Graduated in February of 1976 and no longer able to take advantage of the postponement of military service for study reasons, I would soon start "military in the Army" and therefore I had focused on the degrees of this Armed Force that I thought would be my habitat for twelve months: from a second lieutenant to an army corps general, I knew the rank of the officers in their proper order, and to avoid any misunderstanding I had also studied the degrees from corporal to assistant major marshal.
And, instead, the unexpected reading on "IL MATTINO" of the competition announcement for "direct nomination" commissioners, forced me to reset my knowledge of military rankings and to pay attention to the "sea" degrees, which - at the first impact - they were much more complicated than those "on the ground":
"'na guardiamarina" was a second lieutenant, a lieutenant was a lieutenant, a lieutenant was a captain, the captains could be greater, lieutenant colonels or colonels, in place of the generals were the admirals and then there were the corvettes, the frigates and the vessels to season and mess up the blockade of the so-called "captains". For a mind firstly sorted on gray-green it was a hard work, indeed it was ... "'na fatigue". But I succeeded, as the facts have shown.
This is to say that I understand how it can be difficult, to those who are not practical on the subject, to enter the hierarchical mechanism of the Navy degrees.
A dear friend of mine still calls me "general" despite my repeated clarifications, always responding "go 'bbuo', so much is' the same thing"; my mother, after having given her the news of the promotion to TV and having explained it "... mum, lieutenant of vessel is equivalent to captain ...", said to one of her friends "my son is in Marina, he is captain of vessel"; even my wife learned my grades only when I sewed them on my sleeves but at the same time she updated the file forgetting the previous ones.
Fortunately, however, those who are in the environment know these things ... almost always.
From TV I was appointed member and secretary of an interforces testing commission that would meet in Verona and on the message I received there was the telephone number of a Lieutenant Colonel Commissioner of the Army, "point of contact" for the logistical aspects / organizational. I phoned him.
- Good morning, I'm the Calabrese lieutenant of Maricommi La Spezia. Am I speaking to Mr. Colonel XY?
- Good morning, Calabrese, yes it's me, what is it about?
- Mister Colonel, excuse me if I disturb you but it is for the commissioning test set for the day after tomorrow. I wanted to ask you if you could tell me how to get to the company from the station since I booked a room at the ZETA hotel.
- Look, Calabrese, no problem, I'll come and get you since I pass the hotel in the morning on my way to the office.
- Thank you, Colonel, but I don't want to disturb you.
- God forbid, imagine. Indeed, what time do you arrive in Verona?
- I'll be in Verona tomorrow afternoon with the train that will arrive at XNUMXpm.
- But then it will be a pleasure to come and pick you up at the station and take you to the hotel.
- Oh, Colonel, you are very kind but it really seems too much trouble for you.
- Are you kidding? It will be a pleasure for me. I insist. I'll pick you up at the station tomorrow afternoon. See you at the head of the platform. I'll be in uniform, so you can easily recognize me.
- Thank you for your kindness, Colonel. Okay then, see you tomorrow afternoon.
- Very well, see you tomorrow and - please - enough of this, her, give me the tu. Heck, between us ...
Worried by this unexpected access of friendly camaraderie, I adhered to the invitation (or order?) And greeted him with an "Okay, thank you. So see you tomorrow. Hello".
I arrived at the Verona station the next day, in plain clothes, and walked towards the head of the platform where a lieutenant colonel was waiting for me, from which we could see the uniform jacket between a forest of ribbons and shields that covered it.
- Are you XY? Hi, I'm Calabrese.
- Hello, good arrived; Did you travel well?
- Yes thanks.
- Come on, my car is outside. Do you want to give me the suitcase?
- Oh no, thanks.
- But God forbid!
With a quick move he took my suitcase and walked towards the exit. After a few steps, he turned to me and said almost admiringly
- ... but ... you in the navy ... what a career ...!
- And I "... well, yes ... well ... but why, sorry?
- Why, so young and already lieutenant colonel ...
- Who? I?
- And who, otherwise?
- But look, I'm a lieutenant.
- Exactly, so lieutenant colonel.
- No, you see that lieutenant equals captain.
He petrified. He turned to me, returned my suitcase and said, "Please, follow me".
The "she" wall had risen, first profaned by the misunderstanding. In the car he did not say anything except to tell me, in front of the hotel "Greetings, see you tomorrow in the barracks ... on time, I recommend".
What could I answer him if not "Commands"?
