Special Forces, the 4th Alpini Paratroopers Regiment receives the green beret

In the historic “G. DUCA” barracks in Verona, the 4th Alpini Paratroopers Regiment experienced a day of great significance with the ceremony of the new green beret, which will replace the Norwegian cap. The event, presided over by the Undersecretary of State for Defense, Senator Isabella Rauti, and the Chief of Staff of the Army, Paratrooper Corps General Carmine Masiello, marked a new chapter in the history of the Regiment.

Isabella Rauti and Carmine Masiello handed over the new beret to the Regiment Commander, Colonel Igor Panebianco, who in turn authorized the assembled personnel to wear the new headgear. Senator Rauti, during her speech, emphasized the importance of the new headgear, which will not replace the historic Alpini Hat but will affirm the unique identity of the unit “Today is a special day, a date we will remember. From today you can wear a beret, your beret, with the motto and symbols that characterize you; the new headgear is not, nor could it ever be, a substitute for the historic Alpini Hat, which you will continue to wear with pride. The beret - which replaces the mountain cap “Norwegian” - expresses your belonging to an elite, that of the Army Special Corps while continuing to maintain the traditional specificities of the Alpine Troops. I am sure that the “Rangers” will know how to honor the history that this headgear embodies, in the present and in the future. Faithful to the Ranger creed, to the Homeland and the Flag, always on the front line and, as your motto says, “Mai Strack!” (Never tired!)”.

General Masiello emphasized the symbolic value of the green beret, which recalls the traditional Norwegian mountain cap, but now becomes a distinctive sign of the unit within the Army Special Forces. “The beret, which you deserve, will distinguish you among the elite corps of our Army. Look ahead, always faithful to your roots and the values that must animate your daily life”, he said addressing the Rangers.

The color of the new beret recalls the color of the so-called “Norwegian” mountain cap and on it is pinned the metal badge with the motto “MAI STRACK”, evoking the emblem of the first Alpini paratroopers platoon of the Tridentina Brigade established in 1952. The ceremony was enriched by the reading of the Ranger creed, a highly symbolic moment that embodies the values and ideals that guide every special operator of the unit.

The 4th Alpini Paratroopers Regiment, framed within the COMFOSE (Army Special Forces Command), is composed of highly qualified personnel trained to conduct special missions in extreme environments, particularly mountainous and arctic, confirming itself as one of the spearheads of the Italian Special Forces. This new symbol of recognition represents a further step forward in their history, uniting tradition and modernity in the name of the Homeland and service to the Country.