The 185th Parachute Reconnaissance and Target Acquisition Regiment 'Folgore (abbreviated to 185th RRAO) is a unit of the Italian Army, since 2018 included in the Special Forces, made up of specially selected and trained personnel, specially trained and equipped to conduct the full spectrum of tasks typical of 'Special Operations', particularly specialised in the conduct of Special Reconnaissance and Terminal Fire Control Operations.

The 185th RRAO Regiment has a distinctly intelligence 'vocation' and specialises in direct actions that involve engaging targets 'at a distance' (i.e. in a 'stand-off' mode) by exploiting its weaponry and all land, air and naval fire platforms. The 'RRAO' normally operates by infiltrating operational detachments equipped and trained to operate 'beyond enemy lines', at a great distance from friendly forces and in complete tactical isolation.

The operational component of the regiment is made up of officers, non-commissioned officers, graduates and volunteers on permanent duty or in pre-secured service, trained and selected through a training process lasting approximately two years, culminating in the award of the 'Target Acquisition' licence, with operational dependence on the Inter-Forces Special Forces Operations Command (COMFOSE)and is stationed in Livorno.

It traces its origins to the 1st Parachute Infantry Regiment, part of the 1st Parachute Division 'Folgore', which at the end of the July 1942 As part of a reorganisation of the units, it surrendered the 3rd battalion, which together with the 11th, formed the 185th Parachute Infantry Regiment "Folgore". When the division was airlifted to North Africa, the 185th Regiment was retained in Italy as the initial nucleus to form the 184th Parachute Division "Nembo" in November.

In theApril 1943, The 185th regiment was detached from the "Nembo" division to be first sent to the Karst and in August to Sicily, to face the Allied landings on the island. Subsequently, it was ordered to fall back to Calabria, where it was employed in fighting against the British from 3 September.

The 'F' Squadron

The Armistice of the 8 September 1943 generated a general disorientation that also affected the regiment and in particular the three battalions that operated autonomously. Part of the 3rd Battalion, led by Captain Sala, joined the German forces. Instead, Capt. Carlo Francesco Gay, commander of the 9th Company of the 3rd Battalion and other paratroopers, decided to break away from the bulk of the battalion in order to comply with the armistice clauses. While the bulk of the 11th Battalion formed the 185th Autonomous Armed Parachute Squadron 'Nembo', joining the Co-Belligerent Army, the aliquot of paratroopers led by Captain Gay became part of the British 13th Army Corps, forming the initial nucleus in the so-called 1st Autonomous Special Squadron.

In January 1944, the unit under the command of Capt. Gay, became the 1st Reconnaissance Squadron "Folgore", better known as "F Squadron" or "F Recce Squadron". F Squadron was employed in avant-garde roles, carrying out patrol activities beyond enemy lines, with reconnaissance, observation and intelligence-gathering tasks as well as manoeuvres against sensitive targets, with the aim of aiding the advance of the Allied forces from south to north, for the liberation of Italy from German occupation. The first theatre of operations was the Abruzzi mountains of Majella. deployments in central Italy and Tuscany followed.

The 2 September 1944, Lieutenant Eldo Capanna and Sergeant Otello Boccherini fell heroically in a clash at Monte Pomponi (AR), both of whom were decorated with a gold medal for military valour. In March of 1945, F Squadron, was called upon to perform one last demanding task, which determined its passage into the history of Italian military parachuting: Operation Herring.

F Squadron, reinforced with approximately 100 volunteer selected parachutists from the 'Nembo' parachute regiment, on 20 April 1945, From Rosignano Airport (LI), 226 Italian paratroopers boarded US C47 Douglas aircraft. The airdrop, already a high risk, was extremely difficult in view of the strong enemy anti-aircraft fire. After the airdrop, the fighting was intense and bitter, with several people killed. The launch represented the climax and at the same time the conclusion of the Squadron's epic, which was disbanded a few months later.

Post-war

After the war, the traditions of the regiment were maintained by the 1957 by the Parachute Training Battalion of the Military Parachute School , by the 1975 named 3rd Parachute Battalion 'Poggio Rusco', which was always framed until 1996 in the SMIPAR based in Pisa, from that date in Scandicci and then disbanded in 1998.

