The solemn oath of the cadets of the “Falco VI” course of the Air Force Academy, scheduled for Wednesday, April 16, will not take place in Pozzuoli, the historic seat of the Academy, but in Caserta. This was announced by the Air Force itself, which justified the choice as an exceptional measure related to the “known situation of the Phlegraean Fields.” The Phlegraean area has been affected for months by bradyseism phenomena and seismic swarms, with recurring tremors felt by the population and punctually recorded by the Vesuvius Observatory.
A decision that, on one hand, is presented as temporary and precautionary, but on the other hand, has reignited the spotlight on a much more serious and structural hypothesis: the possible permanent transfer of the Air Force Academy from Pozzuoli to Northern Italy. An eventuality that has been circulating for months and that, if confirmed, would mark the end of a relationship lasting over sixty years between the military institution and the Phlegraean city.
The Oath in Caserta
There will be 129 young cadets, selected from about 5,000 candidates from all over Italy, to pronounce the oath of allegiance to the Republic and its Institutions at the headquarters of the Air Force Specialist School in Caserta. A location not chosen by chance: it is indeed the first historic settlement of the Air Force Academy, active from 1926 to 1943. The ceremony will be sealed by the flyover of the National Aerobatic Team, the Frecce Tricolori, and will see the presence of civil and military authorities, as well as numerous family members of the cadets.
The move has been defined by the Air Force leadership as “a choice of opportunity,” dictated by the need to ensure the safety of guests and guarantee the regularity of the event in a context, that of the Phlegraean Fields, which remains unstable. The recent seismic sequence recorded between April 11 and 12 — with ten tremors up to magnitude 2.2 — confirms the state of continuous attention.
The Shadow of the Air Force Academy Transfer
However, the choice to move the oath has fueled new fears about the future of the Academy in Pozzuoli. For months, rumors have circulated about a possible transfer of the entire structure to a new location between Bergamo and Brescia. In the Brescia province, in particular, several options have already been evaluated: the military airport of Ghedi, active and strategic, and the civilian airport of Montichiari, currently underutilized.
The first to raise the hypothesis, last November, was the Corriere del Mezzogiorno with an article by Vincenzo Esposito. Since then, the issue has repeatedly returned to the center of political and institutional debate, prompting the Pozzuoli deputy of the 5 Star Movement, Antonio Caso, to present a parliamentary question to the Minister of Defense, Guido Crosetto. “Relocating the Academy would be a negative signal for the citizens and a socioeconomic damage for the entire territory,” declared the parliamentarian. “If we citizens have to live with the seismic and volcanic risk, why can't the armed forces do the same?”
Crosetto: “We Consider the Risks, but No Definitive Decision”
The Minister of Defense, Guido Crosetto, also intervened on the matter, trying to reassure: “No one has ever talked about transferring the Air Force to the North, the Center, or the South. We talked about a very serious issue concerning bradyseism, not only for the Air Force headquarters but for the entire area.” Words that, rather than denying, seem to leave open a possibility for a structural reconsideration, should the situation worsen further.
Meanwhile, the Pozzuoli community and several institutional representatives continue to protest. The Neapolitan deputy Francesco Borrelli (AVS) harshly attacked the decision to move the ceremony: “What really prevents the event from taking place in Pozzuoli? Schools and public offices are all regularly open. We find such behavior disrespectful towards the citizens and the history of the Academy. The military should be the last to leave a territory in danger, not the first to flee.”
What's at Stake for Pozzuoli
The most concrete fear is that the potential transfer of the Academy is not just a symbolic loss, but a severe blow to the economy and the very identity of the city. Pozzuoli, for decades, has had an inseparable relationship with the Air Force: the Academy represents a prestigious stronghold, an economic engine, and a strong identity element. Its removal would mark an irreparable fracture.
Not surprisingly, the protest is also mounting among the citizens and economic operators of the area, worried about the possible negative impact on the tourist season, already tested by the news of bradyseism. The choice of Caserta for the oath, although justifiable from a precautionary point of view, is experienced as a dangerous precedent.
An Open Issue
On Wednesday, April 16, in Caserta, the 129 cadets of the Falco VI Course will pronounce their oath. But over Pozzuoli will remain the shadow of a decision that could forever change the fate of the Academy and the city. Parliament will be called to discuss it, but in the meantime, citizens and local representatives demand clarity: if there is a military evacuation plan, it should be openly stated; if instead, it is only a temporary choice, then the centrality that the territory deserves should soon be restored.
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