Today, at the "Corrado Baccarini" military airport in Grosseto, home of the 4th wing, the change of command took place between Colonel Filippo Monti, outgoing commander, and Colonel Vincenzo Sirico, incoming commander.
The ceremony, presided over by the commander of the 1st air region and the Milan Combat Forces command, air team general Luigi Del Bene, took place in the presence of all the deployed base personnel and a large representation of religious, civil and soldiers of the Maremma territory.
To seal the passing of the baton between the two commanders, the traditional and evocative handing over of the War Flag of the Department, decorated with the Gold and Silver Medal for Military Valor and the Military Order of Italy.
In his farewell speech, Colonel Monti first of all addressed a deferential greeting to the War Flag of the flock and then addressed a cordial welcome to the assembled military and civil authorities. Referring to his period at the helm of the glorious 4th wing, where in 1998 his operational career began with the F-104 and then, in the years to come, also the role of commander of the 20th group, it was addressed to all the staff of the department expressing heartfelt gratitude with the following words: “All my men and women of the 4th wing ... gave me a gift that I have rarely seen in my career: serving the country with passion and professionalism for the common good of defense and not for mere and non-productive individual returns”. He then wanted to thank the superior authorities as follows: “Thank you for entrusting me with a task that taught me that being an example for your staff is not an advertising slogan but a daily moral mission”. Finally he wished good luck to his colleague who took over from him in command of a splendid operational reality such as the 4th wing.
Colonel Sirico, in thanking the superior authorities for the trust placed in him and his predecessor for all the work done and for the team he created, expressed his heartfelt appreciation in these words: “So much tradition has filled me with honor and emotion, knowing that the Air Force has entrusted me with a leading wing, made up of professionals of inestimable value”. He concluded by addressing the personnel of the 4th wing directly: “Sugello, from day one, my pact with all of you: I will give my best and go further, to become part of a team that will continue to guarantee the safety of Italian skies, overcoming every obstacle and operating in excellence”.
The speeches were closed by General Del Bene who, after having addressed an obsequious greeting to the highly decorated War Flag of the 4th wing and expressed a moving thought to the fallen who had honored it, thanked the gathered authorities: “Your presence today has embellished a moment that marks, every two years, the life of the Air Force wings”. Then turning to the department staff he continued: “We are asked for such an effort, at home and outside national borders, to ensure continuity in the mission. In ensuring that you were always ready and trained to the best of your ability, you did so admirably, both within NATO in Air Policying activities in Eastern Europe and in support of Operation Inherent Resolve in Kuwait and Iraq. You also worked with the same effectiveness in all the major training events. With the F-104 first and the EFA today, you are pushing the Air Force to ever-increasing operational standards, achieving enviable levels of interoperability with our most important international partners. Well done! It's a privilege to have you employed.".
Finally, he wished Colonel Sirico a sincere good luck: “Competence and courage must characterize the actions of those who lead; However, I would add that what is needed above all is the heart because it is what makes the difference in the most complex and difficult moments. With your undisputed skills, human qualities and the indispensable support of the staff, I am sure you will achieve all the expected objectives".
The 4th wing depends on the air squad command through the Combat Forces command. It has the task of ensuring the air defense of the area of national interest, contributing to the control, since peacetime, of the relevant airspace and carrying out air defense operations in the assigned areas, as part of international prevention operations and crisis management. Specifically, the department is involved in the alarm service, 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, through the use of the aircraft Euro Fighter. Furthermore, the 4th wing is responsible for ensuring the operational conversion of the pilots of the Armed Forces to be used in the line Eurofighter F-2000.
