New Parachutists for the Folgore, patenting ceremony and the amaranth beret

At the Parachute Training Centre (CAPAR) in Pisa, the solemn ceremony was held to award the Military Parachutist Certificate and Amaranth Basque to 220 new paratroopers from Brigade Folgore. Among them, as many as 217 Volunteers on Initial Infancy Infancy (VFI) completed the intense training course, a fundamental moment for official entry into the Airborne Corps. At the [...]

General C.A. Luciano Antonio Portolano appointed new Chief of Defence Staff

The Council of Ministers, at the proposal of Defence Minister Guido Crosetto, has decided on the appointment of General Luciano Antonio Portolano as the new Chief of Defence Staff. As of 4 October 2024, General Portolano will officially take the place of Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone. Lieutenant General Luciano Portolano began his [...]

17 September 2009 - 17 September 2024: remembering the fallen in Kabul

17 September 2009 will remain etched in collective memory as one of the most tragic days for the Folgore Parachute Brigade. In a suicide attack in Kabul, six brave paratroopers lost their lives, leaving an indelible void in the hearts of their families and comrades. In Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan, at 12:10 local time (9:40 in [...]

Because the Folgore under COMFOTER is more than just a reorganisation

As we wrote last month in this article, as of 2 September, the Folgore Parachute Brigade officially came under the direct control of COMFOTER (Comando delle Forze Operative Terrestri). This decision marks a crucial change in the organisation of the Italian Army, not only in terms of hierarchical management, but above all for the operational effectiveness of the Parachute Brigade. The elimination [...]

Complex NATO exercise for the Folgore, Saber Junction 2024 concluded in Germany

The multinational exercise Saber Junction 2024, which saw the participation of 210 paratroopers from the Folgore Parachute Brigade at the Hohenfels training area in Germany, came to a successful conclusion. The event, coordinated by the 173rd US Airborne Brigade, involved some 4,500 military personnel from 11 nations, all NATO members and Airborne partners [...].

Change at the top of Special Forces: General Manzone new COMFOSE Commander

On 5 September, at the Comprensorio Militare 'Ten. MOVM Dario Vitali' in Pisa, a solemn ceremony was held to mark the handover of command of the Italian Army Special Forces (COMFOSE). Brigadier Parachutist General Andrea Vicari officially handed over the baton to Alpine Parachutist Brigadier General Marco Manzone. The handover [...]

Folgore Revolution, the Parachute Brigade under the direct command of the COMFOTER

As of 2 September, the Brigata Paracadutisti Folgore will come under the direct command of the Comando delle Forze Operative Terrestri (COMFOTER), eliminating intermediate commands. This change aligns the legendary Italian Parachute Brigade with leading units such as COMFOSE (Comando delle Forze Speciali dell'Esercito) and the Comando Aviazione dell'Esercito. The COMFOTER, reporting directly to the Chief of State [...]