17º Stormo Incursori
17 ° Stormo Incursori (German 17th Special Forces Squadron ) is the name of a special unit of the Italian Air Force ( Aeronautica Militare ). She is stationed in Furbara ( Cerveteri) near Rome and is subject to the 1 ª Brigade Aerea. In addition, it is integrated into the Special Forces Command ( COFS ) of the Italian General Staff. Comprised of airmobile ground forces squadron was on April 8, 2008, the name Reparto Incursori Aeronautica Militare ( RIAM ) (German "Air Force special unit" ).
Order
As Fernspähverband the 17th squadron flying support units in the target acquisition and target marking (Forward Air Control, Combat Control, laser target designation ). So-called Combat controllers conduct at the front or in hostile territory controlled air attacks and mark with a laser device targets for precision-guided munitions. The unit can be used to secure advanced airfields or landing strips, hold and prepare and also more generally to air traffic control tasks there. The unit has important functions in the field of search and rescue operations under combat conditions ( CSAR). It can also be used for other special tasks and object protection purposes in foreign missions.
Organization
The squadron consists of four so-called groups. The operating entity called the GOI ( Gruppo Operativo Incursori ) is about 100 men strong and broken down into four operating trains and in a Unterstützungszug. The trains consist of four -man squads. There are also training GAI ( Gruppo Addestrativo Incursori ) and support units GSS ( Servizio di Gruppo Supporto ) and CSF ( Compagnia delle Forze Sopravvivenza ), who take care of logistics, transport and telecommunications equipment. Add to that the Servizio Amministrativo, an administrative unit. The members of the GOI wear sand colored berets, which are reminiscent of those of the Special Air Service.
Recruitment and training
Candidates must first pass a rigorous fitness test. In the following basic courses at the Airborne School in Pisa, at the Mountain and Winter Combat School of Alpini in Aosta, and in particular at the 9th Parachute Assault Regiment Col Moschin are provided. In the special education training for Combat Controller and Combat Search and Rescue in the foreground. Later, a number of training courses can be taken, including at the German Special Forces school in Pfullendorf (eg Combat Medic ).
History
The Special Forces Association was established on 1 March 2003 under the name Reparto Incursori Aeronautica Militare ( RIAM ) on the former airfield of Furbara at Cerveteri ( Lazio ). There already was a training center for Combat Search and Rescue. The new unit performs the traditions of the special battalion ADRA ( Arditi Distruttori Regia Aeronautica ) and the 1st Parachute Battalion of the Regia Aeronautica on. The ADRA Battalion was formed in July 1942 and had the task to attack enemy airfields and there to destroy aircraft. In June 1943 a small team succeeded in destroying 25 British aircraft on the airfield of Benina (now the airport from Benghazi ) in North Africa. Another team blew up a railway bridge near Beni Mansour in Algeria.
The 1st Parachute Battalion was set up in May 1942 and led by Lieutenant Colonel Edvino Dalmas. His 300 men fought with their khaki Barre tablets in November 1942 in Tunisia. At Jebel el- Abiod they stopped temporarily an Allied attack, but suffered heavy losses while.
The 17th Squadron (17 ° Stormo ) was stationed in northern Italy air defense missile bandage on Nike Hercules during the Cold War. After withdrawal of such missiles is this Squadron continues now as a Special Forces Association. The term RIAM was a temporary.