35,000 men and women - the Reserve for the Future of Defence

La national reserve, a key resource for strengthening the Italian armed forcesis about to evolve into a model that aims to integrate the operational component with a focus on strategic specialisations, such as cyber warfare. This project, developed by the Defence Staff, envisages the deployment of around 35,000 reservists divided into three areas: operational, territorial and specialist.

The Vision of the Chief of Defence Staff

The General Luciano Portolano, Chief of Defence Staff, recently presented the National Reserve Study, describing it as “indispensabile” per integrare e supportare le forze regolari italiane. The plan, still in its embryonic phase, marks a new phase for the Italian defence system, with the aim of responding to modern challenges, including the cyber threat.

Portolano outlined three key components of the reserve:

1. Operational Reserveconsisting mainly of young reservists, intended for deployment on operational missions. This part of the reserve is designed to supplement the capabilities of the armed forces.
2. Territorial ReserveA geographical reserve, which will act in more limited areas and support tasks that are today partially covered by regular forces.
3. Specialised Reservemade up of highly specialised professionals in complex areas such as cyber-security. This area is crucial for responding to the growing digital threats and technological challenges of the future.

Secondo il generale Portolano, il piano prevede la creazione di circa 35.000 riservisti, con una ripartizione che dovrebbe contribuire all’obiettivo di 160.000 unità, il numero previsto per il nuovo modello di difesa italiano. Il numero di riservisti è pensato per integrare le capacità delle forze armate, in un contesto in cui le minacce, tra cui il cyberspazio, diventano sempre più rilevanti. Tuttavia, come sottolineato dal generale, questo è solo un progetto preliminare che richiede l’approvazione politica per essere implementato.

Regulatory and Policy Implications

The project also includes a series of regulatory changes. The government's draft enabling act, currently under discussion, could introduce changes to the Military Code of Order, allowing the creation of the national reserve in a structured manner. This legislation will also include exemptions from civil service regulations, allowing for more flexible management of military personnel.

One of the planned changes also concerns the economic and pension treatment of reservists, with compensatory measures for those who will be called into service. In addition, legal protections for staff will be extended, including support for redeployment once active service is terminated.

The Role of Cyber Defence

Un aspetto fondamentale del nuovo modello di riserva è l’integrazione della cyber defence. As technologies evolve, the protection of digital infrastructure has become one of the highest priorities for national security. The specialised reserve will therefore be crucial in strengthening Italy's cyber capabilities, particularly in countering digital threats, which today pose as serious a risk as physical threats.

Future Perspectives

The project, if approved, will see Italy strengthen its national defence system with a leaner and more modern reserve component, ready to respond to all needs, from traditional conflicts to cyber warfare. However, it remains to be seen what the timing of the next developments will be and how political institutions will move to translate this new vision of the military reserve into law.

The future of Italian defence appears, therefore, increasingly oriented towards a synergy between regular forces and reservistswith a strong focus on new technologies and the challenges of the future in an increasingly complex and dynamic geopolitical context.

Source: https://www.ilmessaggero.it/politica/riservisti_italiani_guerra_cyber_esercito_stato_maggiore_difesa-8960616.html?refresh_ce