Strength, Resilience, and Command: 111 Cadet Marshals of the XXVI Course Achieve the Selected Patrolman Qualification

With the official conclusion of the selected patrolman course, held at the Infantry School, a total of 111 Cadet Marshals of the XXVI Course “Fermezza” from the Army Non-Commissioned Officers School have acquired a fundamental qualification in their professional journey. This is a significant milestone, representing a decisive step towards the future assumption of the role of Platoon Leaders.

The course, lasting about six weeks, was organized and supervised by the Army Training, Specialization, and Doctrine Command (COMFORDOT). The main objective: to enhance technical-tactical skills for operating in hostile territories, improve individual and collective physical endurance, and consolidate command and leadership abilities, essential elements for the operational role the cadets will be called to fulfill.

The selected patrolman qualification, awarded at the end of the course, is not just a formal recognition but also represents the result of constant commitment, discipline, and sacrifice, requiring the cadets to show high dedication both physically and mentally. The experience at the Infantry School fits perfectly into the vision of the Italian Army, which focuses on progressive and integrated training, aimed at ensuring high operational readiness in any context.

Training in a hostile environment: the value of resilience and technique

The training program was developed in several phases, each contributing to consolidate in the attendees a high-profile technical and mental preparation. In the first phase, the Cadets faced a series of environmental exercises: overcoming natural obstacles, including vertical heights, watercourses, mountain paths, and complex wooded areas.

This initial module aimed to refine the motor and tactical skills necessary to operate in particularly challenging environments, as well as to strengthen the team spirit and operational autonomy of the individual soldier within the patrol context.

The second phase of the training introduced the cadets to advanced techniques for conducting combat patrols, namely managing units in motion in hostile scenarios, planning operations, and rapid reaction to variable threats. The highlight of this phase was the continuous exercise “Orsa Maggiore”, designed to simulate operations on the ground in extreme operational conditions.

During “Orsa Maggiore”, the future Leaders faced prolonged stress situations, simulating the entire decision-making chain in a tactical context, and testing physical endurance, mental clarity, and command capability. The exercise represented a complete stress test, where each cadet was evaluated on their adaptability, initiative, and resilience.

“UNA ACIES 2025”: synergistic training and operational cohesion

The concluding activity of the selected patrolman course marked the beginning of the tactical campaign “UNA ACIES 2025”, the largest federation of training activities promoted by COMFORDOT for the period May-July 2025. “UNA ACIES”, which in Latin means “a single line”, represents a strategic initiative aimed at unifying methodologies, procedures, and operational standards among all the Army's training institutes.

This training campaign aims to ensure homogeneity in preparation, cohesion among units, and effective interoperability both nationally and internationally. The direct involvement of the selected patrolman course attendees in the inaugural phase of the campaign is indicative of the central role that training plays in the operational model of the Italian Army.

The 111 Cadet Marshals of the “Fermezza” Course represent, in fact, the new generation of non-commissioned officers ready to take on command roles in increasingly dynamic and unpredictable operational contexts. Their preparation, already consolidated by the recently concluded course, will be further enriched by the subsequent phases of “UNA ACIES 2025”, in a journey that will lead them to become aware, prepared, and resilient military leaders.

In a world where security requires rapid, adaptable, and professional responses, the Army continues to invest in quality training, aware that operational credibility also – and above all – depends on the competence of its men and women.