Structure of the Italian Army

The article provides an overview of the entire chain of command and organization of the Italian Army after the reform of 1 October 2016 and includes all active units as of 1 July 2019. 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]

See also: List of units of the Italian Army

Chief of the Army General Staff

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.

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.

  • Chief of the Army General Staff, in Rome (Lazio)[2][3]
    • Army Chief of Staff General Office
      • Public Information and Communication Office
    • Army Personnel Employment Department
    • Non-commissioned Officers Promotion Evaluation Commission
    • Sergeants Promotion Evaluation Commission
    • Troops Promotion Evaluation Commission
    • Deputy Chief of the Army General Staff
      • Deputy Chief Office
      • Military Psychology and Psychiatry Office
      • Document Flow and IT Protocol Office
      • Intendancy Directorate
        • Secretariat
        • Administrative Office
      • Surveillance Service, Prevention, and Protection Central Coordination Direction
        • Secretariat
        • Occupational Safety and Occupational Medicine Office
        • Area Surveillance Central Coordination Office
        • Environmental Protection and Cultural Heritage Office
    • 1st Personnel Legal and Economic Affairs Department
      • Secretariat
      • Department Deputy Commander
        • Recruitment, Status and Promotion Office
        • Juridical - Legal Office
        • Representation, Professional Military Unions/Associations, and Financial Treatment Office
      • Commander Army Selection and National Recruitment Center
        • Army Selection and National Recruitment Center, in Foligno (Umbria)
        • VFP1 (1 year volunteers) Selection Centers, in Foligno, Rome, Bologna, Milan, Naples, and Palermo
    • 3rd General Planning Department
      • Secretariat
      • Planning Office
      • Forces Organization Office
      • Doctrine and Lessons Learned Office
      • International Activities Office
    • 4th Logistic Department
      • Secretariat
      • Logistic Coordination Office
      • Mobility Systems Office
      • Weapons, Ammunition, NBC, and Sensors Office
      • Transformation Office
      • 3rd Dimension Vehicles and Materiels Office
    • 5th General Affairs Department
    • 6th C4I Department
      • Secretariat
      • C4I Resources Planning and Coordination Office
      • C4I Systems Office
      • C2 Support Systems Office
      • Systems Integration Office
      • Army C4 Command
    • Infrastructure Department
      • Secretariat
      • Works Office
      • Infrastructure Policy Office
      • Studies and Norms Office
      • Resources Management Section
      • Coordination and Financial Management Section
    • Marketing, Publishing and History Office
      • Marketing Office
      • History Office
      • Army Publishing Center
    • General Financial Planning Office
      • Secretariat
      • Financial Planning, Budget and Statistics Office
      • Internal Management Control Office
    • General Security Office (Counterintelligence)
    • Army Unified Salary Center
    • General Office of Italian Army Administrative Responsibility Center
      • General Office Activities Coordination Office
      • Budget Office
      • Central Administrative Office
      • Corruption Prevention, Litigation, and Legal Advice Office
    • Spiritual Assistance Service
    • Central Logistic Grouping[4]
      • Command Battalion, in Rome (Lazio) providing security and support to the Army General Staff
      • 11th Transport Regiment "Flaminia", in Rome (Lazio) providing transport for the Defense General Staff

NATO Rapid Deployable Corps - Italy

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.

Operational Land Forces Command

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]

Division "Acqui"
Regiment “Lancieri di Montebello” (8th) on public duties

The Division "Acqui" is a deployable division command headquartered in Capua near Naples.

Division "Vittorio Veneto"

The Division "Vittorio Veneto" is a deployable division command headquartered in Florence.

