Italian National Royal Army (Kingdom of Italy)

Italian National Royal Army
Regio Esercito Nazionale Italiano
Flag of the Italian National Royal Army
Active	1861-Present
Country	Italy
Branch	Army
Size	300,000
Part of	Italian Armed Forces
Headquarters	Città Militare Cecchignola, Rome, Italy
Patron	Saint George Varies according the Speciality
March	"Marcia del 24 Maggio"
Anniversaries	1 March 1948 (Establishment of the National Republican Army) 1 March 2013 (Establishment of the Italian National Royal Army)
Engagements	Wars of Independence World War I African War

The Italian National Royal Army (Regio Esercito Nazionale Italiano, R.E.N.I.) is the ground force of the Italian Armed Forces. It is a partly-conscripted force of active-duty personnel. Its best-known combat vehicles are the Dardo infantry fighting vehicle, the Centauro tank destroyer and the Ariete tank, and among its aircraft the Mangusta attack helicopter. The headquarters of the Army General Staff are located in Rome, opposite the Presidential Palace. The army's history dates back to the unification of Italy in the 1850s and 1860s. The army fought in colonial engagements in China, Libya (1911-1912), northern Italy against permanence of the soviet bloc: the army prepared itself to defend against a Warsaw Pact invasion from the east, as well as the protection from the Lybian desert, Eastern Africa (including security operations) and the western Italian border.

As of 2015, the R.E.N.I. consisted of four line Army Corps, alongside two other Corps: Alpine Troops Corps and a Quick Action Corps.

Personnel

There are three classes of personnel in the Italian National Royal Army: professional, volunteer and conscript. As of 2015, the Kingdom of Italy has mandatory military service (conscription) of 24 months for all males between the ages of 18 and 45.
Citizens discharged from active service are normally placed in the Reserve and are subject to periodic recall of 1–10 days at irregular intervals. Conscript enlisted men and non-commissioned officers wear special rank insignia to differentiate them from volunteers.
Professional officers graduate from the Military Academy (Accademia Militare) in Modena and then from the Application School (Scuola di Applicazione) in Turin, while the rest graduate from various Military Schools according to their specialization.

Supreme Command

The Supreme Command (Comando Supremo) of the Italian National Royal Army is represented by the Army General Staff (Stato Maggiore dell'Esercito, SME) in Rome, which is the body appointed to develop the policy of the Armed Force. For the activity of command and control over units of the Army, the Chief of Staff of the R.E.N.I. - who holds the rank of Army General - has four High Commands, governed by four Army Corps Generals and by Inspectorate headed by a Lieutenant General. These five institutions with the SME are called, as a whole, "Supreme Command":

• Land Forces Command (Comando delle Forze Terrestri), headquartered in Milan. It is responsible for organizing maneuver and operational units of the Army and controls all the manouver Corps.
• Military Command of the Capital (Comando Militare della Capitale), based in Rome. It coordinates the activities related to the recruitment and Propaganda in the national territory and directs all Military Regions.
• Logistic Command (Comando Logistico): headquartered in Rome which depend on the technical and functional units of logistics support and logistics for grip.
• Army Training Command and Application School of Turin (Comando Formazione dell'Esercito e Scuola di Applicazione), is responsible for the initial training of all military personnel of the Army.
• Inspectorate of Infrastructures (Ispettorato delle Infrastrutture): hierarchically presiding authorities of the Works and State Property Service.

It is to note that these Commands are closely linked to the Army General Staff, and that they are in no way capable of autonomous decisions.

Army General Staff

The Army General Staff (Stato Maggiore dell'Esercito, SME) is the top-level body, assigned to the general co-ordination of the whole Supreme Command and of the Army. It is headed by an Army Corps General with Special Tasks, who holds the title of Under-Chief of Staff (Sottocapo di Stato Maggiore).
In order to fulfill its institutional goals, the Under-Chief of Staff uses three offices (Special Operations, Administration, and Under-Chief of Staff Office), the Department of Ground Transformation and five Units, that in turn control:

• Army Selection and recruitment National Centre (Centro Selezione Reclutamento Nazionale Esercito, C.S.R.N.E.);
• Military Penitentiary Organization;
• Army Olympic Sports Centre;
• Central Logistics Group.

Always within the S.M.E., but reporting directly to the Chief of Staff, there is the General Office of the Chief of Staff, the Department of Employment of the Personnel of the Army and the Administration Directorate.
In addition, the Historical Office, the Central Military Library (which collects and preserves books and magazines preeminently of historical, military, political, sociological and scientific topic) and the Headquarters of the security, prevention and protection service, whose purpose is to coordinate the activities related to the accident prevention regulations of the Army, depend on the Under-Chief of Staff although these offices are not part of the Army General Staff.

Special Operations Office

The Army Special Forces Command (Comando Forze Speciali Esercito, COM.FO.S.E.) is not a deployment command, being this role previously attributed entirely to the joint CO.F.S., but it has the responsibility to devise, organize and conduct the training and preparation of Army Special Forces and Special Operations Forces.
The COM.FO.S.E. is the body responsible for harmonizing the common needs and to support, coordinate, rationalize and direct the action of these highly specialized units in the vital areas of recruitment, training, preparation, research and selection of materials, as well as for doctrinal elaboration and rules of use: the COM.FO.S.E. is placed directly under the Chief of Staff of the Army, interfacing with the Special Operations Office.

General Staff Units

The General Staff is structured on five Units and a Department:

• Unit I - Personnel legal and economic affairs: it oversees the policies of the military personnel. It is divided into two Sections, led by the Deputy Unit Commander and by the Commander of the CSRNE.
  • The Deputy Unit Commander directs three offices: Recruitment Status and Advancement Office; Economic Affairs Office; Legal Office.
  • The Commander of C.S.R.N.E. directs: the Army Selection and recruitment National Centre (Foligno); the six Centers of Conscripted Personnel Selection (Padua, Rome, Naples, Bari, Palermo, Cagliari).
• Unit II - General and Financial Planning: has the task of "looking to the future" in all fields of the Armed Force. In this context, it executes the subsequent programming.
• Unit III - Use of Force and Army Operations Centre: it conducts research, development and general guidance in the fields of operational planning. The Unit is divided into three major areas directed by the Deputy Unit Commander - Security Officer, the Deputy Chief Operations Centre and the Deputy Chief of the Forces Preparation Centre.
  • The Deputy Unit Commander commands the "Military Penitentiary Organization", the Office of Information and Security and the National Royal Guard Detachment SME.
  • The Deputy Chief Operations Centre commands the Plans Office and the Current Operations Office (Operations Room).
  • The Deputy Chief of the Forces Preparation Centre commands the Training Office, the Doctrine and Lessons Learned Office, Weaponry Control Section and Military Penitentiary Organization.
• Unit IV - Logistics: it oversees the design and development of the choices for the Army logistics. Unlike the other Units of the SME, the is organized into two "areas", which are dedicated to "Weapon Systems" and the "C4IEW and Infrastructures". Each "area" is divided into "Offices" in turn divided into "Sections".
  
• Unit V - General Affairs: it is responsible for the matter "Personnel welfare", with particular reference to social protection and welfare benefits. The Unit oversees ceremonial and external relations, coordinating the grant of the Army competitions. The Unit also manages marketing and propaganda communications of the Army, in particular for everything related to the Web and Recruitment. The Unit is also custodian of the historical heritage of the Armed Force. The Unit V - General Affairs is ordered on five offices: General Affairs Office, Press Office, Documentary Flows and IT Protocol Office, Marketing and Internet Office, Historical Office. Under the Unit V, there is the Central Logistics Group.
• Department of Ground Transormation: has the mandate to coordinate and direct the process of modernization of the Ground military instrument, with a holistic approach of the DOTMLPFI type.

Land Operational Forces Command

"Folgore" Paratroopers Brigade CoA. Due to their strong esprit the corps, all Paratroopers feel being part of their own side. All Paras brigades have a golden bordered shield, filled with a light blue interior.

