Armed Forces: video link with the operational theaters and presentation of the calendar of the Didesa General Staff

On the Day of National Unity and the Day of the Armed Forces, Minister Guerini, welcomed by the Chief of Defense Staff, General Enzo Vecciarelli and by the Commander of the COI General of CA Luciano Portolano, greeted the Italian military contingents involved in video link in international operations and received the 2021 Calendar from the Defense Staff.

Yesterday the Chief of Defense Staff, General Enzo Vecciarelli, accompanied by the Commander of the IOC, General of the Army Corps Luciano Portolano, welcomed the Minister of Defense, Hon. Lorenzo Guerini, for the traditional video-link with the military contingents Italians active in the theaters of international operations, carried out from the headquarters of the Operational Command of Vertice Interforze (COI). At the end of the connection he received from General Vecciarelli the first copy of the SMD calendar.

"They are men and women of whom we are proud, because they serve Italy with commitment and honor, keeping its name high in the national context". With these words General Vecciarelli wanted to address his message to those who today serve far from the homeland and from their loved ones ”.

The Italian military is engaged in 39 missions, 36 of which are international in 24 countries with more than 7.000 soldiers, and in the national missions "Safe Roads" and "Safe Sea". And thanks to the video link, the Commanders of the National Contingents had the opportunity to provide valuable information on the many activities of the Armed Forces carried out daily in the field.

A further important commitment of the Defense in the last year has been that of the fight against Coronavirus. The Armed Forces have made all the necessary resources and capabilities available to the country. The Joint Forces Operations Command coordinated all the activities and structures of the Armed Forces in support of both the Police Forces in Public Security activities and the National Health Service. The commitment was extremely varied and ranged from the emergency repatriation of fellow countrymen to the sending of military doctors and nurses, from the setting up of field hospitals and military health facilities to welcome patients, to emergency medical flights and in bio-containment, from the transport of medical equipment, to the latest initiative, in order of time, of the 200 Drive Through Defense positioned in all regions of Italy. All activities were carried out in coordination with the Department of Civil Protection and the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Health.

And it is precisely the mission of the Armed Forces abroad as well as throughout the national territory, with particular reference to the ongoing socio-health emergency, the theme of the 2021 calendar, presented at the end of the traditional video-link.

“The calendar aims to tell the work of the military in different areas of the planet in defense of national interests, security and peace. It wants to illustrate the operations, the tasks, the numerous partners and the different sectors of intervention of the Armed Forces, from the most traditional to the most modern ones. " - continued General Vecciarelli, while giving the first copies of the calendar to the Minister of Defense and the Chiefs of Staff of the Armed Forces.

Armed Forces: video link with the operational theaters and presentation of the calendar of the Didesa General Staff