**The students of the 238th course of the Military School Nunziatella**, dedicated to Gold Medal for Military Valor Lieutenant Colonel Alberto Bechi Luserna (ex-student 1919-1921), **have sworn their allegiance to the Italian Republic**.
The ceremony took place **in the presence of the Undersecretary for Defense, Senator Isabella Rauti, the Army Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General Carmine Masiello, the Commander for Training, Specialization and Army Doctrine, Lieutenant General Antonello Vespaziani**, and several civil, religious, local authorities and Members of the Combatant and Weapon Associations.
At the conclusion of Colonel Alberto Valent’s speech, **Commander of the School and in the sight of the Institute’s Flag**, the students emotionally responded unanimously with a strong and resounding “_I swear!_” to the customary formula.
The **Undersecretary of State for Defense**, addressing the young students, highlighted: “_Today is your military baptism, and we see the future of the Armed Forces and Italy, along with a mature awareness, on your faces. Your oath cry has shaken this square and our conscience; we have shared this act of courage and commitment with you and the Defense and Institutions. Today, in the global scenario marked by hybrid threats and instability, this Institute, one of the oldest in the world, performs additional tasks; preparing for technological challenges, training you to face complexity, arming you with the values of tradition_”.
During his intervention, the **Chief of the Army Staff** pointed out: “_Always believe in yourself, but also be able to uplift others, because true strength does not lie in reigning alone but in helping those around you grow. Remember: one who believes they are a leader but has no one following them, they are not leading — they are merely taking a stroll. This applies both in the Armed Forces and in civilian life. Being a leader first means to serve, set an example, instill trust, light the flame in others that burns within you. Maintain that invisible thread in your heart that ties you to your origins, your land, your family, just as those before you have always done, with pride and love. Carry with you always the voice of a grandmother, the sight of your mother, the face of your father, the memory of a grandfather, because from these deep affections, comes the strength to withstand, to stand up in difficult times, to never surrender, to discern good from evil and to choose good, right, when the time comes to do it. Because dignity is not a gesture: it is the greatest inheritance we receive from those who raised us and the highest gift we can leave behind. Welcome, students, to the great Army family_”.
At the end of the ceremony, the Paratroopers of the Italian Army landed in Piazza del Plebiscito, amid the joy and emotion of all present, waving the Tricolor in the Naples sky.
During the weekend of the ceremony, the Army also set up the “Army Village”, an exhibition space of over 17,000 sq m along the Caracciolo seafront and the “Diaz” roundabout, giving citizens the opportunity to see first-hand the technological innovations, training, and professional opportunities offered by the military world.
The Italian Army, with an annual public competition, offers the opportunity for all boys and girls who have successfully completed the second year of classical and scientific high schools to continue their three-year studies at military high schools.
The Military School “Nunziatella” has, for over two centuries, been a center of excellence noted for an integrated approach that guarantees high standards in the education sector, sports training, and military training, preparing students not only for the university world and a future career in the Armed Forces, but also for any professional field.
Source and photo credit @Army Chief of Staff General Office-Public Information and Communication Office/ Sz. PI
