"The presence of the Armed Forces in Sicily can and must be considered as a great opportunity for growth and enhancement of the territory and its inhabitants". This was stated by the president of the Chamber's Defense Commission, Gianluca Rizzo, at the end of the institutional tour that last week led him to visit military entities and departments in Palermo, Sigonella, Messina and Trapani. Accompanying the president in some stages were the deputies in Montecitorio, Lombardo, Chiazzese and Giarrizzo.
“The men of the Armed Forces in Sicily - affirmed the 5-Star MP, who has been in the Defense Commission in Montecitorio for seven years before as Commissioner and since the beginning of this term as President - they are able to express in the event of natural disasters, aid to public order or emergency interventions, but also to open the doors of the barracks and bases present, so as to further enhance the tourist attractiveness of an island that must transform the potential in development opportunities ".
“Just to give an example, I appreciated - said Rizzo - the firm decision of General Scardino, head of the 'Sicily' Army Military Command, to want to open the Italian Army headquarters in the city to the city of Palermo and to the whole of Sicily, both to enjoy the beauties preserved for over a hundred years by armed force, both to make it closer to young people, in order to be able to consider it as a job outlet capable of guaranteeing career progress, preparation and service for the homeland ".
The Barracks Giannettino of Trapani, home of the 6th Bersaglieri Regiment of the mechanized brigade "Aosta", is also worth mentioning in this context of openness to the outside. “This barracks - says Rizzo - he deserves to enter fully into the Green Barracks project wanted by the current Army Chief of Staff, General Salvatore Farina. The headquarters has spaces and infrastructures able to accommodate the Trapani population, including a kindergarten, a football field and other accommodation facilities ".
The institutional and fact-finding tour led Rizzo to visit the commands of the Carabinieri and the Army of Palermo, the flocks of the Air Force of Trapani and Sigonella (at the center of important control and surveillance of airspace in the Mediterranean, whether or not only regarding the serious crisis still open in Libya) the 6th Bersaglieri regiment of Trapani, part of the brigade Aosta, which in recent years has participated in various missions abroad, and the 12th Carabinieri Regiment Palermo, which guarantees public order in Sicily and first aid units in the event of natural disasters or attacks.
Several happy notes encountered but also highlighted some critical issues. Among the first, the launch, scheduled for this year, at the Pergusa racetrack, of safe driving courses for the staff of the Carabinieri Legion following an agreement signed with the Sicilian Region, which will allow them to maintain such in-house training skills avoiding going to carry out these activities in other regions.
Among the latter, the lack of staff of the carabinieri, who would need an integration of 800 units. Some of these gaps in staff will be filled upon completion of the training periods underway next autumn at the Carabinieri students' schools.
