Airforces

he northern limit of the ancient Roman

Empire is found approximately along

the modern border between England

and Scotland. Here, in 122 AD, Roman troops

began construction of a 72-mile-long (117km)

defensive fortification, now known as Hadrian’s

Wall. The garrison detached there to defend

the extreme border of the empire used

the Latin motto ‘Durabo’ – which can

be translated as, ‘I will survive’.

Nowadays, ‘Durabo’ is the

motto of the 3° Reggimento

Dino Marcellino visits the latest Chinooks of the Italian Army’s

3rd Special Operations Helicopter Regiment and learns about the

particular mind-set required for this unit’s demanding field of work.

‘Ermes’

is ready

Elicotteri per Operazioni Speciali (3° REOS,

3rd Special Operations Helicopter Regiment).

This is the newest unit within the Aviazione

dell’Esercito (AVES, Italian Army Aviation),

having been formed on November 10, 2014.

Beginning in around 2010, the Italian Army

General Staff made concerted efforts to

reorganise and expand its special forces.

The influence of new terror threats, in some

cases operating as rogue states, presented

different challenges and non-conventional

conflict scenarios. The creation of the 3°

T

Above: Fast roping requires considerable pilot skill

and excellent co-ordination between the flight

crew and the assault team. Right: Colonel Andrea

Di Stasio is the former commander of the 3°

Reggimento Elicotteri per Operazioni Speciali.

Below A special forces assault team descends from

ICH-47F ‘E.I.701’ (MM8177). All photos Dino Marcellino

38 // JANUARY 2018 #358 http://www.airforcesmonthly.com

Italian Army special ops