SOLBIATE OLONA (VA), 10 FEBRUARY 2014 - Monday 10 February at the Barracks Ugo Mara (Solbiate Olona) in the presence of the Secretary of Defense, Mr Joachim Alfano and the Chief of the Defence Staff, Admiral Luigi Binelli Mantelli, was held on the ISAF End of Tour Parade of the NATO Rapid Deployable Corps Commander - Italy (NRDC-ITA), General of the Army Corps Giorgio Battisti, and the contingent of international staff.
Since January 2013, for one year, about 280 men of the military command of NATO Rapid Reaction Corps in Italy were employed in Kabul, as part of the mission International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in which the General Battisti has held the position of Chief of Staff, central role in the coordination of the the international coalition forces made up of the Armed Forces from 50 countries around the world.
The ceremony was attended by the Chief of Staff of the Army, Army Corps, General Claudio Graziano, Vice Chief of Staff of Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) General of the Army Corps, Philippe Stoltz, Commander of the Land Forces General of the Army Corps, Roberto Bernardini, and the mayor of Solbiate Olona, Mr. Salvatore Luigi Melis.
In his speech, the General of the Army Corps Battisti pointed out that the staff of NRDC-ITA will be distinguished for it’s professionalism and commitment during the mission and thanked the mayors and the nationalities of the municipalities of Valle Olona for their constant support. The Commander NRDC-ITA has also created a special and heartfelt thanks to the families of the fallen, who endure with dignity immeasurable pain.The Under Secretary of Defense the Honorable Alfano confirmed as the staff of NRDC-ITA has been active in Afghanistan with skill and versatility, the result of an intense commitment and professionalism unanimously recognized.
Even the Chief of the Defence Staff, Admiral Binelli Mantelli recalled the valuable support of the families of the personnel involved in the mission, and urged the staff to lavish the same commitment to the next challenge of NRDC-ITA: the establishment of a Joint Task Force Headquarters (JTFHQ).
The Chief of Army Staff, General of the Army Corps Graziano pointed out that the mission in Afghanistan is the most complex and difficult where NATO is engaged. If the Afghan Armed Forces can now assume full responsibility for the security of their country it must be the commitment of all the allied forces.
Finally, the General of the Army Corps Stoltz recalled how the NRDC-ITA has successfully operated in Afghanistan in 2005 and 2009, and as well as on the latter occasion has contributed very effectively to the success of the mission, deserving the recognition conferred by the Supreme Allied Commander, Europe (SACEUR) "Allied Command Operations Campaign Medal Pennant".