Army Special Forces Command

The Army Special Forces Command (Comando delle Forze Speciali dell'Esercito (COMFOSE)) in Pisa commands the army's special operation forces:

Army Aviation Command

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.[10]

Airmobile Brigade "Friuli"
5th Army Aviation Regiment "Rigel" A129D Mangusta attack helicopters
7th Army Aviation Regiment "Vega" NH90 transport helicopters
Army Aviation AB 205A helicopter
Army Aviation NH90 and CH-47F transport helicopters
Army Aviation Training Center
  • Army Aviation Training Center, at Viterbo Airport (Lazio)[10]
    • Command and Tactical Supports Unit "AVES", at Viterbo Airport (Lazio)
      • 1st Command and Tactical Supports Battalion
        • Command Company
        • Supply Company
        • Transport Company
    • 1st Training Squadrons Group "Auriga", at Viterbo Airport (Lazio) with AB 205A, AB 206C,[11] and AW169[13][14] helicopters
Army Aviation Support Brigade

Army Aviation support regiments provide maintenance services and logistic support to the army's fleet of helicopters and airplanes.

Alpine Troops Command
Alpini abseiling in the Dolomites

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.

Division "Tridentina"

The Division "Tridentina" is a deployable division command, that can be formed from personnel of the Alpine Troops Command in Bolzano.

Alpine Brigade "Taurinense"
Regiment "Nizza Cavalleria" (1st) Centauro tank destroyer during a training exercise in Valloire, France
2nd Alpini Regiment soldier and VTML Lince vehicles during a training exercise in Valloire, France

Alpine Brigade "Julia"
8th Alpini Regiment mortar team
3rd Field Artillery Regiment (Mountain) at the Hohenfels Training Area

Alpine Training Center

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.

Territorial Areas

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:

  • Army Military Command "Liguria", in Genoa, covering the Liguria region
  • Army Military Command "Lombardia", in Milan, covering the Lombardy region
  • Army Military Command "Piemonte", in Turin, covering the Piedmont and Aosta regions
  • Alpine Troops National Historical Museum, in Trento
  • Artillery National Historical Museum, in Turin
  • Cavalry National Historical Museum, in Pinerolo

Northern Operational Forces Command

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.[16]

  • Northern Operational Forces Command, in Padua (Veneto)

Cavalry Brigade "Pozzuolo del Friuli"

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).

132nd Armored Brigade "Ariete"
8th Tank Battalion "M.O. Secchiaroli" / 132nd Tank Regiment Ariete main battle tanks

Paratroopers Brigade "Folgore"
Regiment "Savoia Cavalleria" (3rd) Centauro tank destroyer

Territorial Areas

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:

Southern Operational Forces Command
Regiment "Lancieri di Montebello" (8th) on exercise

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.[17]

Mechanized Brigade "Granatieri di Sardegna"

Mechanized Brigade "Aosta"
Mechanized Brigade Aosta mortar teams

Mechanized Brigade "Pinerolo"
21st Field Artillery Regiment "Trieste" FH-70 howitzer battery
11th Engineer Regiment during an exercise

Mechanized Brigade "Sassari"
3rd Bersaglieri Regiment lieutenant with her radioman during an exercise in Sardinia

Bersaglieri Brigade "Garibaldi"
4th Tank Regiment Ariete main battle tank
1st Bersaglieri Regiment Dardo IFVs

Territorial Areas

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:

Operational Land Forces Support Command

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]

Artillery Command
Artillery School/Training Regiment PzH 2000 self-propelled howitzer
7th CBRN Defense Regiment "Cremona" VBR NBC Plus vehicle

The Artillery Command in Bracciano commands the specialized artillery regiments of the army and trains all officers and troops destined for artillery units:

Anti-aircraft Artillery Command
4th Anti-aircraft Artillery Regiment "Peschiera" troops loading SAMP/T missiles
17th Anti-aircraft Artillery Regiment "Sforzesca" soldiers with a portable CPM-Drone Jammer in Rome

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:

Engineer Command
Pontieri ferrying a Regiment "Savoia Cavalleria" (3rd) Centauro tank destroyer across the Po

The Engineer Command in Rome-Cecchignola commands the specialized engineer regiments of the army and trains all officers and troops destined for engineer units:

