The article provides an overview of the entire chain of command and organization of the Italian Army after the reform of 1 May 2024 and includes all active units as of 1 May 2024. The Armed Forces of Italy are under the command of the Italian Supreme Defense Council, presided over by the President of the Italian Republic. The Italian Army is commanded by the Chief of the Army General Staff or "Capo di Stato Maggiore dell’Esercito" in Rome. [1]
The Chief of the Army General Staff in Rome, a four star general, commands the entire Italian Army. However the Army General Staff itself is commanded by the Deputy Chief of the Army General Staff.
The Army General Staff in Rome is tasked with the study, research, development and general policy of the army. It is headed by the Deputy Chief of the Army General Staff.
The NATO Rapid Deployable Corps - Italy (NRDC-ITA) is a multi-national, deployable Corps headquarters assigned to NATO. It is located in Solbiate Olona and has a support brigade at its dependency.
The Operational Land Forces Command (Italian : Comando delle Forze Operative Terrestri, abbreviation: COMFOTER) is the continuously operational command of the army. The command is headquartered in Rome. In case of war, outside of NATO's command structure, it would command the army's units. [5]
On 1 July 2023 the Capital Military Command (Italian : Comando Militare della Capitale) in Rome was merged into COMFOTER, which thus became responsible for managing army events in Rome and its metro area, and for overseeing the administrative Army Military Commands tasked with public duties in, recruitment, administration of the reserves, public information, and promotional activities in the Lazio, Tuscany, and Sardinia regions. Additionally COMFOTER became responsible for the army's Monte Romano training range, the army museums in Rome, the military penitentiary organization, the army band, as well as the Italian military's Geographic Institute in Florence. The Army Military Command "Lazio" covering the Lazio region became an integral part of COMFOTER, while the Army Military Command "Toscana" covering the Tuscany region remained an integral part of the Military Geographical Institute. Before the merger the Central Logistic Grouping supporting the general staff in Rome was transferred from the Capital Military Command to the General Staff. [6] [7] [8] [4]
The Alpine Troops Command (Italian : Comando Truppe Alpine, abbreviation: COMTA) commands the Mountain Troops of the Italian Army, called Alpini (English: Alpines). The command is headquartered in Bolzano.
The Division "Tridentina" is a deployable division command, that can be formed from personnel of the Alpine Troops Command in Bolzano.
The Alpine Training Center trains Italian troops in mountain warfare and winter warfare and its 6th Alpini Regiment prepares and manages the army's military exercises in the Puster Valley.
The COMTA also controls four administrative Army Military Commands tasked with public duties, recruitment, administration of the reserves, public information, and promotional activities. The Army Military Command "Trentino-Alto Adige" covering the Trentino-Alto Adige/SouthTyrol region is an integral part of COMALP:
The Northern Operational Forces Command (Italian : Comando Forze Operative Nord, abbreviation: COMFOP Nord) commands the brigades in the North of Italy. The command is headquartered in Padua and successor to the army's V Army Corps. [10]
The brigade forms with the Italian navy's 3rd Naval Division, and San Marco Marine Brigade the Italian military's National Sea Projection Capability (Forza di proiezione dal mare).
The COMFOP Nord also controls six administrative Army Military Commands tasked with public duties, recruitment, administration of the reserves, public information, and promotional activities. The Army Military Command "Veneto" covering the Veneto region is an integral part of COMFOP Nord:
The Southern Operational Forces Command (Italian : Comando Forze Operative Sud, abbreviation: COMFOP Sud) commands the brigades in the South of Italy and on the islands of Sicily and Sardinia. The command is headquartered in Naples. [11]
The COMFOP Sud also controls six administrative Army Military Commands tasked with public duties, recruitment, administration of the reserves, public information, and promotional activities. The Army Military Command "Campania" covering the Campania region is an integral part of COMFOP Sud:
The Army Aviation Command at Viterbo Airport trains and maintains the army's non-combat flying formations, and provides four operational helicopter regiments to COMFOTER. [13]
Army Aviation support regiments provide maintenance services and logistic support to the army's fleet of helicopters and airplanes.
