Military Aeronautical School "Giulio Douhet": the swords delivered to the students of the 1st course

(To air Force)
09/12/21

Tuesday 7 December, at the Aula Magna ofInstitute of Aeronautical Military Sciences (ISMA) of Florence, 35 young students of the 1st course of the Aeronautical Military School "Giulio Douhet" received the sword, a symbol of belonging to the School and the Air Force.

The ceremony, presided over by the commander of theInstitute of Aeronautical Military Sciences, Brigadier General Urbano Floreani, was opened by the intervention of col. Davide Rosellini, commander of the Aeronautical Military School who wanted to underline how the delivery of the sword represents the official entry into the School and the Air Force of which the young students undertake to accept the values ​​and principles.

The solemnity of the moment was reiterated by General Floreani, who invited the students to be proud and proud of this achievement, testifying to the full confidence that the Air Force places in them and in their potential for the future of the whole. Country.

The ceremony continued with the delivery of scholarships, donated by associations, organizations and families that have always been linked to the School, to the students most distinguished for curricular, disciplinary and sporting merits achieved in the previous school year.

Following, the most significant moment of the day, the delivery of the "sword" to the students of the 1st course, incorporated on 6 September: the students in the second year of education have in fact personally delivered to each student of the 1st course the area sword. An ideal handover of the traditions of the School and a symbol of identification with the values ​​and principles of the Institute and the Air Force.

The sword has its origins in an ancient seafaring tradition: it was in fact a short weapon created for young officers who, aboard naval units, could not easily carry out their service using the long ordinance saber. Over time the sword therefore became synonymous with "young" or "pupil", spreading as a tradition also among other weapons.

This year the ceremony was also an occasion for the conferral of the "Douhet-Mitchell Trophy", to 4 officers of the Air Force and to a civilian, all frequenters of the 87th normal course dell 'Institute of Aeronautical Military Sciences.

The Douhet-Mitchell Trophy was established in the Academic Year 1983/1984 with a collaboration and cultural exchange agreement between the then Air Warfare School el 'Air War College USAF of Maxwell, under the patronage ofOrder of the Sons and Daughters of Italy in America (the OSIA). The literary competition aims to recognize the contributions of capital importance that Major General Giulio Douhet (1869-1930) and Brigadier General William "Billy" Mitchell (1879-1936) have made for the advancement of their country's Air Forces. The Trophy aims to enhance a study and research work (thesis) on a theme relating to Aerospace Power that is original for the contribution of ideas and food for thought / thought. The prize is awarded both in Italy and in the United States: in Italy at the ISMA in Florence, in the United States at theAir War College USAF of Maxwell (Alabama).

The "Giulio Douhet" Military Aeronautical School (inaugurated in 2006), as well as the other Military Schools (Nunziatella of Naples, Teulié of Milan and Morosini of Venice), is a secondary education institution of the second degree, which carries out the courses of second three-year period in the classical and scientific fields, which can be accessed by public competition.

Currently there are 108 students in force at the School of which 52 are female, divided over the course Rigel in the third and last year of attendance, the course Sirio in the second year of attendance and the 1st course, incorporated on 06 September 2021.