“Paolo Caccia Dominioni” Trophy: Italian, French and U.S. engineers compete in the Alps

More than 30 combat engineers from the Italian Army took part in the second edition of the “Paolo Caccia Dominioni” Trophy, organized by the 32° Reggimento Genio Guastatori, a specialized unit of the Brigata Alpina “Taurinense”.

Two foreign contingents also took part in the competition. The first came from the 2e Régiment Étranger de Génie, the French Foreign Legion’s engineer regiment.

The second belonged to the 173^ Mobile Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), a U.S. Army airborne unit.

Nine patrols at altitude

The nine patrols competed in a continuous activity lasting more than 48 hours. The tests were held in a mountain environment, in the Artesina and Prato Nevoso area (CN).

The competition was conducted at an altitude of around 2,000 meters. The activity assessed participants’ technical and tactical capabilities through a range of exercises.

The patrols carried out live-fire drills using their assigned weapons and casualty evacuation exercises. They also calculated the amount of explosive material required to demolish a structure.

The program also included exercises focused on the identification and categorization of explosive devices.

The name commemorates Paolo Caccia Dominioni

The trophy is named after Paolo Caccia Dominioni, an engineer officer awarded multiple decorations for Valor Militare. During the battle of El Alamein, he commanded the 31° Battaglione Guastatori del Genio.

A commander, engineer, architect, writer and artist, after the Second World War he voluntarily devoted more than 12 years to searching for the remains of fallen servicemen of every nationality in the Egyptian desert.

The activity enabled combat engineers from the three armies to compete in a demanding mountain environment. The competition also aimed to strengthen esprit de corps and foster the exchange of techniques, tactics and procedures specific to the Arma del Genio.