groups - interdiction and counter-interdiction - completely deployed on the terrain of the Tuscan Maremma must achieve their respective objectives avoiding being captured by the other party.
This simulation lasts about a couple of weeks but the programming that precedes it lasts for months. This in support of the thesis for which the Folgore never takes anything for granted.
The exercises are sometimes invited to join units of foreign paratroops who have bases on national soil, in particular the collaborations with Americans and English are highlighted.
During the year - according to the financial resources of the Regiment - multinational exercises are planned abroad, where activities are coordinated with the other paratroop regiments in NATO in reconstructions of complex and realistic scenarios.
Currently the 186 ° Regiment takes part in the turnaround for the Joint Rapid Response Forces (JRRF) a pool of capacity and inter-force assets, already existing on national soil, with high and very high operational readiness.
.jpg)
In November, 2014 at the Carpegna military polygon, there was an intense cycle of training activities for the preparation of the Folgore at the national JRRF.
In addition to the fire evaluation of the platoons, of all the rifle companies paratroopers and the heavy mortar platoon, particular attention was given to the cooperation procedures with the 3 ^ dimension through training missions of close air support. These saw the parachutists operate in close contact with the reconnaissance helicopters and "Mangusta" escort of the 48 group of the 7 "Vega" army aviation regiment, also in preparation for the national JRRF basin.
A small displacement of paratroopers is employed at the World Exposition in Milan, where they have the task of guaranteeing safety to civilian staff employed in the works and visitors from all over the world.
In everyday life the Regiment is strongly cohesive with the civil institutions present in the municipality and in the province of Siena.
The men starting from the officers up to the troops take part in sports events aimed at supporting charitable associations based in the Tuscan territory or on the national one. Schoolchildren are invited to take part in sensitization initiatives promoted by Folgore in partnerships with independent associations, sometimes carried out in the square of the barracks.
The commander is keen to emphasize that "the women and men of the regiment are perfectly integrated into the Sienese community. In painful moments for our specialty - such as September 17, 2009 - we felt the citizens gather around us and our loved ones, a fact it will not be forgotten. We see a lot of participation in every demonstration and recurrence that concerns the barracks. Of this we do nothing but be proud and proud ".
I take my leave of the regiment and reflect on the fact that being a paratrooper is not for everyone. These are men who will continue to live with their feet anchored to the ground, their heads ready for the next launch and their eyes fixed on the future. They will conquer on the field, with hard work and sweat, every victory and together they will overcome every challenge that the modern world will decide to put before them.
History teaches us that they are destined for big business and the future is already written in their DNA made of amaranth, impetus and daring genes.
Denise Serangelo
.jpg)
(in the last photo, Col. Trubiani with the winning team of the "Fanti dell'Aria" 2014 trophy)