The Operational Land Forces Support Command (Italian : Comando delle Forze Operative Terrestri di Supporto, abbreviation: COMFOTER SUPPORT) in Verona commands the army's operational support units. [18]
The Artillery Command in Bracciano commands the specialized artillery regiments of the army and trains all officers and troops destined for artillery units:
The Anti-aircraft Artillery Command in Sabaudia commands the army's air defense units and trains all officers and troops destined for air defense units:
The Engineer Command in Rome-Cecchignola commands the specialized engineer regiments of the army and trains all officers and troops destined for engineer units:
The Signal Command in Anzio commands the army's signal regiments and trains all officers and troops destined for signal units:
The Tactical Intelligence Brigade (formerly called RISTA-EW Brigade) in Anzio is the army's Intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance (ISTAR) & Electronic Warfare (EW) unit.
The Division "Acqui" is a deployable division command headquartered in Capua near Naples.
The Division "Vittorio Veneto" is a deployable division command headquartered in Florence.
The Army Special Forces Command (Comando delle Forze Speciali dell'Esercito (COMFOSE)) in Pisa commands the army's special operation forces:
The Army Logistic Command (Italian : Comando Logistico dell'Esercito, abbreviation: COMLOG) in Rome manages the entire logistics of the Army.
The Logistic Support Command in Rome trains officers and troops destined for logistic units and provides operational logistic support with two specialized logistic regiments and four medical battalions.
Each medical unit fields one command and logistic support company, one medical company with a field hospital, and one medical evacuations company.
The Training, Specialization and Doctrine Command (Italian : Comando per la Formazione, Specializzazione e Dottrina dell'Esercito, abbreviation: COMFORDOT) in Rome trains the army's troops and develops the army's doctrine and education policies. [20]
The Italian Army is the land force branch of the Italian Armed Forces. The army's history dates back to the Italian unification in the 1850s and 1860s. The army fought in colonial engagements in China, Libya, Northern Italy against the Austro-Hungarian Empire during World War I, Abyssinia before World War II and in World War II in Albania, Balkans, North Africa, the Soviet Union, 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, the army has seen extensive peacekeeping service and combat in Afghanistan and Iraq. 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, recently deployed in UN missions. The headquarters of the Army General Staff are located in Rome opposite the Quirinal Palace, where the president of Italy resides. The army is an all-volunteer force of active-duty personnel.
The Alpine Brigade "Cadore" was a light Infantry brigade of the Italian Army, specializing in mountain warfare. Its core units were Alpini, the mountain infantry corps of the Italian Army, that distinguished itself in combat during World War I and World War II. The brigade was based in the Italian provinces of Belluno and Vicenza with its headquarters Belluno. The brigade was disbanded in 1997.
The Alpine Brigade "Julia" is a light infantry brigade of the Italian Army, specializing in mountain warfare. Its core units are Alpini, an infantry corps of the Italian Army, that distinguished itself during World War I and World War II. The brigade carries on the name and traditions of the 3rd Alpine Division "Julia". The division's and brigade's name allude to the Julian Alps in the Friuli region where the division's regiments recruited their troops, and where after World War II the brigade was based. Accordingly, the brigade's coat of arms is modeled after the Friuli region's coat of arms.
The Alpine Brigade "Taurinense" is a light Infantry brigade of the Italian Army, specializing in Mountain Combat. Its core units are Alpini, the mountain infantry corps of the Italian Army, that distinguished itself in combat during World War I and World War II. The brigade's name "Taurinense" alludes to the Roman name Augusta Taurinorum for the city of Turin around which the brigade is based. Accordingly the brigade's coat of arms is modeled after Turin's coat of arms. The brigade carries on the name and traditions of the 1st Alpine Division "Taurinense".
The Paratroopers Brigade "Folgore" is an airborne brigade of the Italian Army. Its core units are three battalions of paratroopers (paracadutisti). The name "Folgore" is Italian for lightning. The Folgore is one of three light infantry brigades of the Italian Army. While the Folgore specializes in parachute operations its sister brigade in the Division "Vittorio Veneto" the Airmobile Brigade Friuli specializes in helicopter assault operations. The Folgore and its units are based in Tuscany, Veneto and Lazio.
The Comando Truppe Alpine or COMTA commands the Mountain Troops of the Italian Army, called Alpini and various support and training units. It is the successor to the 4º Corpo d'Armata Alpino of the Cold War. The Alpini are light Infantry units specializing in Mountain Combat. The subordinate units of the COMTA distinguished themselves during combat in World War I and World War II.
On March 1, 1984 the Italian Institute for Disarmament, Development and Peace (Istituto di ricerche per il disarmo, lo sviluppo e la pace in Rome published the entire Italian Army order of battle down to company level – this was justified by the radical party as one of its core demands was total disarmament of Europe, even though the data which was published was top secret. The Radical Party dissolved in 1989 and the IRDISP followed suit in 1990. But Radio Radicale has survived, and the OrBat can still be found today on the homepage of the radio.
