Monday 12 July, at the Courtyard of the Trasvolatori of Palazzo Aeronautica in Rome, the alternation ceremony in the position of general of the Role of Weapons took place between Major General Francesco Cannillo and Major General Sergio Antonio Scalese.
The event, organized in compliance with the limitations connected with the pandemic emergency, was attended by the Chief of Defense Staff, General Enzo Vecciarelli who with gen. Cannillo shared the path in the Academy (course Rostro II), the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, general of the air squad Alberto Rosso, the highest authorities of the armed force, the generals of the pro tempore Weapons Role, representatives of the courses Face as well as officers belonging to the "Role".
At the opening of the farewell speech, gen. div. Cannillo turned his thoughts to the War Flag of the Air Force and a respectful homage to the fallen of the Armed Force, recalling the high symbolic value of the place where the ceremony and the "Sense of gratitude of all of us who serve the Arma Azzurra towards each of those names engraved on the marble in an everlasting memory". Subsequently, in recalling the period of active service of about 46 years which will end on July 14th, General Cannillo focused on the profound transformation that has affected the Armed Force in order to respond to the new operational needs determined by an unstable international context and in continuous change and in particular, after more than two years at the helm of the Weapons Role, has highlighted the progressive evolution that, over time, has characterized the identity of the Role, which today counts in its ranks about a third of the total number of officers of the Air Force, to become "Protagonist in decision-making processes and in the management of logistical and operational activities both in Italy and in operations outside national borders".
The gen. div. Sergio Antonio Scalese, who will formally take up the post on 15 July, in collecting the ideal witness from General Cannillo, underlined the importance of consolidating the identity process started among the members of the Role of Weapons, not only in the "Recognize oneself in the common values of the Armed Force", but above all by continuing to "Garrison very heterogeneous sectors of the Armed Force, but all equally essential for its functioning". He also participated in his own intent aimed at the "Enhancement, constant growth and recognition of competence" of the professionalism of the Role as a paradigm to which "Inform the collaboration with all the stakeholders of the Armed Forces" and pointed out that "A proactive role of the Weapons, not ancillary and ever more adherent to and participating in the needs of the Armed Force, is good not only for the Air Force itself but also for the Defense".
The Chief of Staff of the Air Force, after thanking General Cannillo for the long and qualified service provided, then turned to the officers of the Role of Weapons present, highlighting how the full operation of the Armed Force in the wide spectrum of tasks assigned, need, today as in the past, a plurality of skills and abilities, among which those of the officers of the Weapons Roll are decisive, especially in consideration of the high level of professionalism achieved.
