{"id":10415,"date":"2024-04-25T18:51:39","date_gmt":"2024-04-25T18:51:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/brigatafolgore.net\/?page_id=10415"},"modified":"2025-07-11T10:38:16","modified_gmt":"2025-07-11T09:38:16","slug":"comando-interforze-per-le-operazioni-delle-forze-speciali-c-o-f-s","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/brigatafolgore.net\/en\/inter-agency-command-for-special-forces-operations-c-o-f-s\/","title":{"rendered":"Special Forces Operations Command (C.O.F.S.)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Traditionally, until the end of the 20th century, the command and use of special forces of the Italian Army<\/strong> were the prerogative of the Folgore Parachute Brigade<\/a> through the 9th Assault Regiment 'Col Moschin'<\/a>. Similarly, for the Navy <\/strong>the use of the COMSUBIN<\/strong> took place not through an actual operational command, but directly under the control of the Ministry of Defence<\/strong> via the Defence Staff (SMD)<\/strong>. The Carabinieri GIS <\/strong>until the end of 2003, it was not even validated as a special force.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The advent of the new millennium marked a significant turning point: the creation of new units dedicated to special operations and the need to recognise other entities as such, e.g. the Carabinieri's GIS, and to improve the optimisation of resources in the various theatres of deployment, as well as interoperability, thanks to the specific expertise of the four armed forces, contributed to greater specialisation and focus on the future of Italian special forces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Strategic Origins and Aims<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

COFS was initially established with the status of Interforce Parachute Incursion Unit<\/strong>the result of a decision by the then Chief of Defence Staff<\/strong>, Adm. Giampaolo Di Paola <\/strong>which resulted from a specific initiative of the pro-tempore Minister of Defence, Hon. Antonio Martino<\/strong>by providing the Defence with a specific instrument for the conduct of Special Operations<\/strong> and thus completing the restructuring begun with the creation of the then COI (today COVI)<\/strong> for the command of conventional operations, aligning Italy with the other main countries of the Atlantic Alliance, whereby the Special Forces<\/strong> represent a resource of strategic importance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Officially established the 1 December 2004 <\/strong>under the guidance of General Parachutist Raider (Italian Army) Marco Bertolini <\/strong>already in 2008 was recognised as planning command<\/strong> and in 2021 was validated by NATO as Special Operations Component Command (SOCC)<\/strong> within the NATO Response Force (NRF)<\/strong>. Between 2021 and 2023, the COFS was dependent on the Inter-Forces Summit Operations Command (COVI), but from 2023 it returned under the direct supervision of the Chief of Defence Staff.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Positioned under the direct command of the Chief of Defence Staff<\/strong>, is located at Centocelle 'Francesco Baracca' Military Airport<\/strong> and is responsible for coordinate and manage all Italian special forces operations<\/strong>.<\/pre>\n\n\n\n
Structure of the C.O.F.S.<\/h2>\n\n\n
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\"Special<\/picture>
The COFS coordinates all special forces operations belonging to the four Italian Armed Forces<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n
As mentioned, the command coordinates all special forces operations belonging to the four Armed Forces, specifically:<\/p>\n\n\n\n