Change of Command at the 186th Folgore: Colonel Salvatore Falcone Assumes Command

At the historic Caserma “Bandini” in Siena, the ceremony for the 84th anniversary of the establishment of the prestigious 186th Paratroopers Regiment “Folgore” took place. The event, solemn and full of significance, marked the change of command between Colonel Giovanni Corrado and the new commander, Colonel Salvatore Falcone.

The ceremony was attended by the Commander of the Paratroopers Brigade “Folgore”, General Federico Bernacca, numerous civil and military authorities, as well as representatives of veteran associations, including the National President of ANPd'I, General of the Army Corps (res.) Marco Bertolini, and the Secretary General, Brigadier General (res.) Enrico Pollini.

The Farewell of Colonel Corrado

In his farewell speech, Colonel Giovanni Corrado wanted to recall the extraordinary valor of the paratroopers during the legendary Battle of El Alamein (1942), when a few hundred men held out for two weeks on a seven-kilometer front, which delivered the 186th Regiment to history and earned the unit the Gold Medal for Military Valor on the War Flag.

Colonel Corrado then thanked the regiment's personnel for their commitment, dedication, and sense of duty demonstrated during his command, wishing his successor, Colonel Salvatore Falcone, a path full of satisfaction.

A Unit Always at the Forefront

The 186th Paratroopers Regiment “Folgore” has been involved in numerous significant missions in Italy and abroad. From the first international operations as the 5th Battalion in Lebanon (1983) and in Iraqi Kurdistan (1991), to its reconstitution as the 186th Regiment and deployment in Somalia (1993), the Balkans, and again in Lebanon, the unit has always demonstrated professionalism and adaptability in complex scenarios.

Of particular note is the commitment in Afghanistan, with two tours in the ISAF mission in 2009 and 2011, up to that of 2021, when the regiment had the honor and burden of closing the Italian mission in an extremely delicate and complex operation, conducted under the leadership of then Colonel Federico Bernacca, now Aquila 1, Commander of the Paratroopers Brigade Folgore.

In more recent years, the Operation “Joint Enterprise” in Kosovo, the Operation “Parco Verde” in Caivano supporting law enforcement, and the constant contribution to Operation “Strade Sicure” in the cities of Rome, Siena, and Florence are remembered.

These activities testify to the key role of the regiment in ensuring operational readiness and intervention capability in critical contexts, consolidating the prestige and centrality of the unit both nationally and in major international theaters.

The Future Under Colonel Falcone's Leadership

The new commander, Colonel Salvatore Falcone, inherits a prestigious legacy and will lead a unit that for 84 years has embodied the courage, discipline, and dedication typical of the “Lions of the Folgore”.

With an eye to the future and strong in its tradition, the 186th Paratroopers Regiment “Folgore” confirms its central role in the defense and security of the country, ready to respond with professionalism and speed to every assigned mission.