The 3 April 2000, As part of the reorganisation of the Army's units, the 185th Land Artillery Regiment (Paratroopers Target Acquisition) 'Folgore' was formed from the reconfiguration of the 185th Parachute Artillery Regiment 'Folgore', of the Folgore Brigade (Livorno), also taking over the legacy of the disbanded 13th Target Acquisition Group 'Aquileia' (GRACO), whose motto was 'Videre nec videri' (to see without being seen). In 2002 the regiment was included in the special operations forces (FOS) of the Army and in the 2004 took the name 185th Parachute Reconnaissance Objective Acquisition Regiment 'Folgore' (RAO).

Reconstitution

The 21 June 2013, as part of the Parachute Brigade's reinforcement programme, the 185th Parachute Artillery Regiment 'Folgore', based in Bracciano (RM), taking over the war flag until then held by the 185th RAO Regiment.

At the same time, the 185th Parachute Reconnaissance Target Acquisition Regiment 'Folgore' is awarded the War Flag that once belonged to the 185th Parachute Infantry Regiment 'Folgore'.

With the restructuring of the Italian Armed Forces, in 2014 the 185th RRAO, as well as the 9th Parachute Assault Regiment 'Col Moschin', he left the 'Folgore' Parachute Brigade to join the new COM.FO.S.E, a command at Brigade level, responsible for ensuring the necessary unity in training, readiness, procedural development and the acquisition of materials for the Army's Special Forces sector.

The 21 June 2015 the Regiment received as a beret frieze, the crest of the Folgore Reconnaissance Squadron (F Squadron).

Inclusion in the Italian special forces is validated in theOctober 2018 with the 'Dark Night 2018' exercise, with operational dependence on the Inter-Agency Command for Special Forces Operations.

The symbols of the regiment

The heraldic coat of arms

One of the symbols of the regiment is the heraldic coat of arms. Inside the gold, fluttering bifid list, placed under the tip of the shield is the motto: 'Come Folgore'.

The frieze

The headgear frieze was assigned to the department on 19 June 2015. The purchasers changed the metal beret frieze to reproduce the one that belonged to the Lightning Reconnaissance Squadron (F Squadron) during the Second World War.

The departmental badge

The badge, made of burnished metal on a leather pendant, is oval in shape with an embossed border bearing the name of the department. It depicts a parachute canopy with a partially visible funicular beam (speciality symbol); charged by a gladius placed on a pole with the tip downwards to the bat in lowered flight (operational assumption in night environment); in turn charged by a compass rose, to the globe resting on the branch, of the anchor flukes (employment in any land region and operational scenario, including amphibious). At the tip of the oval a fluttering bifid list with the inscription in capital letters VIDERE NEC VIDERI (see without being seen).

The insignia

The metal lapel insignia of the infantry weapon with the gladius, parachute and air force wing. The blue colour recalls the parachutist speciality.

The Herring Dagger

The regiment's historical dagger, which personnel wear at major ceremonies, reproduces the dagger given to the paratroopers of F Squadron by the British military during the Second World War. In view of the employment for which the squadron was intended, the personnel received specific training from British commandos in aviation, the use of explosives and unconventional combat techniques. The paratroopers received equipment, materials and armament, including the 'commando dagger' (Fairbairn model), which was already in the possession of the British special units at the time.

The Flag of War

The war flag of the 185th RRAO originally belonged to the 1st Parachute Infantry Regiment established in Tarquinia in 1941 and soon afterwards renumbered as the 185th Parachute Regiment. At the end of the Second World War, the regiment was disbanded and the flag placed in the Vittoriano flag shrine in Rome.

However, a few years later, precisely in 1963, When the Folgore Parachute Brigade was formed, the 1st Parachute Regiment was reconstituted as the heir to the regiment of the same name formed in Tarquinia and received its war flag. Due to the subsequent reorganisation of the Army's units, the regiment was disbanded again in 1975, handing over the war flag to the 3rd Parachute Battalion 'Poggio Rusco', which was part of the then Military Parachute School (SMIPAR), based in Pisa. Transferred to Scandicci (FI) in 1996, the 'Poggio Rusco' was then disbanded in 1998 and the war flag was once again placed in the flag shrine.

