Army Special Forces: Fifteen New Operators Receive Ranger Certification

The ceremony for the awarding of certifications to the new operators of the 4th Alpini Paratroopers Ranger Regiment of the Italian Army, a unit belonging to the national Special Forces sector, was held at the “G. Duca” Barracks in Verona. During the celebration, which coincided with the regiment's Corps Day, fifteen soldiers received the Ranger certification after successfully completing a demanding selection and training process lasting nearly two years.

Numerous civil and military authorities attended the ceremony, including the Commander of the Land Operational Forces, Corps General Lorenzo D’Addario, and Sergeant Major Andrea Adorno, Gold Medal for Military Valor and former member of the 4th Alpini Paratroopers Ranger Regiment. The presentation of the dagger, the green beret, and the shoulder certification marked the official entry of the new operators into one of the most selective components of the Italian Army.

The Ranger dagger recalls the historical legacy of the “Green Flames” of the 29th Alpine Assault Unit of World War I, while the beret identifies membership in the Special Forces sector. The shoulder certification represents the certification of the operational capabilities necessary to conduct special missions in the most complex and degraded contexts. The ceremony also took on a strong symbolic value as it was celebrated during the regiment's Corps Day, a moment dedicated to sharing traditions, a sense of belonging, and identity values that have characterized the unit for years.

Training, Selection, and Operational Capabilities

Becoming a Ranger of the Italian Army means facing one of the most selective training paths of the Armed Forces. After an initial phase of physical and aptitude pre-selection, candidates undergo the OBOS course, the Basic Special Operations Operator program, conducted at the RAFOS of the 9th Paratroopers Assault Regiment “Col Moschin”. Only a portion of the aspirants manage to pass this phase and access the subsequent Ranger specialization.

The training process includes activities such as mountain combat, parachuting, survival, tactical movement in snowy and amphibious environments, advanced operational shooting, and special mission planning. The training also includes skiing and mountaineering courses, NBC modules for operations in contaminated environments, and continuous combat and reconnaissance activities. The preparation is aimed at ensuring high operational autonomy, infiltration capability, and adaptability in scenarios characterized by high instability.

The 4th Alpini Paratroopers Ranger Regiment today represents one of the operational excellences of the Italian Army. Since 2018, the unit has been officially recognized as a Special Force, becoming permanently part of the national elite units alongside the 9th Regiment “Col Moschin” and the 185th Reconnaissance Target Acquisition Regiment “Folgore”.

The operational capabilities of the Rangers range from direct actions to special reconnaissance, to military assistance activities and support for intelligence operations in high-risk areas. The operators are trained to operate in mountain, arctic, urban, and desert environments, often in extreme climatic conditions and with high deployment speed. Their preparation allows them to carry out long-range missions, stealth operations, and high-precision activities in support of national strategic needs and NATO missions.

The Strategic Role of Special Forces in New Scenarios

In recent years, the role of Special Forces has become increasingly central in modern geopolitical scenarios. International crises, the evolution of hybrid threats, the growing use of drones and autonomous systems, and the need to operate in multi-domain contexts have increased the importance of highly flexible and specialized units.

In this context, the Rangers of the Italian Army represent a strategic component capable of intervening quickly in complex situations, with high operational autonomy and strong interoperability with international allies. Cooperation with NATO forces and special units of other countries is indeed a fundamental part of the regiment's training activity, which regularly participates in joint and multinational exercises.

During his speech, Corps General Lorenzo D’Addario emphasized how the training of new Special Forces Operators represents an essential element for maintaining a modern, ready, and effective Army. Professionalism, preparation, and operational capabilities are today indispensable requirements to face increasingly dynamic and unpredictable scenarios.

The Commander of the 4th Alpini Paratroopers Ranger Regiment, Colonel Paolo Rocchi, also highlighted the value of the certification awarding, defining it not only as the end of a tough selection process but the beginning of a new personal and professional phase for the new Rangers. A transition that requires balance, responsibility, and high decision-making capabilities.

The fifteen new operators now become part of a reality that continues to represent one of the most advanced expressions of the operational capabilities of the Italian Army. A unit built on discipline, sacrifice, resilience, and competence, values that remain central to the identity of Italian elite units.