Starting last January, the 185th “Folgore” parachute artillery regiment started the activities related to the preparation of the unit for use in international operations abroad.
A first training phase was carried out at the Tactical Training Center (CAT) of Monte Romano, with dynamic fire activities and simulations of offensive, defensive, enabling and stabilization tactical activities. In the same military polygon of Monte Romano, in the presence of the commander of the "Vittorio Veneto" division, general of division Angelo Michele Ristuccia, the "yellow devils" - among these also the Volunteers in fixed-term one year (VFP1) newly assigned to the regiment - have carried out training in firing with Thomson-Brandt heavy 120 mm mortars.
Subsequently, the staff of the unit participated in the exercise "Orione 1/2021", a Command Post Exercise/Computer Assisted Exercise (CPX / CAX) coordinated by the staff of the Army Simulation and Validation Center (CeSiVa) of Civitavecchia. In about ten days the command of the 185th “Folgore” was put to the test in the decision-making and planning process, in the coordination between the functional branches, in the management capacity in times of crisis, in the flow of communications, in the application of procedures. Responding to activations generated by the simulation system, the paratrooper gunners have thus tested, through realistic training scenarios, the ability to operate in the context of NATO-led missions.
The delicate emergency situation that the country is experiencing has forced all activities to be conducted in full compliance with the regulations in force for the containment of the spread of the SARS-Cov-2 contagion. Theoretical lessons were then carried out using videoconferencing platforms used by the Army and practical activities were conducted ensuring physical distancing and individual protection.