The Land Operational Forces Command (Comando delle Forze Terrestri, COM.FO.TER.), headquartered in Milan, is the key command is responsible for the administration, with unified vision, the training and the operational activities of the Italian land forces. The Commander of the Land Forces, directly dependent on the Army Chief of Staff, is responsible for the preparation, training and employment of forces and exercises its authority over all units with operational tasks, i.e. all units classed as “Combat”, “Combat Support”, “Combat Service Support” and those classed as “Communication and Information System” units, which are the two thirds of the whole Army. The COM.FO.TER. is supported by a Command Unit, by an Operational Centre and by a Command Staff.
Within the Italian National Royal Army, the Division is the functional army unit, and its commander is the administrator of every aspect of the formation: his staff train and administer the soldiers, officers, and commanders of the division's subordinate units. Generally, Divisions are garrisoned together and share the same, large installations. Soldiers and officers are kept togheter up to the company level; however, companies are transferred in and out of divisions as required; soldiers never belong to a particular regiment for extended periods, unless they are of some, particular specialties, which have few elements. The Divisional system, being based on an industrial model of specialization and fixed division of labours, encourages its members to think of themselves as a functional organization and the majority of responsibility is placed with the officers, while the Senior NCO's were mainly concerned with administration of the men. The R.E.N.I. system emphasis the loyalty to the Fatherland and to the Fascist Idea rather than to the way the Regiment's way of life. Horizontal bonding is made more difficult by the centralized clubs. The R.E.N.I. Divisional soldiers are required to be patriotic towards Country, loyal to the Army and devoutly religious, while are identifcation with the history and traditions of their Regiment.
However, the Divisional system, while being perfectly capable to produce brigades, is less effective than the British model in prolonged low intensity conflicts, when small elements find themselves for some reason operating in isolation, without their fire support, and with nothing to fall back upon except their courage. For this reason, elite units elements are kept togheter as long as possible.
The Italian National Royal Army operational forces consist of six Army Corps: the first four Corps are the line Corps, and they are homogeneously distributed across Italy; the Fifth Army Corps is the Alpine Army Corps, and it is headquartered in Bolzano and its formations guard the Alpi and some regions of the Appennini; the sixth Army Corps is the Quick Action Corps, headquartered in Palermo and responsible of quick reaction duties. The Metropolitan Army consists of 9 Combat Divisions and several Combat Brigades: 5 Armoured Divisions, 4 Mechanized Infantry Divisions, 8 autonomous Mechanized Infantry Brigades, 5 Alpine Brigades, 4 Paratrooper Brigades, 1 Missile Brigade, 1 Airborne Brigade, 1 Marine Infantry Brigade and 1 RISTA-EW Brigade.
The Army-wide system is applied on armoured and infantry divisions, while a vague adaptation of the British Regimental system is kept on the marine infantry (all soldiers serving in the Brigade start, continue and end their career in this formation) and on the Alpine Corps (which has an identity quite different from the rest of the Army and keeps Alpine personnel within its ranks up to Brigade General).

The standard shield for Infantry Divisions.

• 1st Army Corps: HQ Rome
  • File:Ariete01-1-.gif 132nd Armoured Division "Ariete"
    • 1st Armoured Brigade "Ariete"
    • 2nd Armoured Brigade "Toro"
    • 1st Mechanized Infantry Brigade "Aosta"
  • 1st Mechanized Infantry Division (Bersaglieri) "Garibaldi"
    • 3rd Armoured Brigade "Mameli"
    • 2nd Mechanized Infantry Brigade (Bersaglieri) "Garibaldi"
    • 3rd Mechanized Infantry Brigade (Bersaglieri) "Castelfidardo"
  • 4th Mechanized Infantry Brigade "Granatieri d'Italia"
  • 5th Mechanized Infantry Brigade "Roma"
  • 182nd Paratrooper Brigade "Folgore"
  • Missile Brigade "Aspis"
  • 1st Air Defence Brigade "Atlante"

The standard shield for Armoured formations.

• 2nd Army Corps: HQ Milan
  • 2nd Armoured Division "Centauro"
    • 4th Armoured Brigade "Centauro"
    • 5th Armoured Brigade "Bassi"
    • 6th Mechanized Infantry Brigade "Torino"
  • 2nd Mechanized Infantry Division (Bersaglieri) "Cacciatori d'Africa"
    • 6th Armoured Brigade "Manin"
    • 7th Mechanized Infantry Brigade (Bersaglieri) "Cacciatori d'Africa"
    • 8th Mechanized Infantry Brigade (Bersaglieri) "La Marmora"
  • 9th Mechanized Infantry Brigade "Lupi di Toscana"
  • 10th Mechanized Infantry Brigade "Lazio"
  • 2nd Paratrooper Brigade "Nembo"
  • 2nd Air Defence Brigade "Drago"
• 3rd Army Corps: HQ Naples
  • 3rd Armoured Division "Freccia"
    • 7th Armoured Brigade "Freccia"
    • 8th Armoured Brigade "Bixio"
    • 11th Mechanized Infantry Brigade "Padova"
  • 3rd Mechanized Infantry Division (Bersaglieri) "Res publica"
    • 9th Cavalry Brigade "Vittorio Veneto"
    • 12th Mechanized Infantry Brigade (Bersaglieri) "Res publica II"
    • 13th Mechanized Infantry Brigade (Bersaglieri) "Palestro"
  • 14th Mechanized Infantry Brigade "Cagliari"
  • 15th Mechanized Brigade "Lombardia"
  • 3rd Paratrooper Brigade "Ciclone"

The standard shield for Alpine Infantry Divisions.

• 4th Army Corps: HQ Verona
  • 4th Armoured Division "Bir El Gobi"
    • 10th Armoured Brigade "Bir El Gobi"
    • 136th Armoured Brigade "Giovani Fascisti"
  • 4th Mechanized Infantry Division (Bersaglieri) "Mazzini"
    • 11th Armoured Brigade "Littorio II"
    • 16th Mechanized Infantry Brigade (Bersaglieri) "Mazzini"
    • 17th Mechanized Infantry Brigade (Bersaglieri) "Cernaia"
  • 18th Mechanized Infantry Brigade "Mantova"
  • 19th Mechanized Infantry Brigade "Forlì"
  • 4th Paratrooper Brigade "Uragano"
• 5th Alpine Army Corps: HQ Bolzano
  • 1st Alpine Brigade "Taurinense"
  • 2nd Alpine Brigade "Tridentina"
  • 3rd Alpine Brigade "Julia"
  • 22nd Alpine Brigade "Cacciatori delle Alpi"
  • 4th Alpine Brigade "Monte Rosa"
• 6th Quick Action Corps: HQ Palermo
  • 5th Armoured Division "Dardo"
    • 12th Armoured Brigade "Dardo"
    • 13th Armoured Brigade "Cracco"
    • 20th Mechanized Infantry Brigade "Avellino"
  • 5th Air Cavalry Brigade "La Spezia"
  • 1st Amphibious Brigade "San Marco"
  • 1st RISTA-EW Brigade "Longe Video"

plus other units.

Air Defence Artillery Command

The Air Defence Artillery Command (Comando Artiglieria Contraerei) is the Artillery command which performs both training functions, through the training regiment, and operational, through the five subordinate Regiments. It directly depends on the Land Operational Forces Command.

• Air Defence Artillery Training Regiment
• 201st Air Defence Artillery Regiment "Obizzi"
• 202nd Air Defence Artillery Regiment "Scaligera"
• 203rd Air Defence Artillery Regiment "Carrarese"
• 204th Air Defence Artillery Regiment "Viscontea"
• 205th Air Defence Artillery Regiment "Estense"
• 217th Air Defence Artillery Regiment "Sforzesca": air defence for the Joint Landing Force.

Artillery Command

The Artillery Command (Comando Artiglieria) is the Artillery command which performs both training functions, through the training regiment, and operational, through the five subordinate Regiments. It directly depends on the Land Operational Forces Command.

