Commonly called the CAPAR, it is located in the Gamerra barracks in Pisa, and has been and continues to be the home of all Military Parachutists, all of them, without exception, from the post-war period until today.
Anyone who has taken their feet off an aircraft in flight wearing a uniform has stepped into it.
Parachutists of the Folgore, Alpini Parachutists, special forces operators of any armed force, military academy students, etc..
History
Born in January 1947 by the will of some veterans of the Folgore and Nembo Divisions and commanded by the Lieutenant Colonel Giuseppe Izzo, from the experience of the '46 in the Centre of Experience for Military Parachuting, formed in Rome thanks to the Captain Leonida Turrini.
In 1950 is transferred to Viterbo, while the 9 June 1957, under the Command of the Colonel Carlo Mautino, with a historic march on foot from the railway station to the barracks, the centre was definitively transferred to Pisa, as the city was also the headquarters at the time of the 46th air brigade, the only Air Force brigade equipped with transport and launch aircraft.
The CAPAR has been based at the 'Gamerra' barracks in Pisa since that date. In December 1963 becomes Parachute Training Centre to the brigade, but the 1 April 1964 is called Military Parachute School (Smipar) passing to the Infantry Inspectorate. From 1 January 1983 the School returns to the Parachute Brigade 'Folgore', and from 1999 resumes its current name.
Structure
It is an articulated and complex regimental-level structure that issues military parachutist qualifications to all personnel serving in the air forces of the Italian armed forces.
The Capar's War Flag is decorated with the Bronze Medal for Valour of the Army.

This centre plays a crucial role in the training of paratroopers, ensuring that personnel assigned to parachute units are properly trained to meet the challenges of airborne operations.
CAPAR offers a comprehensive and specialised training programme, which includes learning parachute deployment techniques, proper parachute handling during descent and landing, emergency procedures, and other skills required to perform effectively in parachute operations.
It is also home to the Airborne Medical Centre and frames the Parachuting Section of the Army Sports Centre which participates in major national and international competitions with great success.
Usually, in the last week of October each year, commemorating the Battle of El Alamein, is the place where the celebration of the Folgore Parachute Brigade takes place.
The CAPAR organisation includes:
- Command
- Personal and Welfare Secretariat
- Training and Launch Office
- Logistics Office
- Administration Office
- Department at Headquarters
- Command and Service Company
- Poggio Rusco Training Battalion
- Airborne Battalion
It is also home to the:
- Airborne Medical Centre
- Air Force History Museum
- Brigade band
- Parachuting section of the Army Sports Centre.
Sport Parachuting Section
The Parachute Training Centre is home to the Parachuting Section of the Sports Activities Department (RAS) of the Army Sports Centre, where the Army's military athletes train for sport skydiving activities. The disciplines practised are 'Precision Landing', 'Style' freefall and 'Freefall Formations', 'Paraski', 'Vertical Formation Skydiving' and 'Speed'.

This competitive section founded in the 1960s has participated in the most important parachuting sporting events and competitions in both the military and civil sectors.
Its history begins in the 1962 when two officers from the then Military Parachute School, Ottavio Guidolin e Carlo Negretti, returned from France after attending a parachuting course using the 'free fall' technique. One of the advantages of this aviolancist evolution was to switch to directional wings.
Under the impetus of an officer with a strong personality, the Major Gaetano Argento, a large group of enthusiasts was formed. And so it was that these parachutists, including the Major Piero Goffis, They began performing in numerous event launches throughout the country.
At a time when sport parachuting was gaining popularity in the civilian sector, with an increasing frequency of national and international competitions, the Aero Club d'Italia began to identify potential military athletes to participate in such events.
Until then, the Italian Army had not yet formed an 'official' team dedicated to the sport. Towards the 1970, Lieutenant Colonel Piero Goffis, an officer of great determination and enthusiasm, learned that new sections were being developed at the Army Sports Centre in Rome to represent the Army in various sports.
After meeting with his superiors, Goffis proudly announced the foundation of the Army's Sport Parachuting Section and became its first commander.
Today, our athletes, thanks to the intuition and passion of those daring paratroopers, can devote themselves fully to an activity that brings prestige to the Armed Forces and raises our Tricolour high by winning numerous Italian, European and world titles.