The changeover ceremony at the command of the Department between the outgoing Colonel Gianmattia Somma and the incoming Colonel Marco Angori took place on Thursday 5 October at the 31st Wing of the Air Force.
The ceremony was presided over by Air Division General Enrico Degni, commander of the Mobility and Support Forces. Among the numerous guests, military and civilian, the mayor of Ciampino, lawyer. Emanuela Colella and the mayor of Castiglione del Lago, Dr. Matteo Burico.
In speaking, Colonel Somma thanked the general. from Degni and with it the entire leadership of the Armed Forces, for the support received over the course of more than two years at the helm of the 31st wing. “Likewise – added the col. Sum - I would like to express heartfelt thanks to all those actors who, alongside us, have always offered maximum collaboration to the flight activity as a whole, often making the difference in excited moments and in certainly complex and delicate scenarios. Thanks therefore to the staff of the various ministries, security agencies and law enforcement agencies, as well as to all the representatives of ENAC, Rome Airports and the structures of the National Health System, with whom we often found ourselves working closely contact in providing assistance to fellow countrymen, often of pediatric age, in imminent danger of life". A heartfelt thank you was therefore addressed to all the staff: “To all of you, men and women of the 31st Wing, I take the liberty of saying, from the bottom of my heart, thank you and “well done” and, by virtue of this, assure you that it was a true honor for me to be able to celebrate with you are the Centenary of the Armed Forces and the ninetieth anniversary of the department".
Colonel Angori wished to address the leaders of the Armed Forces “here represented by Gen. From Degni the most sincere, true and heartfelt thanks for the trust they have shown in me. It is a role that I consider an absolute privilege and which I undertake to honor by making the best of my skills and professional ethics available. Furthermore, I am aware that this Department and the people who are part of it represent the State which puts itself at the service of its citizens, accompanying the High State and Government offices in Italy and abroad, contributing to supporting and guaranteeing the functions vital to democracy. And – above all – through emergency and humanitarian medical transport it is the department staff who personally represent the State to its citizens. All this is possible only with an exceptional sense of duty. Without you, citizens would not be able to enjoy those services that they often don't even know exist until the time of need arrives.".
In taking the floor, Gen. Degni wished to praise the work carried out by Colonel Somma during his command, highlighting how under his guidance the department ensured continuity “the transport of high officials of the State and government authorities throughout the world and the most silent and delicate emergency medical transport activity in favor of our compatriots in risk situations, which demonstrate how the flock is an important resource at the service of the community". He then expressed his best wishes to Colonel Angori “for a profitable and satisfying period. The Armed Forces have recognized the moral qualities and necessary skills in you and have entrusted you with a great responsibility. I guarantee you my personal support and that of my command to enable you to work peacefully, aspiring together to increasingly ambitious goals".
He finally concluded by recognizing the personnel of the 31st wing “strong versatility and enthusiasm with which he tackles both ordinary and extraordinary activities, always and everywhere. Working as a team is in the DNA of this flock, heir to formation flights. Therefore, continue to work together, each contributing their own part to ensure the operations required to achieve increasingly ambitious goals. Beyond the numbers, statistics and official awards, I think that the greatest and most rewarding feedback for everything you do comes from the gratitude of those you have helped in times of difficulty".
The 31st wing is based at Ciampino military airport. The department carries out air transport activities to meet the mobility needs of high officials of state, government and military leaders, for emergency medical transport and for humanitarian reasons of patients in imminent danger of their lives, medical teams, organs for transplants, interventions in favor of compatriots in risk situations. In consideration of the particularity of the tasks assigned, the 31st wing depends on the command of the air team, through the command of the forces for mobility and support and from State flight service and government of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, which exercises operational control of the State Fleet through the room top situations responsible for coordinating all air transport activities for the indicated needs.
