Solemn Ceremony in Modena: New Commander and New Challenges for COMFORDOT

It was a “ceremony within a ceremony” that took place on August 1, 2025, in the splendid setting of the Courtyard of Honor of the Military Academy of Modena. In the presence of the Chief of Staff of the Army, General of the Army Corps Carmine Masiello, and numerous civil and military authorities, the handover at the top of the Army Training, Specialization and Doctrine Command (COMFORDOT) took place between General of the Army Corps Carlo Lamanna and his peer Antonello Vespaziani.

At the same time, the official transfer of COMFORDOT from its historic headquarters in Rome to the new one in Turin was also celebrated. But not only that: the day also saw the closing ceremony of the 2024-2025 academic year of the Military Academy and the assignment of Arms to the cadets of the 205th Course “Fierezza”, a solemn moment that marks for the young cadets the entry into the specialized phase of the officer training path, in view of their appointment as second lieutenants in permanent service.

The choice of Modena as the venue for the ceremony is not accidental: the Academy is the “mother house” of Army officers, a place full of history and identity, where every commander, every cadet, every soldier finds the roots of their service. General Stefano Messina, commander of the Academy, greeted the 122 officers of the 204th Course “Volontà”, including seven from six foreign countries, reiterating how “to command is to take on a duty, to serve”, with example and dedication.

The Vocation to Service: The Legacy of Gen. Lamanna

In his touching farewell speech, General of the Army Corps Carlo Lamanna wanted to first thank the Command staff and his family – his wife and children – “for helping him realize his wonderful dream”. He reiterated how every choice he made was guided by the “passion for service to the Homeland, to the institutions, and for the values that unite us”.

General of the Army Corps Lamanna described his work as a true vocation, rather than a career: “I have always considered this not a job, not a simple profession, but a vocation! An inner calling that guided me every day, in difficult choices, in moments of sacrifice but also in the most authentic satisfactions”.

His legacy, made of dedication, consistency, and responsibility, fully fits into the spirit of COMFORDOT: that of training not only weapon professionals but leaders capable of facing the complexities of the contemporary world. General Masiello emphasized how, in this historical phase, the Army is called to confront changing scenarios: “We are experiencing a technological revolution that, for the first time in military history, has taken on a philosophical dimension”. And he then warned: “We do not need yes men, but commanders capable of proposing ideas, alternatives, solutions, without fear of making mistakes”.

A strong call, entrusting tomorrow's officers with a difficult but exciting task: knowing how to govern change, with critical thinking and a spirit of service.

The Future Passes Through Turin: The Vision of Gen. Vespaziani

The new commander, Gen. C.A. Antonello Vespaziani, took on the role with pride, aware of the great responsibility. He emphasized the symbolic and strategic value of moving the Command from Rome to Turin, “a city with strong military roots, which for over two centuries has hosted and safeguarded the training of Army officers”.

The Savoy city, already home to prestigious military training institutions, today becomes the new hub of Army training and specialization, within the framework of the reform known as “New Army Model”. A plan of rationalization and simplification that aims at greater efficiency, reducing hierarchical levels and enhancing the uniqueness of the command.

“Turin is a living flame – said Vespaziani – a legacy to be preserved, honored, renewed”. And this is precisely the challenge: to combine the solidity of tradition with the drive for technological and cultural innovation. In this sense, the Military Academy of Modena will continue to play a central role, with over 700 attendees a year in degree courses ranging from Strategic Sciences to Engineering, from Veterinary Medicine to Law.

As General Masiello concluded, addressing the cadets: “When everything seems uncertain, you will return in your mind to these courtyards, finding inspiration”. The Army changes, evolves, transforms, but remains faithful to its heart: men and women ready to serve with competence, courage, and vision.