Aeronautical Academy: the students of the Drago VI course swear allegiance to the Italian Republic

(To air Force)
05/04/23

Today, Wednesday 5 April, the swearing-in and baptism ceremony of the students of the course took place in Piazza del Plebiscito in Naples Dragon VI, or the 1st class of the regular courses of the Aeronautical Academy.

87 young students, coming from all regions of Italy and selected from over 5000 applications for admission, have sworn allegiance to the Italian Republic and its institutions and have formally committed themselves to honoring the ideals of loyalty, courage and sense of duty, principles founders of the Armed Force.

The ceremony took place in the presence of the Minister of Defence, the Hon. Guido Crosetto, of the Undersecretary of State for Defence, the Hon. Matteo Perego di Cremnago, the Chief of Defense Staff, Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone, and the Air Force Chief of Staff, Air Force General Luca Goretti. Several military and civil authorities present, including the prefect of Naples, Claudio Palomba and the mayor of Pozzuoli, ing. Louis Manzoni.

As per tradition, there were the Banner of the City of Naples decorated with a Gold Medal for Military Valor, that of the Campania Region, the Metropolitan City of Naples and the Municipality of Pozzuoli and the Labari and the representatives of the Combatant Associations and of Weapon.

The commander of the Air Force Academy, Brigadier General Luigi Casali, after thanking the authorities and the guests who attended, addressed the protagonists of this day “…first year students in a few minutes, in front of our Institute Flag, you will swear allegiance to your homeland, always be proud of the life you have chosen, the uniform you wear and the homeland you serve. Face the upcoming challenges with determination. Be inspired by the covenant of honor that you will soon pronounce and shout, with intimate conviction, your pride, your commitment and your love for the life you have chosen!”

Following the oath, the baptism of the Course took place, a moment in which the pennant, through an ideal handover between the godfathers of the generations of the previous courses Dragon, was entrusted to the head of the course Dragon VI.

An act that sanctioned the official welcome in the ranks of the Air Force. The two moments of the oath and the baptism of the course were sealed by the overflight of the Frecce Tricolori who spread the traditional tricolor on the sky of Naples.

During his speech, the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, general of the air team Luca Goretti, wanted to underline what: Today's anniversary finds greater emphasis in conjunction with the celebrations of the XNUMXth anniversary of our beloved Air Force. The Air Force has been there, is there and will always be there! With its men and women, on the front line, ready to secure our skies, proudly carrying the Tricolor in all operations outside national borders, always at the service of Italy. And from today also with you, Corso Drago VI.

He continued: In our now centuries-old Armed Forces, you constitute the natural and indispensable continuity that will allow us to fly towards the goals of the near future, towards the next 100 years and beyond. You will operate on highly advanced and sophisticated means and instruments, which today see excellence in 5th generation aircraft, but which for you will also be those of the 6th generation, which we are already thinking about concretely. But beyond the means and technology, don't forget that we "fly in formation!", we "fly in a crew" and therefore we can continue to write pages of exceptional stories only by working as a team, never alone.

He then concluded by saying: Students of the Drago VI Course, welcome among us! Today you are committed to putting the good of the community before personal aspirations, to having honor as the cornerstone of your existence. Do it in accordance with your motto: "With the claw and with the Wing!"

The Chief of Defense Staff, Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone then took the floor, addressing the students of the course:

The oath you took today – wrapped in the tricolor embrace of the National Acrobatic Patrol – it is the first solemn commitment of your life, a moment that you will remember forever, which has inextricably linked you to all the generations of the Arma Azzurra. A highly rewarding choice, a challenge that does you credit, especially in complex times like these where it is easy to prefer, to sacrifice, deceptive shortcuts, apparently more comfortable than a path of life and growth that will lead you to measure yourself with renunciations, sacrifices and growing commitments.

Addressing the students of the course Dragon VI Defense Minister Guido Crosetto said: You are a new generation of Air Force officers who are starting up their engines today, and it is a thrill for me to witness the birth of a dream come true.

The oath, continued the defense minister, it's a bit of a different birth, a solemn act that today lets you fully join the Arma Azzurra, but also the great family of Defense and the Italian State that you have decided to serve through the Air Force. Tough times call for tough choices, like the one you made today. Having a great responsibility presupposes a great soul. Grow as men if you want to be good officers and help all of us to think that our children's future is entrusted to people who know how to protect it as a father would protect it - concluded the Honorable Defense Minister Guido Crosetto.

On this occasion, as per tradition, the "Day in honor of the Gold Medals of Military Valor of Italy" was also celebrated, during which the corps general of the Carabinieri Rosario Aiosa, decorated with Gold Medal for Military Valor, he wanted to address a message of good wishes to the young students who have just made their solemn commitment.

Some information on the Drago VI course:

The course is made up of 92 attendees - 70 men and 22 women - and specifically: 42 Pilots, 17 from the Role of Arms, 16 from the Aeronautical Engineering Corps, 9 from the Commissariat Corps and 8 from the Aeronautical Medical Corps. In their academic career, the young cadets are supported by 5 foreign students belonging to the course Dragon VI, coming from 4 different nations (Libya, Senegal, Niger and Tunisia), based on international cooperation agreements in place formalized by the Air Force in the field of training. As per tradition restored with the sixth generation which sees each course being given a color, the Dragon VI it will have orange topaz as its identifier.

Specifically, these are:

  • 42 pilots (4 women);
  • 17 Role of Arms (5 women);
  • 16 Aeronautical Engineers (4 women);
  • 9 Commissariat Corps (4 women);
  • 8 Aeronautical Medical Corps (5 women).

The Air Force Academy depends on the command of the Air Force Schools/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 Seafarers Role (pilots) and in the Normal Role of Arms, of the Aeronautical Engineers, of the Aeronautical Commissariat Corps and of the Aeronautical Medical Corps. Courses are also held at the Institute for officer cadets (Complementary and Prefixed Pilots and Navigators) 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.