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

From September 2, the Folgore Paratroopers Brigade will come under the direct command of the Land Operational Forces Command (COMFOTER), eliminating intermediate commands. This change aligns the legendary Italian Paratroopers Brigade with prominent units such as the COMFOSE (Army Special Forces Command) and the Army Aviation Command.

COMFOTER, under the direct command of the Chief of Staff of the Army, will now have more direct control over the Brigade. Currently, the Folgore is under the North Operational Forces Command (COMFOP NORD), which is in turn subordinate to COMFOTER.

The decision responds to the need for specific resources for the Folgore, distinguishing it from other infantry units and facilitating its training and deployment as a high-readiness tool within 48 hours in any theater, primarily oriented towards warfighting, even with complex operations in coordination with special forces. The move, strategically significant for the Nation and the Atlantic Alliance (NATO), is therefore seen as a signal from the Chief of Staff of the Army, General of the Army Corps Paratrooper Carmine Masiello, to optimize and enhance the capabilities of the Paratroopers, restoring it to its former glory, ensuring the Brigade receives the necessary support.

In recent years, the Folgore has been, we assert, “shelved” and treated like a normal infantry unit.

The transition to the direct command of COMFOTER represents, in a modern armed force, its natural placement, given the nature of the Brigade and the Paratroopers themselves.

A decision in perfect continuity with the program of assigning the new air-droppable vehicles GMV Flyer 72 which we wrote about in this article. To complete its warfighting capabilities, it will also be necessary to enhance the anti-tank and anti-aircraft/anti-UAS capabilities up to the squad level. To do all this, more direct control by the General Staff was necessary. The choice to place the Folgore under the direct command of COMFOTER is also a result of the renewal of the armed force, a renewal desired since the first day of General Masiello's appointment.

In summary, this change represents a significant step in the reorganization and enhancement of the Italian Army, strengthening the role of the Folgore in the context of contemporary military operations in defense of the Nation and the Atlantic Alliance.