The ceremony for awarding the ranks of second lieutenant to 61 Aspirants of the course was held at the officers' club of the Air Force Academy Eagle VI, in which he took part as godfather of theEagle IV, the Deputy Chief of Staff of the Air Force, Air Force General Aurelio Colagrande, together with Air Force General Giovanni Sciandra, godfather of the course Eagle III.
The presence of the two illustrious godfathers in this simple but significant ceremony was a source of pride for the newly promoted young people and highlighted even more the strong and indissoluble bond that unites the different generations of the courses Aquila.
After the presentation of the ranks, second lieutenant Gianmarco Volpari, head of the course, took the floorEagle VI which retraced the salient "chapters" that characterized the short but intense period spent in the Air Force Academy that began in 2019: “I remember well two lessons that we immediately learned: to live with little, little time and little space, and do a lot with that little!” He then highlighted the teamwork that has always characterized the course: "It doesn't matter how things are done but with whom - Today a new chapter begins for us, the chapter of the sixth generation and mindful of the past I'm sure it will be something extraordinary in which the distance that separates us will not count and above all each of us will be able to do a lot for the Armed Forces even if we are given very little. I congratulate you all. Long live Corso Aquila VI!”
General Colagrande, after thanking the Air Force Academy and General Casali for the hospitality received, addressed the newly promoted "Eagles": “I want to tell you good! Today is a point of arrival: this moment marks your entry into the community of Air Force officers. Enjoy it, appreciate the weight of these new shoulder pads, they will accompany you with further degrees in the future of your life. Be proud of the path you have made as a team”.
At the end of his speech, he highlighted the importance of this goal: “From today you are also responsible for what others do because you are Officers, you will be entrusted with men, with resources, and you must be aware of this; are responsibilities that you cannot ignore. The way to do this is to set an example for others and that's what we're going to ask of you. You have all the skills and potential to do it. Good luck to you all!”
General Sciandra, after recalling his promotion to second lieutenant with emotion, wished the young officers a future full of professional satisfactions: “You are the Corso Aquila! You have the responsibility to represent the Aquila courses which are always viewed with attention and admiration in every department.”
The Air Force Academy depends on the Air Force Schools Command/3rd Air Region. It is a university military institute of higher education which has the task of providing for the recruitment and training of young people who aspire to become officers in the Air Force.
By attending the regular courses of the Academy, one can become second lieutenant in effective permanent service of the Air Force, in the normal navigator role (pilots) and in the normal role of the arms, of the aeronautical engineer, of the aeronautical commissariat corps and of the aeronautical medical corps. Courses are also held at the Institute for officer cadets (pilots and co-drivers and pre-established firm) and directly appointed second lieutenants (both in the normal role and in the special role); finally, in the study plan of the Academy, courses with an aeronautical specialist connotation are foreseen, for foreign personnel and other Armed Forces.