Operational Readiness

All Italian military forces are classified according their own "Operational Readiness" (Prontezza Operativa). The Operational Readiness is the time nececessary to prepare them to operational deployment. Currently, there are four Operational Readiness levels:

• Very High Operational Readiness: available in 24/48 hours. Very High Operational Readiness forces must be able to act also as initial entry force, deploy quickly and operate autonomously for a period of at least 30 days using their own and autonomous logistical skills.
• High Operational Readiness: available in 3-90 days.
• Medium Operational Readiness: available in 91-180 days.
• Low Operational Readiness: available within 365 days.

Division

The Italian National Royal Army maintains nine field Divisions, in order to be able to project a massive surge of military power outside its borders. These large formations are designed in order to ensure deterrence and at the same time to provide a readily deployable force for high-intensity scenarios.

Mechanised Infantry Division

Mechanised Infantry Divisions are usually assigned missions as destroy enemy armed forces and to control land area including population and resource centres. They operate within a Corps or a major joint task force. Such units conduct sustained combat operations under all conditions. Being an heavy formation, a typical division of that type accomplishes movement to conduct contact, attacks, exploitation, and pursuit of enemy forces, being capable to disperse over great distances and concentrate rapidly from widely separate areas. However, mechanised division's heavy equipment can not be lifted by Army aircraft, but have to rely on Air Force, and mobility is heavily restricted by jungle, dense forest, steep, rugged terrain, and major water obstacles.
Operations entrusted to the mechanised divisions include offensive, defensive and retrograde operations, as well as acting as a covering force. In addition, mechanised divisions provide organic air defence against low altitude aircraft.
The Air Cavalry Brigade is the main air organisation, being designed to fight, command, and resource aviation forces. The typical brigade consists of 131 aircraft and has a headquarters and headquarters squadron, a cavalry squadrons group, a command aviation squadron, an assault helicopter squadron and one or two attack helicopter squadrons groups.
These formations are capable of performing organisational and direct support maintenance of their organic equipment. A Mechanised Infantry Division includes 4 Tank Squadrons Groups (1 Tank Regiment), 5 Infantry Battalions (1 Infantry Regiment) and 5 Artillery Groups (1 Artillery Regiment).

• Headquarters Company
• CC.RR. MP Divisional Section
• Chemical Company
• 1 Signal Battalion (1 Command Company, 3 Area Signal Companies, 1 Signal Support Company)
• 1 EW Battalion (1 Command & Ops Company, 3 EW Companies, 1 EW Support company)
• 1 Engineer Regiment
  • Command and Support Company
  • 3 Engineer Battalions (3 Engineer Companies each)
• 1 Divisional Exploring Regiment (usually Cavalleggeri: 1 Command & Ops Squadron, 1 Squadrons Group consisting of 2 Exploring Squadrons and of 1 Support Squadron)
• 1 Divisional Artillery Regiment
  • Command and Support Company
  • 3 Field Artillery Groups (3 Batteries each)
  • 1 MLRS Group (2 MLRS Batteries)
  • 1 Air Defence Group (3 Batteries, 1 missile Battery)
• Armoured Brigade
  • Command Company
  • 2 Tank Squadrons Groups (1 Command Squadron, 4 Tank Squadrons each)
  • 1 Infantry Battalion (1 Command Company, 4 Infantry Companies)
  • CC.RR. MP Section
• Infantry Brigade "A"
  • Command Company
  • 1 Tank Squadrons Group (1 Command Squadron, 4 Tank Squadrons)
  • 2 Infantry Battalions (1 Command Company, 4 Infantry Companies each)
  • CC.RR. MP Section
• Infantry Brigade "B"
  • Command Company
  • 1 Tank Squadrons Group (1 Command Squadron, 4 Tank Squadrons)
  • 2 Infantry Battalions (1 Command Company, 4 Infantry Companies each)
  • CC.RR. MP Section

Armoured Division

Armoured Divisions are the Mechanised Infantry Divisions' twin formations: they are usually assigned missions as destroy enemy armed forces and to control land area including population and resource centres, and they operate within a Corps or a major joint task force. Such units conduct sustained heavy combat operations under all conditions. Being an heavy formation, a typical Armoured division accomplishes movement to conduct contact, attacks, exploitation, and pursuit of enemy forces, being capable to disperse over great distances and concentrate rapidly from widely separate areas. However, Armoured division's heavy equipment can not be lifted by Army aircraft, but have to rely on Air Force, and mobility is heavily restricted by jungle, dense forest, steep, rugged terrain, and major water obstacles.
Operations entrusted to the armoured divisions include offensive, defensive and retrograde operations, as well as acting as a covering force. In addition, such divisions provide organic air defence against low altitude aircraft.
These formations are capable of performing organisational and direct support maintenance of their organic equipment. An Armoured Division includes 5 Tank Squadrons Groups (1 Tank Regiment), 4 Infantry Battalions (1 Infantry Regiment) and 5 Artillery Groups (1 Artillery Regiment).

• Headquarters Company
• CC.RR. MP Divisional Section
• Chemical Company
• 1 Signal Battalion (1 Command Company, 3 Area Signal Companies, 1 Signal Support Company)
• 1 EW Battalion (1 Command & Ops Company, 3 EW Companies, 1 EW Support company)
• 1 Engineer Regiment
  • Command and Support Company
  • 3 Engineer Battalions (3 Engineer Companies each)
• 1 Divisional Artillery Regiment
  • Command and Support Company
  • 3 Field Artillery Groups (3 Batteries each)
  • 1 MLRS Group (2 MLRS Batteries)
  • 1 Air Defence Group (3 Batteries, 1 missile Battery)
• Armoured Brigade "A"
  • Command Company
  • 2 Tank Squadrons Groups (1 Command Squadron, 4 Tank Squadrons each)
  • 1 Infantry Battalion (1 Command Company, 4 Infantry Companies)
  • CC.RR. MP Section
• Armoured Brigade "B"
  • Command Company
  • 2 Tank Squadrons Groups (1 Command Squadron, 4 Tank Squadrons each)
  • 1 Infantry Battalion (1 Command Company, 4 Infantry Companies)
  • CC.RR. MP Section
• Infantry Brigade
  • Command Company
  • 1 Tank Squadrons Group (1 Command Squadron, 4 Tank Squadrons)
  • 2 Infantry Battalions (1 Command Company, 4 Infantry Companies each)
  • CC.RR. MP Section

Separate Brigades

Separate brigades can be used to reinforce corps or divisions and can be shifted from unit to unit to tailor forces for combat. The separate brigade conducts independent operations, placed under the control of a higher command such as a corps and organised to provide its own combat support and support and with manoeuvre battalion-sized units.
The vast array of enemy forces and range of potential areas of conflict necessitate a tactical formation smaller than a division with its own support assets, capable of strategic and tactical deployments. The separate brigade allows the latitude in force projection options. The separate brigade's main focus is to defeat the enemy. It supports and conducts offensive, defensive, or retrograde operations as an independent force or part of a larger force such as a corps.

