In the presence of the Undersecretary of State for Defense Volpi and the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, a whole generation of Academy courses has been completed today for the fifth time.
The Aeronautical Academy of Pozzuoli celebrated the solemn oath of loyalty to the homeland of the young students of Corso Zodiaco V. The event took place in the presence of the Undersecretary of State for Defense Hon. Raffaele Volpi, of the Chief of Staff of the Italian Air Force Air Force Alberto Rosso and of numerous civil, military and religious authorities, in addition to the parents of young jurors.
With the traditional "I swear!" the young students are committed to honoring the ideals of loyalty, courage and sense of duty, founding principles of the Armed Force. During the ceremony, the usual baptism of the Corso took place through the symbolic delivery of the pennant. The baptismal ceremony of the swearing course was in fact renewed today for the fifth time through an ideal handover between the former students of the generations of the previous Zodiac Courses. The students of the Zodiac V thus received, from their godparents, the official welcome in the ranks of the Air Force.
"You are an Armed Forces with unique operational capabilities. Political institutions have a duty to uphold your excellence". With these words the Hon. Volpi, in his concluding speech, stressed the importance of the choice made by the young jurors. Turning then to the students, he continued: "Until a few minutes ago you were Italian, today, from now on, you must be proudly Italian".
Sidera Feriam, translated as "I will reach the stars", is the heraldic motto that was chosen from the first Zodiac course in the 1941. "Always act in accordance with your motto, which together with the emblem of the Course, unites you, unites you and will accompany you forever". Thus the Chief of Staff of the Air Force wanted to remind the young students of the swearing course of the patrimony of virtue that they will have to draw inspiration from today, always recognizing the value of the discipline as a pillar of the military institution. "The Air Force is a living, capable, relevant, appreciated and respected Armed Force, proud and always devoted to serving the country with fidelity, humility and rigor. Always be proud to be part of it".
Both moments were crowned by the overflight of the National Acrobatic Patrol, which stretched its traditional tricolor in the sky.
The Zodiac V course consists of 75 students selected from over 5000 candidates. In their academic career, in accordance with the international cooperation activities carried out by the Air Force in the field of training, the young cadets are joined by 12 foreign students, coming from 8 different nations. In this way, six Courses currently present at the Aeronautical Academy of Pozzuoli become six, for a total of about 500 visitors.
THEAeronautical Academy it depends on the Command of the Air Force Schools / 3rd Air Region. It is a military institute of higher education with a university character which has the task of providing for the recruitment and training of young people who aspire to become officers of the Air Force in effective permanent service. By attending the regular courses of the Academy you can become second lieutenants of the Air Force, in the role of normal Navigators (pilots) and in the Normal Role of the Arms, of the Corps of Aeronautical Engineers, of the Corps of Aeronautical Commissariat and of the Aeronautical Sanitary Corps.