From June to August, at the training areas of the 16th "Force Protection" wing of Martina Franca (TA) and of the Air Force Volunteer School (SVAM) of Taranto, the "Local Defense" qualification course was held for the marshal students coming from the AM Marshal School of Viterbo and belonging to the 25th "Normal" Course, together with some attendees of the 21st "Internal" marshals course and five marshals from the operational departments of the AM, and the acquisition course of the "Protection and Special Forces" specialty in benefit of the 28th initial volunteer course (VFI).
The marshals and marshal students, already in possession of the "Operations" category and "Protection and Special Forces" specialty, began following the theoretical-practical lessons from 17 June. The training activities, held by the "Fusilier" personnel of the training group of the Apulian wing, a national aeronautical training and training center in the sector of force protection for air operations, were divided into modules and lasted 7 weeks. During the educational course, professional military subjects were covered which, among other things, concerned "urban combat", "force protection", "real shooting" exercises, personal defense and activities to combat drones and micro-drones, called Counter-Unmanned Aerial System (C-UAS). The 26 attendees followed the lessons with participation and motivation, implementing and refining their theoretical-practical knowledge in the "force protection" field. Subsequently, they can be inserted into the defense devices of aeronautical installations in Italy and in operational theaters, where necessary.
The instructors of the training group of the 16th wing also held specific training modules for those attending the 28th initial volunteer training course (VFI). The specialty course, which began on July 15th, lasted 3 weeks and followed the basic training phase carried out by the SVAM of Taranto. During this period the students were also able to follow theoretical lessons on Chemical, Bacteriological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) defense, on the use of individual and team weapons and on personal defense. The latter were followed by practical activities at the local gym and shooting range.
All the training was very intense and profitable, confirming the professionalism, dedication and synergy put in place by all the components in order to ensure that the young students receive specific and high-level training.
The 16th wing is the air rifle unit. Since 2004 it has been based on the Martina Franca (TA) base and reports to the forces command for mobility and support, hierarchically placed under the command of the air team. Its main task is to ensure, according to the assigned readiness levels, the operation of the specialist components of force protection for air operations, to guarantee the contribution to the protection of personnel, weapon systems, vehicles and materials as well as areas, grounds and infrastructures of particular interest to the Armed Forces, located on the national territory or abroad.
Since 2004 it has operated in 37 different international missions, in 20 operational theaters around the world, accumulating over 36 thousand flight hours, of which 25 thousand for the safety of Air Force aircraft and those on board. From August 2005 to December 2014, the Air Rifles were present in Afghanistan to ensure the protection of the Herat base. The War Flag of the 16th "Force Protection" wing was decorated with a Gold and a Silver Medal for Aeronautical Valor by the President of the Republic.
