Folgore brigade welcomes new sons of Italy: 212 Paratroopers receive the Maroon Beret

On the “El Alamein” Parade Ground of the Gamerra Barracks in Pisa, the traditional closing ceremony of the Combat Techniques Course for Airborne Troops took place.

At the end of the training course, 212 Initial and Fixed-Term Volunteers of the Italian Army wore for the first time the much-coveted Maroon Beret, a symbol of belonging to the airborne troops.

Fourteen weeks of hard training

After the initial weeks of training conducted at various Volunteer Training Regiments, the aspiring paratroopers arrived in April at the Parachuting Training Center in Pisa.

At CAPAR, they underwent fourteen weeks of intense preparation, dedicated not only to parachuting but also to learning the technical-tactical procedures specific to paratrooper units.

The course concluded with parachuting activities carried out in the last days at the Altopascio Drop Zone, a decisive step before the delivery of the Specialty headgear.

The delivery of the maroon beret

In the presence of the Commander of the Paratroopers Brigade “Folgore”, Brigadier General Dario Paduano, the 212 young soldiers wore the long-awaited maroon beret for the first time.

About a thousand family members and friends attended the ceremony, along with civil and military authorities and representatives of the Armed Forces Associations.

Particularly significant was the presence of the course's sponsor, Paratrooper Warrant Officer Fabio Ricciardi, decorated with the Gold Medal for Victims of Terrorism following the attack suffered in Afghanistan in 2011.

The message from the CAPAR Commander

In his speech, the Commander of the Parachuting Training Center, Colonel Andrea Fiorentini, expressed appreciation for the commitment, passion, and healthy enthusiasm demonstrated by the new paratroopers during the arduous training course.

Colonel Fiorentini also extended a heartfelt thanks to the families, highlighting the fundamental role of loved ones in the personal and professional growth of young soldiers.

The mission of CAPAR is indeed to train and inspire paratroopers, fueling the flame present in each of them. A flame that, even before joining the Armed Forces, is ignited and sustained by the sacrifice, love, and example of families.

Thanks to the instructors

The CAPAR Commander also thanked all the personnel involved in the training, particularly the instructors of the Training Battalion “Poggio Rusco”, for the passion and professionalism demonstrated during the fourteen-week course.

For the 212 new maroon berets, a new phase of their military journey now begins.

The young paratroopers will be assigned to the units of the Paratroopers Brigade “Folgore”, where they will continue their preparation and face the new operational and training challenges of the Specialty.

Folgore!