Paratroopers Brigade

Paratroopers Brigades are mobile infantry brigades. Their primary mission is to deploy rapidly to conduct highly sensitive combat operations; in particular, Paratrooper Brigades are tasked to seize and hold vital objectives behind the enemy lines, until linking with support forces and, as an highly mobility unit, to exploit effects of non-conventional weapons. Alongside with primary missions, Paratroopers also act in order to carry out rescue operations (when special operations forces are deemed to be unnecessary) and to reinforce forward-deployed forces (mostly special forces), to serve as a strategic reserve and to conduct massive raids.
The five Army Paratroopers Brigades are highly valuable because they can operate both within a joint task force, both independently. They are able to conduct offensive, defensive and delay operations, as well as large scale raids, especially against light infantry/insurgents. The light-infantry specialisation is also combined with the rear battle operations capability. Being a light force, a Paratrooper Brigade is able to conduct operations in rough terrain against mechanised or armoured forces, while open terrains are unfavourable to the Paratroopers; the famed battle of El Alamein is highly regarded by military historians precisely because the exceptional conditions.
The full operational capability of a Paratrooper Brigade depends upon the availability of proper air transport assets for strategic deployment and upon higher commands for supplemental transportation.
A Paratrooper Brigade is organised as it follows:

• Brigade Command and Tactical Support Battalion
• Cavalry Squadrons Group
• 1 Paratroopers Regiment (1 Command and Communications Company and 3 Battalions)
• Artillery Paratroopers Group
• Paratroopers Engineer Battalion
• Manoeuvre Regiment
  • Command Company
  • Health Battalion
  • Maintenance Battalion
  • Supplies Battalion

Combined Brigades

With the introduction of the Combined Brigade in 2002, the Italian National Royal Army created a modular structure, which can be integrated to better address both scenarios typical of counterinsurgency operations as well as those of conventional or hybrid warfare. Alongside the traditional three maneuver infantry Battalions, there are also an artillery Group for fire support, a of cavalry Squadrons Group for exploration and surveillance, a sappers Battalion, a logistics Battalion and a Command-and-control unit to support the needs of coordination of the Formation. Although the combined Brigades share the same basic structure, it will be maintained in the specific differences in terms of equipment so as to enable adaptation of the instrument Military Land to the different possible operating scenarios. In this regard, therefore, there are Light (Infantry), Medium (Mechanised Infantry) and Heavy (Mechanised, i.e. armour+mechanised infantry) Brigades.
Light (Infantry) Brigades have a large set of capabilities and apt to support various types of operations while maintaining a high strategic mobility, the ability to operate in the third dimension and/or in mountain environments and a leading role in the field of landing from the sea. Medium (Mechanised Infantry) Brigades are able to operate properly in the insidious hybrid warfare scenarios. Finally, the Heavy (Armoured) Brigade must provide that level of deterrence against any threat of conventional type. In fact, within these Formations are present the resources and know-how to conduct combat operations at high intensity with the highest level of firepower, tactical mobility and protection.
Nowadays, the Italian National Royal Army does not maintain Heavy (Armoured) Brigades outside the field Divisions.

Mechanised Infantry Brigade

While the Mechanised infantry division is the main military formations for major campaigns to be conducted in plains or rough environment, the autonomous mechanised infantry brigades are more mobile and agile combined formations, capable to be quickly deployed and to sustain heavy combat operations, both at strategic and operational level. Deployment environments are usually the same of the larger divisions, although they are more versed in asymmetric warfare and low-intensity conflicts.

• Brigade Command
• Brigade Command and Tactical Supports Battalion
• CC.RR. MP Section
• Brigade Exploring Squadrons Group
• Armoured Regiment
  • Regiment Command Company (4 Platoons)
  • 4 Armoured Battalions (Each Battalion with 1 Command and Support Company, 1 Weapons Company, 2 Infantry Companies on IFVs, 2 Tank Squadrons on MBTs)
• Cavalry Squadrons Group (1 Command Squadron and 3 Line Squadrons)
• Field Artillery Group (1 Command Battery and 3 Operational Batteries)
• Sappers Battalion
• Logistics Battalion
• Manoeuvre Regiment
  • Regiment Command Company
  • Health Battalion
  • Maintenance Battalion
  • Supplies Battalion

Battalions

There are several types of Battalions within the Italian Military.

Cavalry Exploring Squadrons Group

The Cavalry Exploring Squadrons Group is the basic unit tasked with exploration and reconnaissance missions. Usually these Squadrons Groups are classified as a Light Cavalry Regiment (with only one Squadrons Group) if belonging to a Division, while they are autonomous Lancers or Dragoons Squadrons Groups if they belong to an autonomous Brigade. Cavalry Exploring Squadrons Groups consist of 30 Officers, 80 Subofficers and 510 Troops (for a total of 620) organized as follows:

• Command Squadron
  • Antitank Platoon
  • Pioneers Platoon
• Exploring Squadron
  • Command Platoon
  • 2 x Explporation Platoons (4 armoured fighting vehicle each);
• Reconnaissance Squadron
  • Command Platoon
  • 2 x Reconnaissance Platoons (4 tank destroyers each);
• Tank Squadron
  • 4 x Tank platoons (4 MBTs each)

Armoured Battalion

The Armoured Battalion is the basic element of all units and formations based on main battle tanks. The Italian military follows the so-called "Rule-of-4" for the military organisation of Armoured units, which consist of combined mechanised infantry companies and tank squadrons. The Tank Squadron consists of: 4 MBTs in each Platoon; 4 Platoons in each Tank Squadron with 2 more MBTs; 2 Tank Squadrons in each Armoured Battalion, for a total of 36 main battle tanks. Similarly, the Mechanised Infantry Company consists of: 4 Teams (each on 2 Infantry Fighting Vehicles) in each Platoon; 4 Platoons (and the Command Squad) in each Company; 2 Mechanised Infantry Companies in each Armoured Battalion, for a total of 68 IFVs. The total armoured vehicles number is, therefore, 36 main battle tanks and 68 infantry fighting vehicles (including operational companies only).
The application of operating procedures for combined arms also leads to mutually compensate for the specific limitations of the individual components, with the additional force multiplier represented by the component support to the regimental maneuver.

Tank Squadrons Group

The Tank Squadrons Group is the Battalion-level unit consisting of main battle tanks. It consists of a Command Platoon (4 MBTs) and on four Tank Squadrons (18 MBTs each) for a total of 76 main battle tanks.
In turn, the Tank Squadron is the Company-level unit consisting of main battle tanks. It forms up both the heavy component of the Armoured Battalion and the standard component of the Tanks Squadrons Group. Each Tank Squadron has 4 Platoons and the Command Squad. Each Platoon has 4 main battle tanks, while the Command Squad has 2 main battle tanks, bringing the total to 18 main battle tanks per Squadron.

Mechanised Infantry Company

The Mechanised Infantry Company is the principle infantry component of armoured units. Together with the Tank Squadron, the Mechanised Infantry Company forms the maneuver element of Armoured Battalions. The Mechanised Infantry Company consists of: 4 Teams (each on 2 Infantry Fighting Vehicles) in each Platoon; 4 Platoons (and the Command Squad) in each Company, for a total of 34 IFVs.

Mechanised Infantry Platoon

The Mechanised Infantry Platoon consists of 4 9-men Rifle Teams (totalling 36 riflemen), of 1 forward observers, of 1 Radio Operator, 1 Medic (assigned to the Platoon) and 1 Platoon commander. Each Rifle Team is embarked on 1 armoured personnel carrier, while the weapons team is embarked on 1 infantry fighting vehcle, making the total to 4 ground vehicles. Each infantry fighting vehicle is operated by a vehicle commander, by a driver and by a gunner. Each Mechanised Infantry Platoon is equipped with 8 infantry fighting vehicles. Mechanised Infantry Platoon lack weapons squads. Rather, weapons that are typically contained within dedicated weapons squads are stowed in each rifle squad's IFV giving them the ability to augment their firepower as needed.
In terms of personnel, the Mechanised Infantry Platoon consists of a mounted element and dismounted element. In the mounted element are the Platoon commander, the Platoon subofficer, and vehicle crews. The vehicles are split into 2 sections (A and B), each containing 4 IFVs. When mounted, the Platoon commander commands Section A (containing IFV-1 to BFV-4) and the senior subofficer commands Section B (containing IFV-5 to IFV-8). They also act as their vehicles' commanders when mounted. When the Platoon commander dismounts, the gunner of his vehicle takes over as vehicle commander and the senior commander of the other IFVs in the section takes over as Section Commander. The senior subofficer typically does not dismount and commands the mounted element when the Platoon commander dismounts. If the senior subofficer does dismount, the gunner of their vehicle takes over as vehicle commander and the senior commander of the other IFVs in the section takes over as Section Commander.
The dismounted element consists of 4 Rifle Teams. Squads are mounted in a manner where when dismounted they can reform quickly. Critical attachments, including a Combat Medic, radiotelephone Operator, and a forward observer cross-mount in the company headquarters' vehicles and the role of Radio Operator is often task-assigned to a rifleman in the platoon rather than attached.