In 2013, the war flag of the 185th Parachute Infantry Regiment 'Folgore' was assigned to the 185th RAO Regiment, which ceded its own to the reconstituted 185th Parachute Artillery Regiment of the Folgore Brigade based in Bracciano (RM). In 2018, the Head of State awarded the decoration of Knight of the Military Order of Italy. to the war flag of the 185th RRAO for the courage and professionalism demonstrated in over a decade of military operations abroad.

The Acquiring Patent

In February 2020 The EMS has authorised a new patent for RAO operators, Objective Acquisition Operators: the new patent contains the stylised symbols of the specialisation: bat wings, which have always evoked the ability to see and operate at night, the letter F, which recalls the frieze of the F Squadron paratroopers, that of Operation Herring, inserted in the cardinal points. Above, a stylised gladius and wing parachute.

Structure

The organisational structure of the 185th Reconnaissance and Objective Acquisition Regiment (RRAO) consists of:

• Regimental Command
• Command and Logistics Support Company
• 3rd Acquisition Battalion 'Poggio Rusco'
• Training and Operational Support Battalion (ASO)

Tasks

Special Reconnaissance (SR)

These are reconnaissance and surveillance activities conducted primarily (but not limited to) in hostile, denied, diplomatically and/or politically sensitive environments in order to gather or verify information of strategic or operational importance, using unconventional techniques and methods. For this type of mission, it is necessary to have the ability to covertly infiltrate and exfiltrate an area by land, air or amphibious and static means, remain in the operational area for up to three to five days without external supplies, survive, evade capture, evade and escape from a potentially hostile area. In these types of missions, the activity of the Target Acquisitors. takes place mainly in enemy-occupied territory, in small, self-sufficient nuclei acting in isolation. Due to the peculiarity of their training, these soldiers are required for special intelligence operations in support of the AISE.

Direct Action (DA)

Like all Special Forces units, the 185th RRAO is trained and deployed for Direct Actions with a particular focus on Terminal Guidance Operations (TGO). These are operations conducted to locate, identify and determine the precise position of targets of high operational-strategic significance (HVT) and to enable non-organic (air, naval and land) stand-off platforms to use their weapon systems to engage them effectively.

Military Assistance (MA)

In recent years, the men of the 185th RRAO have carried out and continue to carry out military assistance activities for the Special Forces of various foreign countries. These are a wide range of activities that support and influence the resources and critical assets of friendly states through education, advice, training or conducting combined operations.

Training

The Selective and Training Procedure for SF Operators

The selection and training process for SF Operators (the so-called "FS Procedure") is the set of selection activities (physical and psycho-aptitude) and basic training of Army personnel belonging to each category (U./SU./Grd./Mil. di Tr.) who, following a written application, express their intention to serve in the operational component of the Army's SF units as "Raider", "Objective Acquisition" or "Ranger". The FS Iter consists of the following steps:

• Selective Phase and Joint Basic Training: is conducted and coordinated by the Special Operations Training Centre (Ce.Add.OS) and consists (in order) of:
  • Physical Selection Tests: aimed at verifying possession of the minimum athletic requirements for access to the FS Iter (1 week);
  • Selection Internship: conducted for the purpose of testing the possession of the psycho-physical and aptitude characteristics for access to the FS Iter (1 week);
  • Special Operations Basic Operator Course (OBOS Course): this is the common basic training for 'FS Operators' (12 weeks).
• Specialised Basic Training Phase: Series of training and instructional activities conducted under the responsibility of each FS department for the benefit of personnel who, after having successfully passed the 'Common Basic Selective and Training Phase', are initiated to the relevant specialisation and skills completion courses, at the FS departments, in order to obtain the relevant Raider/Aim Acquisition/Ranger patents.

