Military Academy of Modena - Training and Studies

Training and Studies

The Military Academy is a demanding training course for young people, and the training falls into various subcultural, military and sports-related elements. The courses of study are of various types and duration:

• The various weapons, transport, administrative commands, and materials involved in military operations, a two-year course that continues for another three years at the School of Application of Turin for more advanced officers.

• Carabinieri officers undergo a two-year course that continues at the School Officers in Rome with two years of application and a year of specialization, and confers a MSc Degree in Law.

• The corps of engineers follows a three-year course that continues for two years at the School of Application (Engineering).

• Veterinarians, chemists follow a course of five years (in Veterinary Science, Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Technology).

• Doctors follow a course of six years (Degree in Medicine and Surgery).

The military academy also promotes and provides "military preparation", a term they use to mean required topics all officers should know, which includes:

• Ethics and the art of military command (attachment to the institution and the state, as well as professional ethics and a sense of honor)

• Weapons, topography, English and NATO terminology

• Cartography, political science, mechanics, fluid mechanics, engineering management.

Obviously, every department has some officers specializing in some of these disciplines, but there is much cross training. The sports training includes gymnastics, defensive melee combat, swimming, riding and target shooting.

In addition to these theoretical activities (except for sports), students need a specialized technique that is manifested in military training practice. These activities are mostly mock exercises with small arms and armor, training in hand-to-hand fighting, learning how to maintain cohesion when getting to battlefields and military orientation and direction finding.

Every study course has a final exam and there are also summer training camps, and weeks of training in the snow. The years of study are divided as follows:

• First year, team commander capable of combating in mountainous or woodsy terrain and in cities; capable of parachute jumps or has attended a military cavalry course; attended an English course and driving school. During the month of February, the students gain their first hands-on experience with individual and department arms, with the individual combat techniques (A.I.C), with orientation and observation techniques and all battlefield activities.

• Second year, chosen patrolman who has successfully completed the corse with the same name commonly referred to as the daring course by passing a final exam with the simulation of combat. This course is held in July on the Apennines near Modena for the aspiring field marshals, while for the other personnel it is held at the Infantry School of Cesano and it tests individual combat skills, as well as command and leadership skills in all types of combat. This is a very important exam for students as it is necessary for the promotion to second lieutenant and the beginning of the three year specialization at the Scuola di applicazione e Istituto di Studi Militari in Turin.

The students who pass this course will be able to put the black ribbon with a red background of the "chosen patrolman" on their uniforms