  • Engineer Command, in Cecchignola (Lazio)
    • Engineer Brigade, in Cecchignola (Lazio)
    • Infrastructure Command, in Cecchignola (Lazio)
      • 1st Infrastructure Department, in Turin (Piedmont)
        • 3rd Infrastructure Department, in Milan (Lombardy)
        • 4th Infrastructure Department, in Bolzano (South Tyrol)
      • Operational Infrastructure Engineer Unit, in Cecchignola (Lazio)

Signal Command

The Signal Command in Anzio commands the army's signal regiments and trains all officers and troops destined for signal units:

Tactical Intelligence Brigade
41st Regiment "Cordenons" operator launching a RQ-11B Raven in the Dolomites with a Squire radar in the background
41st Regiment "Cordenons" operator launching a Bramor C4EYE

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.

Army Logistic Command

The Army Logistic Command (Italian: Comando Logistico dell'Esercito, abbreviation: COMLOG) in Rome manages the entire logistics of the Army.

  • Army Logistic Command, in Rome (Lazio)
    • Military Polyclinic "Celio", in Rome
    • Long-term Care Center, Anzio (Lazio)
    • Materiel and Transport Command, in Rome
    • Commissary Command, in Rome
      • Commissary Supply Center, in Rome
      • Commissary Supply Center, in Verona (Veneto)
      • Commissary Supply Center, in Palermo (Sicily)
      • Commissary Supply Detached Section, in Cagliari (Sardinia)
    • Technical Command, in Rome
      • Multifunctional Experimentation Center, in Montelibretti (Lazio)
      • Military Technical-Logistical CBRN Center, in Civitavecchia (Lazio)
    • Medical and Veterinary Command, in Rome
      • Medical Department, in Rome
        • Military Medical Center, in Milan (Lombardy)
        • Military Medical Center, in Cagliari (Sardinia)
        • Military Medical Center, in Messina (Sicily)
        • Military Medical Center, in Padua (Veneto)
        • Military Medical Center, in Rome
      • Veterinary Department, in Rome
        • Military Veterinary Hospital, in Montelibretti (Lazio)
        • Military Veterinary Center, in Grosseto (Tuscany)
        • Military Working Dogs Group, in Grosseto (Tuscany)
        • Area Support Veterinary Unit, in Padua (Veneto)
        • Area Support Veterinary Unit, in Naples (Campania)

Logistic Support Command

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.

  • Logistic Support Command, in Rome (Lazio)
    • Transit Areas Management Regiment – RSOM (Reception Staging and Onward Movement), in Bellinzago Novarese (Lombardy), managing the deployment of forces for out-of-area operations
      • Logistic Battalion, Bellinzago Novarese (Lombardy)
      • Transit Areas Management Battalion, in Bellinzago Novarese (Lombardy)
      • Logistic Battalion, in Bari (Apulia)
      • Transit Areas Management Battalion, in Bari (Apulia)
    • 6th General Logistic Support Regiment, in Budrio (Emilia-Romagna)
      • Transport Battalion, in Budrio (Emilia-Romagna)
      • Movement Control Battalion, in Budrio (Emilia-Romagna)
    • 1st Medical Battalion "Torino", in Rivoli (Piedmont)
    • 3rd Medical Battalion "Milano", in Bellinzago Novarese (Lombardy)
    • 4th Medical Battalion "Bolzano", in Rome (Lazio)
    • 10th Medical Battalion "Napoli", in Persano (Campania)

Each medical battalion fields one command and logistic support company, one medical company with a field hospital, and one medical evacuations company.

Training, Specialization and Doctrine Command

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.[19]

Army Structure - Visual overview
Structure of the Italian Army 2022 (click to enlarge).