RAOGE Brigade "Longe Video"

The Italian National Royal Army deploys a Brigade tasked with reconnaissance, intelligence and target acquisition, as well as electronic warfare; this Brigade is the R.A.O.G.E. (acronym for Ricognizione, Acquisizione Obiettivi Guerra Elettronica, Italian for Reconnaissance, Target Acquisition and Electronic Warfare) Brigade "Longe Video", an the elite formation established within the Arm of Transmissions and dependent on the COM.F.O.TER.; the Brigade is tasked with conducting the Army combat intelligence operations. The R.A.O.G.E. Brigade is led by a Brigade General. The whole package of RISTA-EW capabilities aims to meet the specialised needs in terms of "military information" to the tactical level, able to contribute also to the needs of operational level. In operations, the Brigade generates specific RISTA EW-based regimental task forces, responsible for providing information support to maneuver formations.
The Brigade includes six subordinate operational units:

• 201st EW Artillery Group "Giuseppe Solaro";
• 202nd Psyops Infantry Battalion "Roberto Farinacci";
• 203rd UAV Air Cavalry Squadron Group "Occaso";
• 204th Data correlation Infantry Battalion "Minerva Secunda";
• 205th HUMINT Infantry Battalion "Aius Locutius";
• 206th Engineering Battalion "Arnaldo Mussolini".

Due to this specific vocational occupation, the "Longe Video" Brigade interacts and cooperates quite frequently with the Special Operations Forces and with the Special Forces, and especially with the FOS-level 185th Reconnaissance and Target Acquisition Regiment. The Brigade is deployed in Lazio and Abruzzo.

205th HUMINT Battalion "Aius Locutius"

The 205th Battalion "Aius Locutius" was founded on 30 September 2010 and is based at Anzio, where are grouped all the electronic warfare units belonging to the Italian National Royal Army. The Battalion provides intelligence activities, cover team support, target acquisition.
The unit operates in all foreign missions in which they are engaged and the Italian military is a specialist unit consists of ten officers (of which a responsible officer and one logistics operations and training section), 10 subofficers and 20 enlisted men (of which 5 sergeants involved in research computer science). Among the requirements are requested in particular the knowledge of languages such as Persian, Chinese and Indian languages, the attendance of a HUMINT course, even abroad, the advanced ability to use computer tools and, above all, the ability to survive in a hostile environment: personnel usually comes from manoeuvring or line units.

5th Air Cavalry Brigade "La Spezia"

A Air Cavalry Brigade is a multi-functional brigade which fields military helicopters, providing a combination of attack/reconnaissance helicopters (Agusta A-129), medium-lift helicopters (NHIndustries NH90), heavy-lift helicopters (Agusta A-547), and MEDEVAC capability, as well as land-based capacities. Differently from the other types of Separate Brigades, each Battalion-level unit is contained in the its own Regiment. Currently, only the 5th Air Cavalry Brigade "La Spezia" is maintained by the Italian National Royal Army.

• Brigade Command
• Brigade Command and Tactical Supports Squadrons Group
• CC.RR. MP Section
• 1st Air Cavalry Exploration Regiment "Antares"
  • 1st Air Cavalry Command&Support Squadron "Antares"
  • Exploration Squadrons Group "Antares" (1 Command Platoon; 4 Air Cavalry Squadrons on Agusta A-129s)
• 2nd Air Cavalry Attack Regiment "Rigel"
  • 6th Air Cavalry Command&Support Company "Rigel"
  • 2nd Attack Squadrons Group "Rigel" (1 Command Platoon; 4 Air Cavalry Squadrons on Agusta A-129s)
• 3rd Air Cavalry Medium-lift Regiment "Vega"
  • 11th Air Cavalry Command&Support Squadron "Vega"
  • 3rd Air Cavalry Medium-lift Squadrons Group "Vega" (1 Command Platoon; 4 Air Cavalry Squadrons on NHIndustries NH90)
• 4th Air Cavalry Heavy-lift Regiment "Sirio"
  • 16th Air Cavalry Command&Support Squadron "Sirio"
  • Air Cavalry Heavy-lift Squadrons Group "Sirio" (1 Command Platoon; 4 Air Cavalry Squadrons on Agusta A-547)
• 66th Airmobile Infantry Regiment "Legnano"
  • 266th Airmobile Infantry Command&Support Company "Legnano"
  • 66th Airmobile Infantry Battalion "Trieste"
  • 67th Airmobile Infantry Battalion "Legnano"
• 5th Air Cavalry Unmanned Aircraft System Regiment "Orione"
  • 21st Air Cavalry Command&Support Squadron "Orione"
  • 5th Air Cavalry Unmanned Aircraft System Squadrons Group "Orione" (1 Command Platoon; 1 Ground Control Squadron; 3 UAV Squadrons)
• 15th Long-Range GMRLS Artillery Regiment "Superga"
  • 15th Command&Support Battery "Superga"
  • 15th Long-Range GMRLS Artillery Group "Superga" (1 Command Platoon; 4 Artillery Batteries on Long-Range GMRLS)
• Manoeuvre Regiment "La Spezia"
  • Regiment Command Company
  • Health Battalion
  • Maintenance Battalion
  • Supplies Battalion

7th CBRN Field Artillery Defence Regiment "Cremona"

The 7th CBRN Field Artillery Defence Regiment "Cremona" (Italian: 7° Reggimento Artiglieria Campale Difesa NBCR "Cremona") is a field artillery regiment of the Italian Army, dependent on the Land Operational Forces Command, specializing in CBRN defence. The regiment is equipped with VAB armoured personnel carriers in the CBRN configuration. The Regiment is administratively subordinated to the Field Artillery Speciality Command and operationally integrated within the Joint Biological Warfare Command (Comando Interforze Guerra Biologica, C.I.GU.B.) which include dedicated air transportation and sea-based hospital ships. For national defence purposes, the Regiment is part of the military healthcare organisation. As of 2018, the Regiment consists of:

• Regimental Command, in Civitavecchia
  • Command and Logistic Support Company: C3 Platoon, Transport and Materiel Platoon, Medical Platoon, and Commissariat Platoon.
• 1st CBRN Defence Battalion "Minerva", in Civitavecchia:
  • 1st CBRN Defence Company (Chemical);
  • 2nd CBRN Defence Company (Biological);
  • 3rd CBRN Defence Company (Radiological);
  • 4th CBRN Defence Company (Nuclear);
  • 5th CBRN Defence Company (Biomedical);
• 2nd CBRN Defence Battalion "Aesculapius", in Lodi:
  • 6th CBRN Defence Company (Chemical);
  • 7th CBRN Defence Company (Biological);
  • 8th CBRN Defence Company (Radiological);
  • 9th CBRN Defence Company (Nuclear);
  • 10th CBRN Defence Company (Biomedical).

Army Territorial Military Command

The Army Territorial Military Command (Comando Militare Territoriale dell'Esercito, CO.MILI.TER.) is the command that directs the activities related to the recruitment and Propaganda in the country. The Command reports directly to the Chief of Staff of the R.E.N.I. and it employs Army Military Commands, having under it all Logistics Bases of the Italian National Royal Army. For this sector is divided into Military Command North East (Padua), North (Turin), Centre (Rome) and South (Naples). The Autonomous Commands Sicily (Palermo) and Sardinia (Cagliari) also depend on the Army Territorial Military Command.

Military Commands

The Military Commands are the territorial commands of the Army, directing activities related to recruitment and propaganda in the area, as well as constituting the territorial frame for the assumption of powers of civilians by the military authorities (It: Assunzione dei poteri civili da parte delle autorità militari, A.P.A.M.). They are headed by a Division General. Army Military Commands lead activities related to recruitment and propaganda in the Region assigned, and they are led by a Brigade General. Every Military Command has a Battalion attached to it, while Army Military Commands have a Company: it is to note that in Rome (Military Command of the Capital which exercise nation-wide, Military Command-level and Army Military Command-level functions) a whole Regiment is assigned, while in Cagliari a Battalion belonging to the Rome regiment is detached to the Autonomous Command.