Specialisation for target acquisition

This phase qualifies aspirants as Target Acquirers, and from the 2011 has a duration of 50 weeks. The specialisation comprises a series of courses each consisting of several modules and organised as follows:

• Special Reconnaissance (SR) Course for Target Acquisition.
• Terminal Guidance Operations (TGO) Course for Acquirers Objectives.
• Amphibious Mobility Course for Acquirers Objectives.
• Intelligence course, at CIFIGE. and/or joint course
• Basic Skiing Course held at the Alpine Training Centre
• Alpinistic Basic Course held at the Alpine Training Centre
• Military Free Fall Course (CCALM) held at the Parachute Training Centre (CAPAR) of the Folgore Parachute Brigade

Other courses after qualification

Depending on the grade, the role within the department and the staffing needs of the department, the acquirer may take further courses to improve his or her professional skills.

• JTAC course, held at the Air Force Aerocooperation School in Guidonia.
• OSSALC course (Operatore del servizio di sicurezza abilitato ai lavori in carena) is a two-month course held at the Navy's COMSUBIN to which all members of the Armed Forces have access, at the end of which a licence to use an air self-contained breathing apparatus (ARA) is obtained within a depth of 15 metres.
• ARO/ARA (Self-contained Oxygen/Air Breathing Apparatus) course held at the Navy's COMSUBIN.
• Military Rescue Course
• MCM (Military Combat Method) Course
• Basic course in the handling and use of explosives for Special Forces.
• Various courses of an intelligence nature at CIFIGE. and CeFIT.
• Language courses at the SLEE (Army School of Foreign Languages) in Perugia.
• Various types of courses held at the International Special Training Centre. URL consulted on 20 December 2020 (archived from the original url on 25 November 2020). of Pfullendorf (Germany), the NSOS. URL consulted on 20 December 2020 (archived from the original url on 12 June 2021). (NATO Special Operations School) in Mons (Belgium), the NSO. (NATO School Oberammergau) in Germany.

Weapons and Equipment

• Beretta 92 FS pistol (M9)
• Glock 19 4th generation semi-automatic pistol
• Heckler & Koch MP5 submachine gun and the new MP7
• Steyr Mannlicher AUG assault rifle
• Colt M4 assault rifle
• Heckler & Koch G36 assault rifle
• FN Minimi light machine gun (M249)
• MG 42/59 machine gun
• Accuracy International Arctic Warfare precision bolt-action rifle
• Sako TRG bolt action precision rifle
• Heckler & Koch G3SG/1 semi-automatic sniper rifle, specific version of the Heckler & Koch G3 assault rifle
• Barrett M82 semi-automatic sniper rifle
• Benelli M4 Super 90 smooth-bore semi-automatic shotgun (M1014)
• M203 grenade launcher
• Heckler & Koch HK69 grenade launcher
• Mk19 Mod 3 automatic grenade launcher
• Hand grenade OD/82
• Hirtenberger 60 mm mortar Mod. M6C 210
• Dynamit Nobel Panzerfaust 3-T anti-tank rocket launcher
• MBDA MILAN medium-range anti-tank weapon system
• Night visors of various types and latest generation
• T-10 C parachutes (personnel and material jumps)
• T-10 MIRPS parachutes (personnel jumps)
• MT1XX parachute for free-fall (TCL) aviation, used for training (Full-Equipment) and insertion in operations in enemy lines
• Laser observation and targeting instruments
• RAO 185º Knife (EXTREMA RATIO)
• HERRING Knife (EXTREMA RATIO)

Means

• Ford RANGER (off-road vehicle)
• Iveco VM 90 (all-terrain multi-role vehicle)
• Zodiac Commando inflatable boats
• RHIB for transport and operational insertion of an entire detachment (Full-Equipment)
• Iveco LMV/VTLM (light multi-role vehicle)
• Cagiva W12
• LTATV Special Operations Vehicle

Honours

Knight's Cross of the Military Order of Italy

A Special Operations Forces unit deployed for more than a decade, in multiple and risky theatres of operations, it produced the highest levels of professionalism, undisputed courage and total self-sacrifice to carry out its assigned missions. With valour and reckless disregard for danger, the personnel of the 185th, always faithful to their motto 'Videre nec videri', offered repeated proof of daring, conducting information missions, patrolling and engagement actions in hostile territories, achieving tactical successes that allowed the achievement of important strategic objectives. A proud and cohesive regiment, it contributed to enhancing the prestige of the Army and Italy in the international context.

Iraq, Afghanistan, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo, Lebanon and Libya, 2002-2017