The Italian Armed Forces (Forze Armate Italiane) encompass the Italian Army, the Italian Navy, the Italian Air Force and the Italian Special Forces. A fourth branch of the armed forces, known as the Carabinieri, take on the role as the nation's military and territorial police force. The Italian Army (Esercito Italiano) is the ground force of the Italian Republic. The Army's history dates back to the unification of Italy in the 1850s and 1860s. It fought in colonial engagements in China, Libya (1911-1912), northern Italy against the Austro-Hungarian Empire during World War I, Abyssinia before World War II, and in World War II in Albania, Greece, north Africa, Russia and Italy itself. During the Cold War the Army prepared itself to defend against a Warsaw Pact invasion from the east. Since the end of the Cold War it has seen extensive peacekeeping service and combat in Afghanistan and Iraq. The Italian Air Force (Aeronautica Militare) is the air force of Italy, founded as an independent service arm on March 28, 1923, by King Vittorio Emanuele III as the Regia Aeronautica (which equates to "Royal Air Force"). After World War II, when Italy was made a republic by referendum, the Regia Aeronautica was given its current name. The Italian Navy (Marina Militare) is the Navy of Italy, created in 1946 as the Navy of the Italian Republic from the Regia Marina. In modern times, the Marina Militare, being a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), has taken part in many coalition peacekeeping operations. The Guardia Costiera is a component of the Marina Militare. The Carabinieri is the gendarmerie and military police of Italy. At the Sea Islands Conference of the G8 in 2004, the Carabinieri were given the mandate to establish a Center of Excellence for Stability Police Units (CoESPU) to spearhead the development of training and doctrinal standards for civilian police units attached to international peacekeeping missions. Since the second post-war the Italian armed force has become more and more engaged in international peace support operations, mainly under the auspices of the United Nations. The Italian armed forces are currently participating in 23 missions. The Italian Special Forces include special forces units from several branches of the Italian Military. 1) Italian Army special units are divided into Special Forces and Special Operations Forces: the Italian Army special forces is the 9th Parachute Assault Regiment "Col Moschin", an SAS-like force trained for special operations in all kinds of environments. It is descended from the Arditi (Brave) units that operated on the Italo-Austrian Front of the First World War. The Italian Army Special Operations Forces are: 4th Alpini Parachutist Regiment "Monte Cervino" - a combination of elite mountain infantry and airborne troops. The 4th is best suited for high-altitude operations. It inherits the name from the Battaglione Alpini Sciatori (Alpine Skiers Battalion) "Monte Cervino", a battalion of "special operation forces" born during WWI and deployed in the eastern front in WWII. They were nicknamed Diavoli Bianchi (White Devils) for their white snow camouflage suits. Disbanded after WWII, in 1964 it became the Compagnia Alpini Paracadutisti (Alpini Parachute Company), in 1990 it gained the name of "Monte Cervino", and in 1996 it was reformed. In 1999, the battalion earned the qualification of "Ranger" (the only one amongst the Italian special forces). In 2004 it was elevated and took the name, flag and traditions of the 4th Alpini Regiment. 185th Reconnaissance Target Acquisition Regiment "Folgore" (RAO - Reggimento Acquisizione Obiettivi) - its mission is to find and mark enemy objectives for bombers or artillery units. 2) The Italian Navy Special Forces is the COMSUBIN (Comando Subacquei ed Incursori) the Raiders & Divers Group. Specifically the 150-200 men of the Operational Raiders Group (GOI) are the special forces section of the elite unit. COMSUBIN's origins lie with the famous Italian special units "X MAS" (Italian acronym for Anti Submarine Motorboats). COMBUSIN GOI personnel are largely drawn from the ranks of the Navy's San Marco Marine Regiment. (Italian Navy Marines). 3) Italian Air Force special units are: 17º Stormo Incursori the raiders corp of Italian Air Force. Its primary missions: raids on aeronautical compounds, forward air control, combat controlling, and combat search and rescue. he Italian Air Force operates a special helicopter wing (the 9° Stormo "Francesco Baracca") dedicated to supporting the special operations. 4) Carabinieri Corps special units is the Gruppo di Intervento Speciale or the Special Intervention Group. The GIS features some one hundred or so troops specially trained in counter-terrorism operations with a special emphasis on marksmanship. Another special unit is the 1° Reggimento Carabinieri Paracadutisti "Tuscania" (1st Carabinieri Airborne Regiment). It is a regiment of military police/anti-terrorism unit.

• published: 15 Jan 2014
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