Military Recruitment Event Promotes Army Life to Youths and Families
“Come on, lower yourself more, quickly, go!”
The words shouted by the very young corporal, wearing dark glasses and a parachutist uniform, have an effect on the trainee: an 11-year-old boy who accelerates to complete the course. This and other “exercises” were offered to those passing by yesterday afternoon along the lakeside promenade of Salò. All of this, of course, was preceded and concluded with the raising of the flag.
We are talking about the promotional event “Rap camp”, organized by the State General Staff of the Army, which for three hours showcased military vehicles of all kinds and demonstrated life in a barracks. A display stand was completely dedicated to military clothing: from helmets to shorts, from jumpsuits to pullovers.
Objectives and Participation
The aim: to encourage young people to enlist by introducing them to the commitments and ways of life offered by the army. The target (of the event) was mainly the boys and children, with a view to potential voluntary enlistment for a short-term military service. And it must be said that curiosity was high, and the most interested participants were indeed boys and children.
However, “to be honest, about 70 percent of those present were females,” commented a military officer. An opportunity was also offered to climb a specially set up wall: some succeeded, while others needed the support of the soldier offering assistance with the rope.
Courses, Activities, and Inquiries
Nearby, a course consisted of several tests and granted a sort of diploma certifying the passing of the challenges: simulated shooting, radio communication test, mini war scenario, climbing the artificial gymnasium. Some asked for information about military life and recruitment processes.
Around, among girls in swimsuits and gray-green uniforms, berets of the Alpini were also seen: they were worn by those who wanted to show solidarity with soldiers, belonging to the “Monte Cervino” Paratroopers Battalion of Bolzano, the 14th Regiment “Venzone” of Udine, the 3rd Regiment “Tolmezzo” of Udine, as well as the 2nd Engineer Regiment of Trento and the 6th Alpini Regiment “San Candido” of Bolzano.
Presence of Vehicles, History, and Missions
Around weapons and military vehicles, there were also two display boards. One illustrated the history of the Tricolour flag (from the Lombard Legion of 1796 to the present); the other showed images from the most recent peacekeeping missions: KFOR Operation (Kosovo), Operation Alba (Albania), and IFOR-SFOR (Bosnia).
