In Turin, two things are untouchable: the Mole Antonelliana and the Alpini. The command of the Alpine Taurinense brigade is hosted by one of the largest barracks in Piedmont, a place that for the people of Turin fluctuates between sacredness and passion.
Being an Alpine in the Piedmontese capital is a privilege and, for me, I grew up in this city, crossing the threshold of the barracks where the Alpini work and plan is a small personal goal.
In the guard post, three very kind and helpful young soldiers welcome me, they try to even make me company while the officer in charge of my reception arrives; we left well and the black feathers!
Waiting for General Panizzi - a commander for a little over a year - to receive me in his office, I pause to breathe some of the air we breathe within the walls of the brigade.
The excitement that I find in the corridors is a lot but, as I imagined, no one is denied, despite the piles of practices that fall on every desk - including that of the general - a greeting and two words are not denied to anyone. All this welcome makes you feel as if, in the end, those vegetated dresses would take them too, a pleasant sensation that makes the visitor ask, know and understand the spirit of this extraordinary specialty.
Between the ringing telephone and an incoming document to sign, I await my appointment by reading the biography of the general. Wearing the uniform for the first time at the military academy of Modena in 1981 with the 163rd course, he had a rich career studded with various jobs abroad. The passion for studies immediately appears evident: three degrees, several masters and a considerable number of specialization courses and seminars. Enrolled in the National Order of Journalists, he has also collaborated with some of the most important defense information magazines in our country.
Shortly thereafter I can finally address my first question to the general.
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There are many who claim that having different specialties in the army is no longer necessary, a discussion that also involved prominent members of our armed forces. Why, in your opinion, is it still useful to continue to maintain the body of the alpine and what are the characteristics that distinguish you in the operating theaters?
As is easily understood what distinguishes the alpine from other specialties is 'know how to live, move and fight' in a difficult environment like the mountain.
Training our troops to tasks that are often and often very complex, means getting them used to coping with difficulties that will, in one way or another, have to be overcome in operational theaters.
Our training and our teachings are adaptable to all possible scenarios; for this reason, in the future of our Brigade, all types of intervention are foreseen and in different parts of the world, we are not bound to the mountains. But we have to say thanks also to the latter if we are able to operate in all the areas where we are called to intervene.
That the Alpini were not linked exclusively to mountain environments was understood in ten years of employment in Afghanistan, a tireless employment that has seen them protagonists on several occasions.
Despite our presence in the "Country of kites" can be said ended (the return of troops is in fact scheduled for the end of the current year with the exception of a rate of staff to ensure the training of the Afghan security forces) , I would like to understand how the mentality and the training of Taurinense have changed in these ten years to meet the demanding of this complex and tumultuous Country.
Afghanistan has made us understand that the intense training to which we subject our boys (and girls) is fundamental. We did our best and we knew that it was not possible to fail. My boys have learned to know how to manage themselves, a crucial aspect in modern international missions: every single man can, in fact, make a mission fail, so it is important and tactically fundamental that everyone knows how to operate with a sense of responsibility to avoid endangering the goal of our intervention.
We had to learn the right balance between the armed presence required and work in close contact with the population, we could not only be soldiers, not just humanitarian workers.
Finding the right balance between the two dimensions has not been easy but we have succeeded, this has brought recognition to my men from the local population, from various exponents of our country and also from NATO. Several allied countries have congratulated these years with the soldiers of the Italian army for the splendid work done with the local people, with the local institutions and with their security forces.
The general, when he talks about his mountaineers - which are just over five thousand - reveals a vein of pride and satisfaction, on the other hand I do not think it is necessary to hide anything, excellent and daily results are under the eyes of the whole country , that pride and those satisfactions are more than deserved.
That the Taurinense is one of the spearheads of our army has been proven for years, has taken part in fundamental international missions and is currently also used in areas of high social tension on the national territory, however it is also known that the much acclaimed spendig review has a particular preference for the expenses of the Defense sector. How did it affect the operations of the brigade that continues to be at the forefront on every front?
He is right when he says that my boys are engaged in many activities. In addition to international missions, on the national front we are involved in the "Safe Roads" operation in Piedmont and Liguria, and we are always ready to intervene in the event of a natural disaster affecting Piedmont or neighboring areas, as happened recently during the flood which hit Genoa and the Province of Alessandria. The commitments are not lacking. Resources are scarce for us too, but we try to optimize them.
