The Chief of Staff of the Army takes stock of the situation and operational needs of the Armed Force
The Army Chief of Staff, Army Corps General Salvatore Farina, held a hearing in front of the IV Defense Commission of the Chamber of Deputies, tracing a picture of the situation on the current state of the Armed Force, on the initiatives launched, those in progress and future prospects, hoping that the initiatives undertaken will find continuity also in the coming years.
Among the topics covered, General Farina declined the 5 programmatic lines, represented in the star of the Army emblem: personnel, organization, training and readiness, infrastructures, capabilities and systems.
With regard to the first point, he underlined the urgent need for the rejuvenation of military personnel, an extremely important issue, as already recalled by the Minister of Defense in the hearing of 30 October 2019. A partial solution can be found immediately through the extension of the transitional regime of law no. 244/2012, which would allow to have around 10.000 more units. Furthermore, in order to favor a more rapid stabilization of the staff, a new recruitment system has already been proposed which provides for an initial stop of 2/3years and, upon passing a competition based on qualifications and exams, the extension of the service for a further 3 years, which, completed without demerit, will guarantee the volunteer automatic access to the permanent service category.
With regard to the "capabilities and systems" policy line, the Army Chief of Staff highlighted the need to bridge the capacitive-technological gap accumulated over the years by the Army by starting and supporting programs such as: the Individual Combat System (SIC) " Safe Soldier "; the “Blindo Centauro 2”, whose renovation is planned for 150 platforms; the New Scouting and Escort Helicopter (NEES) which, with 48 new platforms, will replace the current A-129 “Mangusta”; the Light Utility Helicopter, already contracted for the first 15 units; the Medium Armored Vehicle (VBM) 8 × 8 “Freccia” to continue the supply; the “Lince 2 NEC” Light Multirole Tactical Vehicle (VTLM), replacing the current 1700 VTLMs in service; the renewed "Ariete" wagons, of which 3 prototypes expected to be delivered by 2021. Another very important program to be launched concerns the capacity of Command and Control, digitalization and cyber, in harmony with what is defined in the strategic concept of the Chief of Staff of Defense. The Medium Multirole Tactical Vehicle (VTMM) “Bear-Mobile Command Post” also fits into this segment. In order to finance the aforementioned programs, an articulated law is required, with a horizon of 6/10 years, through a multi-year financial vehicle for defense investments, oriented above all to the terrestrial component.
With regard to infrastructures, the "Large Infrastructures - Green Barracks for the Army" project has the ambitious goal of implementing standardized projects that provide for the identification of a specific construction type for the Armed Force, simple, quick to build, safe, anti-seismic e Nearly Zero Energy Building (NZEB). A project that has already been started on many sites, where design, checks and first construction projects are underway and which deserves to be vigorously supported for the next 15/20 years, together with the urgent renovation of housing for families and of carrying out kindergartens. This process could exploit, in addition to the funds of the ordinary budget, other financing, since it declines the principles of the green economy, energy saving, environmental protection and which provides for the "co-use" of the plants also by other institutions and the civilian population.
Finally, General Farina publicly thanked all the men and women of the Army, in whom “the awareness of their role is firm. Their eyes reflect the same values of those who preceded them and for this reason it is vital that, in maintaining their ethical sense, they have the modern means to be able to carry out their tasks in the best possible way. #Italian Army # dipiùinsieme.