During the brief but significant ceremony, General Lodovisi highlighted, with rapid temporal steps, the great effort made by the 32 ° Stormo in supporting the armed force by carrying out, in integrated defense contexts both in NATO and in Europe, exercise and operational activities with its aircraft, underlining the extraordinary commitment made by all the staff of the department, who without energy savings, sustained an effort to allow the achievement of prestigious operational results, meritorious of such collective recognition.
The solemn praise was bestowed with the following motivation:
"Glorious Flock that without interruption has passed from a past of memorable aeronautical and military feats to a present characterized by a long and solid tradition of excellence, under the constant denominator represented by the exceptional professionalism of all those who have served and they serve at the Department.
Present as a protagonist in many international operations such as the "Deliberate Guard" for the maintenance of peace in Bosnia, it was the site of the AM-X Operative Section, under the command of the 32 ° Stormo Commander and consisting of aircraft and crews of other Departments operational of the Air Force, set up to face the Kosovo crisis through numerous operational missions in the Balkan territory.
Subsequently the Stormo participated, with its Groups and its own support personnel, in various foreign risk rides, in the exercises and in the real operations with the AM-X aircraft such as the surveillance of the airspace of Rome during the funeral of the Holy Father John Paul II, the installation of Pope Benedict XVI and the signing of the "Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe".
The operational uniqueness of the Department is also linked to the 28 ° Teleguidated Aircraft Flight Group which has the task of conducting air operations with "Predator" remotely piloted aircraft. This arrangement has allowed the Wing to be at the forefront in the technological potential that can be used both nationally and above all in international crisis scenarios. The Group has gained more and more experience following the numerous real activities carried out such as the "Ancient Babylon" and "Unified Protector" Operations.
From the 2009 the Wing has employed men and vehicles in Afghanistan operating with both the AM-X and Predator aircraft, supporting the ISAF mission. In a hostile and unstable context the complex operational activities were managed according to extremely valid and concrete methods and procedures, highlighting a great professionalism and an excellent efficiency that allowed to provide an exemplary and extraordinary performance. In particular, numerous mission observation missions were carried out in favor of the Italian contingent and of the Allied Forces as well as missions of recognition and intervention to support ground troops within the Joint Air Task Force which allowed ground personnel to operate in safe conditions.
The total success of the mission, as demanding and complex as it is unique in the international aeronautical scene, has confirmed the solidity of the efficiency and effectiveness of the Department whose men have conducted the air operations with extreme competence and exceptional preparation, making the most of their own possibilities and capacities for achieving such a prestigious result has proven to be a decisive sense of the duty that has resulted in the convinced participation and spirit of sacrifice revealed by all the operational, technical and logistical personnel.
Worthy of praise, because they are surprising in their consistency, they were also the spirit of body and the sense of belonging demonstrated by all the staff, also and in particular by those components involved only in the indispensable activities of corollary and support.
The set of military and professional values shown, the exceptional preparation possessed by the staff, the high-value performance provided, the profound sense of belonging to the Armed Forces make the 32 ° Stormo a clear example of an operational department of unquestionable guarantee, which makes honor to the Air Squad Command, which contributes to providing the image of a modern and efficient Air Force, able to operate in the most disparate conditions and in response to the most complex needs and which gives prestige to the entire nation, increasing its prestige in the integrated defense context within NATO and Europe.
Source: 32 ° Stormo - Amendola - 1 ° m.llo Gaetano Balsamo
Solemn commendation to the 32 ° Stormo
02/10/14
On Thursday 18 September, at the military airport of Amendola, the commander of the air team, general of air team Maurizio Lodovisi, accompanied by the commander of the command of combat forces, general of the air division Nicola Lanza De Cristoforis, delivered in the hands of commander of the 32 ° Stormo, Colonel Oballa, the solemn collective commendation that the chief military chief of the Air Force, Pasquale Preziosa aerial team general, has given to all the personnel of the department.