At the “Oreste Salomone” barracks, home of the 17th volunteer training regiment (RAV) “Acqui”, approximately 1100 young initial-term volunteers (VFI) of the Italian Army, belonging to the 3rd block of 2024, solemnly swore allegiance to the Italian Republic.
The ceremony was attended by numerous local military, civil and religious authorities, including Lieutenant Colonel Gianfranco Paglia, decorated with the Gold Medal for Military Valor, as well as the families of those sworn in. In the presence of the glorious War Flag of the regiment, the volunteers shouted in unison the traditional "I swear!" and sang the Mameli anthem, performed by the anti-aircraft artillery band.
The regiment commander, Colonel Vincenzo Catalano, addressed a message of encouragement to the jurors: "You will soon be inserted into a living and dynamic fabric such as the operational reality of the Italian Army. A fabric that draws lifeblood from those values that have been passed down to you and that in these months you have had the opportunity to make even more solid. A fabric that makes training and the continuous process of technological innovation its raison d'être."
Lieutenant Colonel Gianfranco Paglia, who spoke during the ceremony, praised the young soldiers for their choice and urged them to continue their military life with commitment, honor and dedication. In the next few days, the initial-term Volunteers will leave the city of Capua to reach the weapon specialization schools, located throughout the country, where they will continue their path of professional and personal growth.