The Cavalry Brigade "Pozzuolo del Friuli" is a brigade of the Italian Army, based in the Friuli-Venezia Giulia and Veneto regions. The Brigade consists of a command unit, a cavalry regiment, an amphibious infantry regiment, an artillery regiment, an engineer regiment and a logistic regiment.
The Airmobile Brigade "Friuli" is an airmobile brigade of the Italian Army, based mainly in the Emilia-Romagna region. The brigade was part of the 1st Defence Forces Command until it was transferred to the Division "Friuli". The brigade's coat of arms depicts a stylized version of the Rocca di Monfalcone castle near the city of Monfalcone in the Friuli region, where the brigade distinguished itself during World War I. Since 1 July 2019 the brigade is part of the Division "Vittorio Veneto".
The Mechanized Brigade "Granatieri di Sardegna" is a mechanized infantry brigade of the Italian Army, based in Rome and central Italy. The brigade fields one of the oldest regiments of the Army and is one of the guard regiments of the President of Italy. The name of the unit dates back to the Kingdom of Sardinia and not the eponymous Mediterranean island of Sardinia. The brigade is part of the Division "Acqui".
The Bersaglieri Brigade "Garibaldi" is a mechanized infantry brigade of the Italian Army, based in the south of the country. Its core units are Bersaglieri, an elite infantry corps of the Italian Army. The brigade is named after Giuseppe Garibaldi, a hero of the Italian wars of unification. The brigade is part of the Division "Acqui".
The Mechanized Brigade "Aosta" is a mechanized infantry brigade of the Italian Army based on the island of Sicily. The Brigade is one of the oldest of the Italian Army and the name connects the brigade to its original area of recruitment the Aosta Valley and therefore the brigade's coat of arms is modeled after the coat of arms of Aosta. The brigade is part of the Division "Acqui".
The 132nd Armored Brigade "Ariete" is currently the only active armored brigade of the Italian Army. Its core units are tank and Bersaglieri regiments. The brigade's headquarters is in Pordenone, and most of its units are based in the North-East of Italy. The brigade's name comes from the battering ram. The brigade draws much of its historical traditions from the 132nd Armored Division "Ariete," which fought in the Western Desert Campaign of World War II. In 1948, the Ariete was reconstituted as a division and remained active until 1986. Today the brigade is part of the Division "Vittorio Veneto".
The V Army Corps was one of three corps the Italian Army fielded during the Cold War. Based in the regions of Veneto and Friuli-Venezia-Giulia the corps was the army's main combat force. The 5th Army Corps was arrayed close to the Yugoslavian border and tasked with meeting any Warsaw Pact forces that crossed the border. On the left flank of the corps the 4th Alpine Army Corps was tasked with blocking the Alpine passes and in the rear of the corps the 3rd Army Corps served as operational reserve. After the end of the Cold War the corps was reduced in size and on 1 October 1997 it became the 1st Defence Forces Command. In 2013 the COMFOD 1° was disbanded and its function and brigades taken over by the 20th Infantry Division Friuli in Florence.
The following is a hierarchical outline for the Italian Army at the end of the Cold War. It is intended to convey the connections and relationships between units and formations.
Operational Land Forces Command is the Italian Army's major command tasked with the operational and administrative control of most of its combat forces. COMFOTER reports directly to the Chief of Staff of the Italian Army. The command is based in Rome.
With the 1975 reforms the Italian Army abolished the regimental level and replaced it with brigades made up of multiple arms. During the reform the army disbanded 48 regimental commands and reduced its force by 87 battalions. A further ten regimental commands were used to raise ten new brigade commands. Ten training centers, which for traditional reasons had carried the names of regiments, were also disbanded. The reduction in units also allowed to mechanize most of the remaining units in Northern Italy and Italy's defense strategy changed from a hold-at-all-costs territorial defense to one of mobile warfare.
The Regiment "Lancieri di Novara" (5th) is a cavalry unit of the Italian Army based in Codroipo in Friuli-Venezia Giulia. The regiment is the reconnaissance unit of the 132nd Armored Brigade "Ariete".
The 182nd Armored Infantry Regiment "Garibaldi" is an inactive unit of the Italian Army last based in Sacile in Friuli-Venezia Giulia. The regiment was part of the Italian Army's infantry arm and was last assigned to the Infantry Division "Folgore".