In the Cortile d'Onore of the Palazzo Ducale in Modena, seat of the Military Academy, this morning the officer cadets of the 204th "Volontà" course took a solemn oath of loyalty to the Italian Republic, in the presence of the Minister of Defense, Guido Crosetto, and of the godfather of the course, army corps general Rosario Aiosa, Gold Medal for Military Valor.
The ceremony was also attended by the Chief of Defense Staff, Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone, the Army Chief of Staff, Army Corps General Pietro Serino, the General Commander of the Carabinieri, Corps General Teo Luzi army, together with the civil, military and religious authorities.
The solemn act, which took place in front of the Institute's flag and sealed with the reading of the traditional formula of the oath, pronounced by the commander of the military academy, division general Davide Scalabrin, ratifies the full entry of the officer cadets into the ranks of the 'Italian Army and the Carabinieri, to serve Italy and its institutions.
The defense minister addressed the young officer cadets “With your oath you have sanctioned a pledge of loyalty. A promise addressed to our Republic which represents a model of democracy and freedom, an immaterial place where the fundamental rights of man and of the citizen live" continuing then "in the best years of your life, you have chosen to place yourselves at the service of Fatherland with your solemn pledge of the Oath".
The Chief of the Defense Staff said in his speech: “Today we are witnesses of your transition into a new family, that of defence, an instrument that is perfectly integrated with civil society which has had the opportunity to appreciate our capabilities in various situations. A military instrument of which you are now a part, projected towards modernity to take up new challenges and which is marching towards complete joint integration."
The Chief of Staff of the Army, addressing the future commanders, underlined: “The knowledge you acquire through study will give you the competence, i.e. the tools to do your job well as a commander, to make a difference and pursue your vision. Application, commitment, will, will allow you to fully appreciate the values that you are committed to defending today; they will make you exemplary citizens and valued leaders. Those leaders that the Republic needs.”
The 204th "Volontà" course is attended by 222 official students, of whom 214 are Italian and 8 are foreigners, coming from seven different countries.
The Military Academy of Modena, established on 1 January 1678 with the name of Reale Accademia, is today the university-based military training institute responsible for the initial training of future military officers and doctors in the normal role of the Army Italian and of the Carabinieri, in a course of study that will lead to the achievement of a degree in Strategic Sciences, Engineering, Medicine and Surgery, Veterinary Medicine, Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Technologies and Law.
