Tuesday 26 November 2024 at the cinema hall of the Air Force Marshals School/Viterbo airport command held the ceremony for the delivery of the rank of third class marshal to the attendees of the 25th Fobos II course.
The ceremony was attended by 45 attendees belonging to the “Aircraft Maintenance” and “Health” specialties.
Incorporated in September 2022, in compliance with the Study Plans and differently from their colleagues belonging to other specialties and already assigned to the operational departments, they will complete their three-year educational-training path in person at the Marshals School.
The "delivery of ranks", which took place in the presence of the religious, civil and military authorities of Viterbo and the families of the newly promoted, was presided over by the commander of the Air Force Marshals School and of Viterbo Airport, pilot Colonel Gianluca Spina.
The ceremony was introduced by the speech of the pilot colonel Dario Ricci, commander of the courses, who after greeting those present recalled how the two years passed have represented “a period certainly very difficult during which you have brilliantly passed all the tests and exams required by the Study Plan. The credit for this success is all yours, it is the result of your tenacity and ability to adapt to the military world, full of rules but also and above all of values that you embody today. I will mention some that I believe will have to guide you like a compass in the difficult moments of your career in the blue and that represent the foundations of this school: the sense of belonging, meritocracy, transparency, loyalty and honesty. The professional path that awaits you will certainly not be downhill, there will be many challenges that you will have to face, professional, operational and also family challenges ... face them with determination and with the awareness of having all the skills and characteristics to do well, we are convinced of it!”.
After the blessing of the ranks and sabres imparted by Don Emanuele Germani representing the bishop of Viterbo and the reading of the Prayer of the Aviator, as per tradition, the ranks were awarded to the course leader and class leaders by the authorities present, as well as the honorary sabre by Dr. Massimo Mecarini, president of the Association of Porters of Santa Rosa; the sabre bears the engraving of a rose, a symbol of the Association itself and a testimony to the strong bond of closeness and sharing between the citizens of Viterbo and the Porters represent and the Air Force Marshals School.
This was followed by the delivery of the ranks to all the other attendees, in groups of four, carried out directly by the hands of the godfathers, that is, parents, friends, colleagues of the new marshals.
The godfather of the course then took the floor, first marshal Gabriele Supino of the 9th Grazzanise wing, the most senior in the role of the course. Phobos I, who enlisted 20 years earlier than the young men of Phobos II, who, addressing the newly promoted marshals, recalled how everything you have experienced will remain etched in your memory, and these memories will be the source from which you will draw positive energy to face the most delicate and difficult moments that I do not hide from you, will not be lacking. The bonds that you have created here will unite you forever, because they derive from the healthy and profound values and principles, typical of our Armed Forces. Be curious to know this wonderful world, to be an integral part of it and do not be afraid to dare, nor to make mistakes because success, to improve yourself as men and as professionals, also passes through failure. Be far-sighted in setting ambitious goals, do not stop dreaming and putting passion into what you do, because this fosters your self-esteem and awareness.
In his closing speech the commander of the AM Marshals School Colonel Pilot Gianluca Spina, after greeting and thanking the numerous authorities who attended for their closeness to the School, addressed the students of the Fobos II Course with these words: I have a special bond with you not only because we are linked by the same course color: Green! but above all because I followed you in your first steps at the Institute, as candidates during the competition and then I accompanied you to the oath during the Centenary of the AM in the wonderful Piazza San Lorenzo in Viterbo. Well, we have come a long way together…
IThe path you have faced in these years since the selection has been hard and intense. Only those like you who had a healthy motivation and a burning passion at the base have managed to overcome the difficulties along the way and reach the finish line. I am very proud of you boys and girls because you have shown that behind the stereotypes of Generation Z hidden behind the screen of a cell phone, there is exceptional human material, which thanks to a wise guide, maturing, obtains valuable results! Always remember that today you reach this goal because you dared, because you questioned yourselves by leaving the comfort zone of your home. You have suffered, but today more mature than yesterday you rejoice with satisfaction. Always dare also in the future, do not be afraid to question yourselves. Only you can put a limit to your ambitions. Dream and strive to realize all your dreams!!
The Air Force Marshals School/Viterbo Airport Command is under the command of the AM Schools and the 3rd Air Region of Bari; the department has a dual mission: on the one hand, as a university-level institution, it has the task of providing military and moral training and specific professional instruction for non-commissioned officers of the Marshals role, as well as improving and updating such training; on the other hand, as a military airport open to civilian traffic, it provides technical-operational support, air navigation services and force protection activities at the Tommaso Fabbri airport.
