Garibaldi Bersaglieri Brigade - 1990s

1990s

With the end of the Cold War and the following massive reorganization of the Italian Army the brigade was transferred to the South of Italy. The brigade finished the move south to the city of Caserta and declared full operational capability on 1 July 1991. Along with the move the brigade changed its name to 8th Bersaglieri Brigade Garibaldi to reflect the changed composition of its subordinated units:

• Garibaldi Command and Tactical Support Battalion, in Caserta
• 31st Tank Battalion M.O. Andreani, in Persano
• 19th Cavalry Squadron Cavalleggeri Guide, in Salerno
• 3rd Bersaglieri Battalion Cernaia, in Caserta
• 67th Bersaglieri Battalion Fagarè, in Cosenza
• 91st Infantry (Training) Battalion Lucania, in Potenza
• 11th Self-propelled Field Artillery Group Teramo, in Persano
• Garibaldi Logistic Battalion, in Caserta
• Garibaldi Medical Battalion, in Caserta

Following the move the brigade became the first brigade in Italy to fully professionalize. From 1992 onwards all soldiers of the brigade were professional soldiers or long term volunteers. During the later 1990s the brigades composition changed slightly as a result of the massive reduction of forces after the Cold War and the Armys desire to preserve the names of the most decorated units of the Army. Therefore most units changed names, although garrison and composition of the units did not change. The brigade itself shed the number from its name 1 on September 1994. The changes to the brigades units over the coming years follow below:

• 5 August 1991 the 19th Cavalry Squadron Cavalleggeri Guide changes its name to 19th Cavalry Regiment Cavalleggeri Guide
• 26 June 1993 the 3rd Bersaglieri Battalion Cernaia becomes the 8th Bersaglieri Regiment
• 1 September 1993 the 31st Armored Battalion M.O. Andreani becomes the 131st Tank Regiment
• 10 September 1993 the 67th Bersaglieri Battalion Fagarè becomes the 18th Bersaglieri Regiment
• 10 September 1992 the 11th Self-propelled Field Artillery Group Teramo changes its name to 11th Self-propelled Field Artillery Regiment Teramo
• in 1998 the 91st Infantry (Training) Battalion Lucania is transferred to the Training Brigade
• 1 December 2000 the 21st Engineer Regiment in Caserta joins the brigade
• 1 February 2001 the Garibaldi Logistic Battalion and Garibaldi Medical Battalion merge to form the 10th Logistic Maneuver Regiment, which is transferred to the Armys Logistic Brigade
• 1 October 2001 the 11th Self-propelled Field Artillery Regiment Teramo changes its name to 8th Self-propelled Artillery Regiment Pasubio
• 1 January 2005 the 18th Bersaglieri Regiment changes name and becomes the 1st Bersaglieri Regiment