On Thursday 6 October, at the military airport of Rivolto (UD), seat of the 2nd wing, the alternation ceremony took place between Colonel Marco Bertoli, outgoing commander, and Colonel Paolo Rubino, incoming commander.
At the ceremony, which was presided over by the commander of the Combat Forces of Milan, general of air division Luigi Del Bene, attended by numerous local civil and military authorities, as well as a significant representation of the personnel of the department.
In this circumstance, the War Flag of the 2nd flock also took its place in the deployment, and its change of hands between the outgoing and incoming commander effectively sanctioned the ritual change of baton at the helm of the flock.
In his farewell speech, Colonel Bertoli, who led the Friulian department for over two years, first of all addressing a respectful thought to the War Flag of the 2nd wing "I wish to recall, with emotion and gratitude those who, in the name of the ideals and values it represents, have sacrificed their lives in times of peace and war", he then continued: "In these two years I have constantly felt the deep bond that unites this wonderful land to the Rivolto air base; also thanks to it we have been able to operate without interruption, successfully completing all the objectives and tasks that have us dictated by the higher authorities ". In conclusion, he dedicated his biggest thanks to the staff of the 2nd wing by defining it "the most significant dimension of my incredible journey in Rivolto, the real engine of my command action that sent me the strongest and most genuine emotions of my magnificent experience".
The incoming commander, Colonel Rubino, in his inauguration speech, with pride and inexorable emotion, thanked the superior authorities for the trust they had placed him at the helm of such a prestigious department and granting him the honor of contributing, together with his staff, to the peace and security of the country. These are the salient words of his speech: "in line with the strategic objectives of the Armed Forces, the 2nd wing is assigned a very clear mission in the broader context of national air defense and alliances. In this sense we must ensure a reference capacity, preparing continuously trained assets and forces and at the highest levels of readiness to deal with every situation and guarantee adequate responses to every scenario ". In conclusion, he then added: "my commitment to you women and men of the 2nd wing will be to ensure constant guidance and continuous presence, dedicating myself to all of you without sparing and sharing with you the complex challenges, difficulties but also satisfactions".
General Del Bene, in his speech at the end of the ceremony, wanted to emphasize the distinctive feature of the Friulian Department that makes it unique in Italy for its DNA and for its contribution to the operational architecture of the Armed Force. These are his words: "a mission primarily dedicated to the daily air defense of national and NATO airspace through an exclusive missile pole of its kind and in constant numerical and capacity growth, heavily engaged in an indispensable renewal process that is complex and not free from challenges, but also centered on the most famous symbol that carries the image of the Armed Force and of Italy all over the world: the National Aerobatic Team ". Then turning to col. Bertoli, he wanted to thank him for the excellent work done at the head of the department, while at col. Rubino wanted to express the most sincere good luck for the prestigious assignment assumed today, reassuring him of the support that the Combat Force Command (CFC) of Milan is ready to guarantee it at any time. Finally, he addressed his most sincere applause to all the staff of the 2nd wing both for the excellent results achieved and for the tireless commitment always shown in the achievement of the assigned objectives.