Thanks to the close relationship we have with our superior commands and the sharing of the objectives to be achieved, Taurinense has never spared the training of its staff. Let's do a careful, careful analysis before spending every single penny; and I believe that a balance has been reached between the resources sent to us from Rome and what we can and must do.
When I feel that the presence of my men is required for any reason and I know I can use them because I have the resources, both in terms of personal and economic, I am very satisfied.
When I work in the Alps and I appreciate the work done - judgments that, I want to clarify, are not due but always welcome - I feel that we are really useful to our country and we serve it in a serious and professional way, with passion and respect. A gratifying feeling for everyone: for me, the commander, but also and above all for all the soldiers who have taken a concrete part in the work. "
What has been said so far is the result of past work and will certainly have a major impact on the future of the Brigade, but the general has in his eyes painted an equally glorious future for all the men who work at Taurinense.
When I mention the Italian-French military cooperation I am perfectly aware of having launched the opportunity to talk about the new "spearhead" of the brigade, a job that is absorbing great energy and that is producing incredible results.
The Italian-French brigade command called "Non-Standing Bi-National Brigade Command" is a mixed, non-permanent, but readily employable unit composed of the men of our brigade and our colleagues from the 27 ^ French mountain infantry brigade.
It is a flexible and adaptable military instrument, being able to carry out missions in the United Nations, NATO and the European Union, such as, for example, constituting the initial deployment force of a larger contingent.
We summarize. The idea of this new cooperation was born in 2009 with the awareness that it was necessary to face the emerging crises in the new international scenario through a closer cooperation between the French and Italian armies.
In 2011 you get to the signatures of the respective defense ministers for the technical agreements that make the use of the brigade take shape and the phases are defined to reach full operational capacity.
For two years, joint training activities have been intensified by the two brigades - alpine and chasseurs alpins - to test the operation, coordination and standardization of protocols and materials on the ground. An indescribable personal satisfaction and above all a great achievement for all those who have worked there.
In the month of November in Bracciano (Rome), at the simulation and validation center, the achievement of the full operational capacity of the newly formed command will be certified, to which the Taurinense is working hard because everything is impeccable: for the beginning of the coming year there will be certification also on the part of the French and the first job on the mission is also expected in the 2015 in Lebanon.
What the general has shown is one of the most important projects that the army is carrying out at this time and it is certainly an immense satisfaction for all those who still believe in this trade.
Being an Alpine is always a great honor, but also a considerable responsibility. Glorious traditions and a history full of successes and sacrifices, I would like to know what it means to be a general in a brigade so important for our army?
Before answering, the General smiles, thinks about it for a moment and answers me. I am lucky, I am convinced and I also know that I am immensely privileged. My predecessors all have important names and have made the name of this brigade great; I am aware of the responsibilities that my role entails and I know that my men expect me to direct them towards a future where they can be proud to wear the uniform of the Alpine troops.
General, what would you say to a young man who wants to enter the body of the alpine?
I would tell him to study - the answer leaves me a bit perplexed, but the speech the general has in mind shows an enlightened personality - he studies to not be dominated by ideologies, he learns to reason and understand what happens around you, so you can talk always with rationality and knowledge of the facts.
I would say that I learn to be humble because without sacrifice nothing is achieved, neither in the alpine nor in life; we must commit ourselves, understand and have a mind that is always ready.
Ultimately, I would say to the boy - or the girl - that obedience is not blind but it is understanding and assuming responsibility; you must know how to trust those who have more experience because it will lead you to a personal growth, will guide you and make you think.
The concept of responsible obedience also derives that of discipline that is a fundamental value for all the military, everything has its place, as we live in a system and they are part of a subsystem that is the army where everyone is fundamental because he has a very specific role. "
The last part of the interview is the profound reflection of a man who not only wears a uniform but feels his responsibility towards his men. Commander with exceptional personal acumen, General Panizzi is an interlocutor who ponders his words, he really knows how to guide his men towards personal improvement. Nowadays we all know the value of communication, but the general also understood that communication must be studied in order not to be misunderstood.
The Turinese know that "our" brigade is definitely in good hands and we can only foresee a rosy future for our black feathers!
Denise Serangelo
