In the presence of the Chief of Staff of the Navy, team admiral Valter Girardelli, the 2016-2017 Academic Year officially opened yesterday morning at the Institute of Maritime Military Studies.
The traditional ceremony, held as always in the presence of numerous city personalities, including the prefect Cuttaia, the deputy mayor Colle and the prosecutor d'Ippolito, together with the highest military authorities, was introduced by Admiral Bernard who first of all wanted to thank the chief of staff for having honored this event with his presence, thus bringing a concrete signal of the attention that the top of the Navy places in personnel and in particular in its training.
That importance and centrality of the personnel - in the overall project of the Navy - which Admiral Girardelli had explicitly referred to in the greeting speech to all the "assembled Navy crew destined for Venice, upon his arrival the day before yesterday (Tuesday , ed) to Maristudi.
Admiral Bernard was followed by a greeting address by the deputy prosecutor and anti-mafia and anti-terrorism coordinator D'Ippolito who, introducing the topic of discussion of the day, underlined how only with an integrated approach, involving all the components of the sector security - civil, military, intelligence - we can face a united front against the concrete threat of terrorism that also comes from the sea, a threat which Venice, a port city with peculiar characteristics, must face with preventive rather than repressive action .
It was then the turn of the usual - for these events - lectio magistralis, by prof. Andrea Margelletti, president of the Center for International Studies in Rome, on the theme "The role of Maritime Security for the geopolitical future of the Planet in the dimension of the global commons": a compelling dissertation on current uncertainties, instability and threats, also posed by terrorism, as well as the consequent new, interesting opportunities that derive from this scenario, in particular for everything concerning the sea and related activities.
Inserted on the issues addressed by Mergelletti, the subsequent intervention by Admiral Girardelli presented an excursus of the national interest scenario and beyond, characterized by a so-called "liquidity" of the systems, in a world that, rather than multipolar, many now define -polar. In such scenarios it is increasingly necessary to respond to the numerous security challenges with intelligent inter-force and international action, where each component can systemize the best of its skills, aimed at an effort in total synergy.
All this, obviously, without forgetting the strategic importance of the maritime component linked to these challenges, as confirmed both at the level of the European Union and of the Atlantic Alliance, in what is now often called the "Blue Century" due to its importance - economic , but not only - of the marine element, enabling factor for the growth of a country, in particular for Italy. Admiral Girardelli then added that, in terms of approach to the maritime dimension, "a pre-eminently reactive posture is on the whole always more expensive than a more oriented approach to prevention and proactivity, where presence, surveillance and knowledge are fundamental."
Before closing, Admiral Girardelli addressed a heartfelt thought to the visitors of the 72nd session of Normal Course of General Staff (CNSM): "The future of the Navy and, more generally, of our national military instrument rests on the sense of organization, and as such it also passes to a considerable extent by the commitment of everyone. From the commitment of the visitors. From your commitment So know how to fully exploit this important educational opportunity, to deepen the knowledge of the defense armed forces, as a whole, to develop the ability to anticipate events, to cultivate an innovative vision of their respective roles.
Know that, in managing the responsibilities of command, the management of men and devices, also and above all at the inter-force and multinational level, the main requirement is knowing how to learn, like knowing how to set oneself as a reference. Knowing how to reflect, as well as knowing how to take responsibility. Knowing how to listen, as well as knowing how to decide quickly with courage. Knowing how to serve, like knowing how to drive. "
The last appeal, again, to the need to immediately acquire an international and international approach and mentality, with the hope of adopting the leit motif that "Only those who have no ideas, do not change them".
The Academic Year, which has just begun at Maristudi, as recalled by Admiral Bernard in his opening address, "will see the holding of 3 sessions of the CNSM (fundamental stage in the formation of officers assigned to positions of staff of armed force or interforce, national or international ed, ed), for a total of about 100 military goers to which must be added some civilian visitors interested in security and strategic studies, based on the agreement stipulated in the 2014 with the Ca 'Foscari University, thanks to which the CNSM is recognized as a Master's Degree in Strategic Studies and International Security. " During the year there will also be three Study Days - monothematic seminars with the presence of internationally renowned experts.