Army Geographical Distribution
Structure of the Italian Army is located in Italy
Vittorio Veneto
Pozzuolo
Ariete132 Tank
1 "Nizza"
#2
#2
Structure of the Italian Army
#1
#1
Structure of the Italian Army
10 Engineer
Folgore
187 "Folgore"
185 "Folgore"
9 "Moschin"
185 "Folgore"
183 "Nembo"
186 "Folgore"
8 Engineer
Friuli
121 "Ravenna"
Ferrovieri
3 "Savoia"
66 "Trieste"
#3
#3
Structure of the Italian Army
Structure of the Italian Army
Structure of the Italian Army
7 "Vega"
2 "Piemonte"
4 "Genova"
Lagunari
Horse Artil.
8 Alpini
Acqui
Garibaldi
8 "Pasubio"
52 "Torino"
4 Tank
"Garibaldi"
1 Bersaglieri
8 Bersaglieri
21 Engineer
3 Bersaglieri
19 "Guide"
Sassari
151 "Sassari"
"Sassari"
152 "Sassari"
5 Engineer
Aosta
5 "Aosta"
24 "Peloritani"
6 "Aosta"
6 Bersaglieri
62 "Sicilia"
4 Engineer
"Aosta"
Granatieri
1 Granatieri
2 Granatieri
6 Pioneer
8 "Montebello"
Pinerolo
"Pinerolo"
15 "Lodi"
7 Bersaglieri
9 "Bari"
82 "Torino"
21 "Trieste"
11 Engineer
Tridentina
Julia
Structure of the Italian Army
#4
#4
5 Alpini
7 Alpini
3 Artillery
2 Engineer
Taurinense
2 Alpini
3 Alpini
9 Alpini
1 Artillery
32 Engineer
6 Alpini
4 Alpini
1 "Antares"
3 "Aldebaran"
2 "Sirio"
4 "Altair"
7 "Cremona"
28 "Pavia"
4 "Peschiera"
17 "Sforzesca"
2 Pontieri
41 Cordenons
13 HUMINT
33 EW Rgt.
"Taurinense"
"Julia"
"Folgore"
Unit Locations (Signal units not included)
#1: 132nd Field Artillery Regiment "Ariete", Logistic Regiment "Ariete"
#2: 32nd Tank Regiment
#3: 11th Bersaglieri Regiment, 5th Army Aviation Regiment "Rigel", Regiment "Lancieri di Novara" (5th), 5th Field Artillery Regiment "Superga"
#4: 3rd Engineer Regiment Logistic Regiment "Pozzuolo del Friuli"

References
  1. "Le Forze Operative Terrestri". Archived from the original on 2011-05-20.
  2. "General Staff of the Army". Italian Army. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
  3. "Stato Maggiore dell'Esercito". Italian Ministry of Defense. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
  4. "Stato Maggiore dell'Esercito". Italian Army. Retrieved 6 July 2023.
  5. "Operational Land Forces Command". Italian Army. Retrieved 6 July 2023.
  6. "Comando Militare della Capitale". Esercito Italiano. Retrieved 21 April 2022.
  7. "Comando Operativo delle Forze Terrestri". Italian Army. Retrieved 6 July 2023.
  8. "Cambio al vertice del COMFOTER". Italian Army. Retrieved 6 July 2023.
  9. Scarpitta, Alberto. "Il potenziamento del Comando Forze Speciali dell'Esercito". Analisi Difesa. Retrieved 26 September 2020.
  10. "Comando Aviazione dell'Esercito - La Struttura ordinativa". Italian Army. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  11. "L'Aviazione dell'Esercito di Viterbo impiegata per le operazioni di soccorso su tutto il territorio nazionale". Esercito Italiano. Italian Army. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  12. Meschino, Marco. "Intervista al nuovo Comandante del ricostituito 51° Gruppo Squadroni "Leone"". Sea, Air, Land. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  13. "Altri 15 AW-169M per l'Esercito Italiano". RID - Portale Difesa. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
  14. "Programma Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) Esercito Italiano - acquisizione elicotteri AW-169 in configurazione Multiruolo Avanzato" (PDF). Ministry of Defense. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
  15. "Obice da 155/39 FH-70". Esercito Italiano. Retrieved 23 June 2019.
  16. "Northern Operational Forces Command". Italian Army. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
  17. "Southern Operational Forces Command". Italian Army. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
  18. "Operational Land Forces Support Command". Italian Army. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
  19. "Training, Specialization and Doctrine Command". Italian Army. Retrieved 8 July 2019.

See also
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