• Military Command North: HQ Turin
  • Army Military Command Piedmont: HQ Turin
  • Army Military Command Liguria: HQ Genoa
  • Army Military Command Lombardy: HQ Milan
• Military Command North East: HQ Padua
  • Army Military Command Veneto: HQ Padua
  • Army Military Command Dalmatia: HQ Trieste (detached see: Ragusa)
  • Army Military Command Friuli: HQ Udine
  • Army Military Command Trentino: HQ Trento
• Military Command Centre: HQ Florence
  • Army Military Command Tuscany: HQ Florence
  • Army Military Command Romagna: HQ Bologna
  • Army Military Command Marche: HQ Ancona
  • Army Military Command Abruzzi: HQ L'Aquila
  • Army Military Command Umbria: HQ Perugia
• Military Command South: HQ Neaples
  • Army Military Command Campania: HQ Neaples
  • Army Military Command Puglia: HQ Bari
  • Army Military Command Calabria and Lucania: HQ Reggio di Calabria
  • Army Military Command Sicily: HQ Palermo

Military Districts

The Military District is a territorial subdivision headed by a military officer. The Military District is primarily responsible for all matters related to military operations and military service of military personnel born or resident in that part of the territory (usually a Province). They also ensure the matriculation service and accommodation of the force on leave. At present there are 110 Military Districts, distinguished according to their importance in five classes. The Military District Command includes the Military District Commander; a Command Office, which deals with all matters of a general nature; an Office of Recruitment and Mobilisation, for carrying out studies and measures related to recruitment, mobilisation, to the calls of classes, etc.; a Local Draft Commission; an Administration Office and a local contingent, whether proportionate to the importance and strength of the Military District (from a platoon to a battalion) and having the following main tasks: to provide staff when needed, to provide personnel for the administration and discipline of the recruits and reservists during the time they remain at the command of the Military District.

Logistic Command of the Army

The Army Logistic Command conducts management activities and develops a harmonious activity of command, coordination and control over all configurations logistics of the Armed Forces.
In particular, ensure logistical support of Commands and Units of the Army, being responsible for the care of personnel and logistics for materials and equipment in use and the use of financial resources allocated to the logistics sector.

Command for Training and Doctrine of the Army

The Training and Doctrine Command of the Army (Comando per l'Addestramento e la Dottrina dell'Esercito, COM.A.DOT.) brings together in a single High Command the functions relating to training, specialization and doctrine, thus ensuring synergies between all sectors of training. COM.A.DOT. is placed directly under the Army Chief of Staff. The Command is held by an Army Corps General.

Higher Commands

The Higher Commands (Italian: Comandi Superiori) are R.E.N.I. commands which deal with defence issues related to the realms of the Italian Empire other than Italy itself. These Commands are usually held by an Army Corps General, and retain an high degree of autonomy from the Supreme Command: in peacetime they are under operational control of their Higher Commander (Comandante Superiore), which in turn depends on the Duce. For what is related to equipment, training and general policy, they depend on the Supreme Command. However, in wartimes, they depend on only the Army General Staff. It is to note that local Governments have no authority over the relevant Higher Command. As of 2013, three Higher Commands exist:

• Higher Command Balkans: HQ Tirana (jurisdiction for Albania, Montenegro, Rhodes and Dodecanese);
• Higher Command Libya: HQ Tripoli (jurisdiction for Libya);
• Higher Command Italian East Africa: HQ Addis Abeba (jurisdiction for Abyssinia, Eritrea and Somalia).

The Higher Commands exercise command and control authority over two types of troops and military corps: R.E.N.I. troops deployed within their jurisdictions, formed by Italian citizens, and local troops. The latter ones are staffed with non-Italian citizens of the Empire and are tasked with security and Gendarmerie-like duties. It is to note that the Army Higher Commands have the same territorial jurisdiction of the Navy Higher Commands, in order to support the cooperation and the coordination between them.
The Higher Command Italian East Africa is further subdivided into three corps-level theatre commands (Comandi di Scacchiere): North (HQ Asmara); East (HQ Addis Abeba) and South (HQ Gimma). It is to note that COMSUPAOIRENI is an Army-based formation within the joint COMSUPAOI and not a formation dependent on the Ca.S.M.E..

Arms and Corps

The Italian National Royal Army lines six Arms and three Corps. The Arms are the Arms of Infantry, Cavalry, Artillery, Engineers, Signals and Transportation and Materials. The Corps are the Army Medical Corps, the Corps of Administration and Commissariat of the Army, the Army Corps of Engineers.
In turn, Arms and Corps are composed of "specialities" that match the type of fight that each department is able to support and for which is structured and prepared.

Arm of Infantry

The black beret is the standard beret of the Italian Army.

The Arm of Infantry an Arm of the Italian Army that employs fighters on foot, called the infantrymen. The Infantry is the backbone of the Armed Force since the majority of its operating units belong precisely the weapon of infantry. The Arm has its roots in ancient legions of ancient Rome, but the official date of his birth is associated with that of the establishment of the Italian Army (May 4, 1861).
The Arm of Infantry includes within the specialities of:

• Mechanised Infantry
• Grenadiers
• Alpine
• Paratroopers
• Lagunari
• Bersaglieri
• Arrest Infantry

For training purposes, Infantry has a dedicated Infantry School (within the Training Command).

Alpini

The Alpini (English: Alpine troops), are an elite mountain warfare military corps of the Italian National Royal Army. They are currently organized in five operational Divisions, which are subordinated to the 5th Alpine Troops Army Corps. Established in 1872, their original mission is to protect Italy's northern mountain border with France and Austria. They emerged during World War I as they fought a three-year campaign on the Alps against Austro-Hungarian Kaiserjäger and the German Alpenkorps. In 1888 the Alpini deployed on their first mission abroad, in Africa; nowadays, at least one Brigade is permanently deployed in Italian East Africa and several exercises are held on Libyan mountains.
Alpini collar patches are green two-points flames; when the Alpini personnel belong to a non-infantry speciality or the green is the background to their rectangular speciality patch. This green rectangular speciality patch, complemented with the black pipe of artillery, is also worn by Mountain Artillery. Alpini formations (currently 5 Brigades) bear the same name since their establishment, albeit downsized, and are deployed and garrisoned through the Alps range, with the exception of the 4th Alpine Paratrooper Rangers Regiment "Monte Cervino" which is stationed in Gran Sasso mountain.

Paratroopers

Paratroopers wear the maroon beret in all ranks, also outside paratroopers units.

The Paratrooper Speciality (Italian: Specialità Paracadutista) is the most famous and proud Infantry speciality of the Italian National Royal Army. Paratroopers are soldiers trained in parachuting and generally operate as part of an airborne force. Paratroops units are used for tactical advantage as they can be inserted into the battlefield from the air, thereby allowing them to be positioned in areas not accessible by land. The duties of the paratroopers Brigades are those of the "Early Entry" (first unit to be placed in an operating theatre) and the reserve of the Army Corps, where there is the use of the same Parachute Brigade as a normal infantry formation. In this second use, the Paratrooper Cavalry Regiment provides the heavy impact force.
Paratroopers are surrounded by a great hype. It is known, at least among common folks, that paratroopers are almost supermen because they have the courage to jump out of an air-plane. Propaganda and most paratroopers strongly encourage this consideration. Paratroopers Brigades consist of nine Battalions each, numbered according a common pattern: the 182nd Paratroopers Brigade "Folgore" has 181st to 189th Battalion, the 2nd Brigade from 281st to 289th, and so on.

