In recent days in Erbil, in the presence of the commander of theItalian National Contingent Command Land, Brigadier General Francesco Maria Ceravolo, was held the ceremony of change to the command of Task Group "Griffon" among the soldiers of the 7 regiment Aves "VEGA" of Rimini (successor) and the colleagues of the 5 ° Regiment Aves "RIGEL" of Casarsa della Delizia (transferor).
Il Task Group, based on 5 ° RIGEL, leaves the theater operating after 6 months of intense activity aimed at guaranteeing the delicate function of Personnel Recovery (PR). To the soldiers of the Task Group "Griffon", based on 7 ° "Vega", there are competitions from the 5 ° regiment AVES "Rigel", from the 66 ° Infantry Aircraft Regiment "Trieste" and from the 3 ° Special Operations Regiment "Aldebaran" .
The Task Group is redeployed to the international airport of Erbil and, as part of the operation Inherent Resolve, is the only national team included in the PR structure, in support of the kinetic operations of the anti-Daesh coalition; the crews of the Task Group "Griffon" are trained and prepared to plan and conduct personnel recovery missions that in various capacities should be isolated in the territory.
The PR structure provided by Italy consists of 4 NH90 tactical transport helicopters, 4 exploration helicopters and escort A129 Mongoose and 130 men and women of the "Friuli" aircraft brigade. It is the only non-American PR structure operating in northern Iraq, a strategically relevant area for the Iraqi military operations launched for the liberation of Mosul and is configured as a tangible example of interoperability, integration and strong professionalism, capabilities typical of the assets of the 'Army Aviation.