Lagunari

The Lagunari (from the Italian "laguna" = lagoon) are a amphibious speciality of the Arm of Infantry. The 1st Lagunari Brigade "San Marco" is an amphibious assault force with headquarters in Mestre, a borough of Venice. The lagLagunari are designed to be a very mobile attack force, high-powered weaponry, and tactical skills. They are trained to attack from the water (by sea, land or air) and to establish a beachhead, which is an area of control on foreign territory. They are the Italian Army component of the Joint Landing Force (Forza Interforze da Sbarco), together with the 3rd Marine Infantry Brigade "3 Gennaio" of the Italian National Royal Guard and the Marine Brigade "Andrea Doria".
Recruits arrive at the Brigade after 10 weeks of basic training at the Recruit Training Battalions and an additional 8 weeks of Module K.

Bersaglieri

The Bersaglieri are an elite Infantry Speciality of the Italian Army, originally created by General Alessandro La Marmora on 18 June 1836 to serve in the Piedmontese Army, later to become the Royal Italian Army. They have always been a high-mobility light infantry unit, and can still be recognised by the distinctive wide brimmed hat that they wear (only in dress uniform in modern times), decorated with black capercaillie feathers. The feathers are usually applied to their combat helmets. Another distinctive trait of the Bersaglieri is the fast jog pace they keep on parades, instead of marching.
Currently, there are four Bersaglieri Divisions: "Garibaldi", "Cacciatori d'Africa", "Repubblica" and "Mazzini". They are named after pillars of the former Republican nature of the State, with the exception of the "Cacciatori d'Africa" ("African Hunters"), which holds and keeps traditions and honours of the Bersaglieri units employed in the African War. Republican names for Bersaglieri formations have been kept since the return to the monarchy, despite the opposition of monarchists.

History

The Kingdom of Piedmont-Sardinia could not afford large numbers of cavalry, so a quick-moving infantry corps of marksmen was needed. These troops were trained to high physical and marksmanship standards. A level of independence and initiative was also encouraged. The first public appearance of the Bersaglieri was on 1 July 1836. They marched through Turin with the rapid, high-stepping gait still used by the Bersaglieri even during barracks duty - on penalty of punishment if they do not.
During World War I, the 12 regiments of Bersaglieri fought with distinction. A contingent of Bersaglieri was sent to participate in the Sinai and Palestine Campaign in 1917.
After the war, restructuring of the Italian Army reduced the number of Bersaglieri battalions to two per regiment. A new role was seen for the light infantry as part of Italy’s commitment to Mobile Warfare. Elite units with high morale and an aggressive spirit were seen as one way to break such tactical stalemates as the trench warfare of 1915-18.
Italy’s Bersaglieri regiments were expanded from two to three battalions each during the African War. However, the Army resisted any temptation to dilute their quality, and recruits continued to be of above-average size and stamina. They endured intense physical training, as well as having to qualify as marksmen. The Bersaglieri valiantly fought in North Africa.
While in the past the mobility of the Bersaglieri was helped by their training in running and by the aid of bicycles, regiments currently in service are all mechanised. The modern Bersaglieri have served as peacekeepers in Lebanese and Yugoslav Civil War. Bersaglieri traditions are still stressed. The Bersaglieri collar patches are purple-red "flames". Enlisted troops still wear the red fez. Officers wear black berets with their ordinary uniforms, but the feathered "vaira" in ceremonial uniform. They also wear black gloves, while other Army corps wear white ones. Each Bersaglieri unit had a band called a "fanfara", who plays their instruments at the run while on parade. The "fanfara" does not contain percussion instruments.

Arm of Cavalry

Cavalry is the Arm of rich technology, capable of operating in small groups to explore and search for information and with the mass and power of battle tanks, able to start and finish the fight.
The modern Italian cavalry is an Arm of the Italian Army and was founded by Duke Victor Amadeus II of Savoy in 1692. In 1860 with the unification of Italy regiments totalled 17, five of which will be used in the capture of Rome in 1870. Aggregate cavalry Savoy is also the training of guides on horseback Garibaldi, active from 1859 to 1866. Towards the end of the nineteenth century are also formed cavalry colonial, first in Eritrea and after 1912 also in Libya.
On the eve of World War I, the Italian cavalry reaches the maximum number of regiments, 30. After the war, the cavalry is reduced up to 12 regiments and begins its mechanisation. During the War of Africa units were partly on horseback, partly mechanised and armoured and partly on foot.
In the postwar years and in more recent times, the cavalry, now fully mechanised with the use of armoured vehicles, participated in numerous missions abroad. From 1 June 1999, the Tank Corps become a speciality of the Cavalry, together with the Air Cavalry (a designation pertaining only to the line units of the Army Aviation). Nowadays Line Cavalry units provide the Divisional/Brigade Exploring Units (Reparti Esploranti Divisionali/di Brigata); on the other hand, armoured brigades still exist. Armoured brigades are named after heroes or protagonists of the Risorgimento, with some exceptions: La Marmora, Mazzini and Garibaldi are names of Bersaglieri infantry formations, and an armoured brigade of each armoured division is named after the parent formation.
Currently there are 13 active Armoured Brigades, all of them framed within the field Divisions:

• 1st Armoured Brigade "Ariete"
• 2nd Armoured Brigade "Toro"
• 3rd Armoured Brigade "Mameli"
• 4th Armoured Brigade "Centauro"
• 5th Armoured Brigade "Bassi"
• 6th Armoured Brigade "Manin"
• 7th Armoured Brigade "Freccia"
• 8th Armoured Brigade "Bixio"
• 9th Cavalry Brigade "Vittorio Veneto"
• 10th Armoured Brigade "Bir El Gobi"
• 12th Armoured Brigade "Dardo"
• 13th Armoured Brigade "Cracco"
• 136th Armoured Brigade "Giovani Fascisti"

All cavalry platoons consist of 4 armoured fighting vehicles or tanks, according the speciality. There is also an Air Cavalry Brigade (5th Air Cavalry Brigade "La Spezia") which is an Army Aviation formation but falls outside the purview of the Army Aviation Command. For training purposes, Cavalry has a dedicated Cavalry School (within the Training Command).
The 9th Cavalry Brigade "Vittorio Veneto" is an armoured brigade which retains the title of "Cavalry" in honour of the World War I-Italian Cavalry.

Cavalleggeri

The Cavalleggeri (English: Light Cavalry) are the reconnaissance military corps of the Italian National Royal Army. They are currently organized in one Regiment of each operational Division: this Regiment consts of only one Squadrons Group (Battalion-level unit).
Cavalleggeri collar patches are two-points flames of different colours over a light blue background.

Arm of Artillery

The Arm of Artillery is the "Combat Support" branch par excellence. Its weapon systems, self-propelled guns and howitzers, allow to hit the enemy lines up to 40 kilometres away. The use of this Arm is significantly changed over time by acquiring ever more sophisticated and efficient materials. Today it is increasing thrown has requested the establishment of agile units and able to infiltrate the territory, control and gain in-depth targets. The development also new combat forms, such as chemical and nuclear weapons, has brought additional tasks the weapon that, recently, he turned one of his units in the regiment for the Nuclear Bacteriological and Chemical defence. Today, Artillery includes three specialities:

• Mountain Artillery;
• Field Artillery;
• Air Defence Artillery.

The Arm of Artillery deploys Divisional Field Artillery Regiments and Field Artillery Brigade Groups; it also has Corps-level support Field Artillery Groups. For training and operational purposes, each Speciality has a Speciality Command (Brigade-level).

Uniforms and insignia

Distinctive insignia of the State armed units.

The uniform is the set of items of clothing, kit and equipment worn by the soldier to carry out the service and outside of it as a distinctive element of their condition. Italian National Royal Army uniforms in use are basically of four types: Ordinary Uniform, Service Uniform, Service and Combat Uniform and Ceremony Uniform. For each type of uniform seasonal variations exist, summer and winter.

Ordinary Uniform

The Ordinary Uniform consists of a grey-green jacket with four buttons, four patch pockets with central torch and closing flap with button, removable shoulder boards closed by a snap fastener. Gray-green trousers are a classic cut, with pleats, four pockets and fob. The grey-green shirt has two pockets; a grey-green tie, brown leather gloves, low brown shoes, olive yarn socks, rigid cap or speciality headgear (according to specific situation) complete the uniform. Both winter and summer Ordinary uniform have the same colour and shape, changing only the fabric; depending on weather conditions, the uniform can be worn with the cloth coat or with the overcoat.

Service Uniform

The Winter Service Uniform is identical to the Winter Ordinary Uniform in cut and colour and it is complemented with the same elements, apart for the headgear, which is always the speciality headgear. The Summer Service Uniform consists of separate top and trousers, composed of light shirt and trousers of the same colour of the Summer Ordinary Uniform. The shirt is worn with open collar and has two patch pockets, with a central tube, closed by a flap with press-stud. The sleeves are short above the elbow, and the fixed shoulder boards closed with a stud. The trousers, classic cut, are worn with the hemp strap with plate and Army frieze. The usual low brown shoes and speciality headgear complete the uniform.
By adding the individual armament, the belt, combat shoes and other accessories such as decorations, or the sabre and red scarf to the Service uniform, is possible to get the Special Armed Services Uniform, the Parade Armed Services Uniform and the Honour Armed Services Uniform.

Service and Combat Uniform

The Service and Combat Uniform is distributed to all Army Arms and Corps in the same trim and camouflage scheme; Paratroopers have a pattern that differs for stronger stiffening on the shoulders and knees, while Special Forces have specific models. The Service and Combat Uniform consists of a camouflage visor cap, a six button closure camouflage jacket with two inner pockets and camouflage trousers with two rear pockets and two half-thigh pockets with velcro closure and zipper. The uniform is complemented with speciality shoes, goggles and overturned shirts or short sleeves, whether in winter or summer. The Service and Combat Uniform is flanked by a camouflage campaign waterproof; this is made up of a thermophotometer that blends into a heavy two-piece k-way polychrome k-way: jacket, hood, two pockets on the hips, zip closure and overprints. Depending on the activity, the basic version adds accessories, equipment, and armaments that generate specific Uniforms.
The Service and Combat Uniform (Peacetime mode) can be adapted to different climatic conditions; in this case, the uniform maintains pants and shoes and replaces the jacket with olive green shirt, short sleeved shirt, shirt, tie and V-neck sweater. These combinations are adopted by Commanders' decision.
The Combat version is obtained by adding the helmet, the network scarf (or the kefiah), the belt with the buffets (Pouches, pouch, flask), the anti NBC mask, the armament and the bullet-proof vest. If necessary, a waterproof jacket made of polychrome gore-tex fabric is added underneath the suit.

Collar flash patches

Since the late nineteenth century the Italian Army has made extensive use of coloured collar patches to distinguish branches of service or individual regiments. The Collar flash patches differ from one another in shape, colour and traditional symbols. They are worn on the jacket (or shirt when expected) Ordinary uniform and service. The collar flash patches are made of enamelled metal for all military personnel, although the officers lead them often embroidered.
The rectangular patches worn by the Grenadiers and the officers in General Staff service and also those "flowered" the Army Band are called "frogs" (Alamari).

Infantry

The Arm of Infantry consists of seven specialities which are in the order: the Mechanised Infantry, Grenadiers, the Bersaglieri, the Alpini, the Paratroopers, the Lagunari and the Arrest Infantry. Infantry Regiments and autonomous battalions each have their own traditional colours.
The Infantry personnel outside Specialities and Units (but only under the Arm of Infantry) are distinguished by the flames two scarlet-coloured tips; The Grenadiers wearing the silver braid on scarlet bottom, the Bersaglieri crimson flames with two peaks and Alpine green flames with two tips. The Paratroopers patches are composed of a blue rectangle with, in the upper half, wing and gladio parachute, symbol of Airborne unit. Mechanised Infantry and Arrest Infantry retain the Regimental patch.

Cavalry

The insignia of the Line Cavalry unit am the flame with three points, orange for personnel not assigned to regiments and specific colour for each regiment. The tank component wears red flames with two points on a blue field.

Artillery

The Arm of Artillery is characterised by the black flame with one tip, threaded yellow. From 1 January 2000 the specialities flak as a new insignia composed by a reduced artillery flame on celestial background with the addition, in the blue field, of the sign of anti-aircraft, two gold crossed cannons under a white missile. The Artillery units of the Missile Brigade have a reduced artillery flame on red background with the addition, in the red field, of the sign of two gold crossed cannons under a white missile.
The Artillery regiments does not wear insignia with regimental colours, with the exception of those units are assigned to particular specialities such as the Mountain Artillery, the self-propelled artillery and Paratrooper Artillery troops. The Mountain Artillery wears the rectangular patch, consisting of the artillery flame on a green background. The Paratrooper Artillery wears the rectangular plate and consisting of the artillery fire on celestial background with the symbol of the paratroopers.

Particularities

There are some particularities:

• In the Alpine troops, paratroopers, lagoon infantry, cavalry, tank units, Army Aviation all carry the specialty headgear, each with the frieze of their Arm, Corps or Service;
• In Paratrooper units all have the frieze of the paratrooper infantry, except for the paratrooper cavalry;
• In the Mounted Artillery, all Officers have the kepi;
• In Bersaglieri units, Services officers do not wear plumed hat;
• If an Officer of the Combat Arms passes from one speciality to another, he changes all the signs (e.g. if an Officer is transferred from the infantry to the Bersaglieri, he will wear the plumed hat, frieze and flames of the Bersaglieri, etc.)
• Out-of-Corps officers, and officers and personnel assigned to schools, command units, training units, etc. they keep the headgear, the insignia and the other signs of origin.

Rank insignia

The Italian Armed Forces, and therefore the Italian National Royal Army, have complete sets of rank insignia, military badges and military uniforms, in order to display the unity of action of every member and body; this improves the esprit de corps, and contributes to the identity formations of both the collective body. The distinctive badge common to all State armed units (i.e. Army, Navy, Air Force and Police Corps) is made up of the military five-points stars, in opposition to Roman Gladius and the laurel wreath of the Party armed units.

R.E.N.I. Special Ranks insignia
Special rank	Capo di Stato Maggiore di Forza Armata	Capo di Stato Maggiore dela Difesa
English translation	Chief of Service Staff	Chief of Defence Staff
Corresponding Army rank (Italian)	Generale di Corpo d'Armata con Incarichi Speciali	Generale d'Armata
Corresponding Army rank (UK)	Lieutenant General	General
Shoulder board insignia
Cap wimple insignia

R.E.N.I. officers ranks and insignia
Army rank	Sottotenente	Tenente	Capitano	Maggiore	Tenente Colonnello	Colonnello	Generale di Brigata	Generale di Divisione	Generale di Corpo d'Armata
English translation	Under-Lieutenant	Lieutenant	Captain	Major	Lieutenant Colonel	Colonel	Brigade General	Division General	Corps General
Corresponding Army rank (UK)	Second Lieutenant	Lieutenant	Captain	Major	Lieutenant Colonel	Colonel	Brigadier	Major General	Lieutenant General
Shoulder board insignia
Cap wimple insignia

R.E.N.I. Subofficers ranks and insignia
Army rank	Maresciallo	Maresciallo Capo	Maresciallo Maggiore
English translation	Marshal	Chief Marhal	Marshal Major
Corresponding Army rank (UK)	Warrant Officer Class Two	Warrant Officer Second Class	Warrant Officer First Class
Shoulder board insignia
Cap wimple insignia

R.E.N.I. Enlisted ranks and insignia
Army rank	Soldato	Caporale	Caporale maggiore	Caporale Capo	Sergente	Sergente Maggiore
English translation	Soldier	Corporal	Corporal Major	Chief Corporal	Sergeant	Sergeant Major
Corresponding Army rank (UK)	Private	Lance Corporal	Corporal	Sergeant	Staff Sergeant	Staff Sergeant (senior echelon)
Sleeve insignia	No insignia
Shoulder board insignia
Cap wimple insignia

See also

• Military of the Kingdom of Italy
• 10th Arditi Regiment "Col Moschin" (Kingdom of Italy)
• Missile Brigade "Aspis" (Italy)