The article provides an overview of the entire chain of command and organization of the Italian Army after the reform of 1 May 2024 and includes all active units as of 1 May 2024. The Armed Forces of Italy are under the command of the Italian Supreme Defense Council, presided over by the President of the Italian Republic. The Italian Army is commanded by the Chief of the Army General Staff or "Capo di Stato Maggiore dell’Esercito" in Rome.[1]
The Chief of the Army General Staff in Rome, a four star general, commands the entire Italian Army. However the Army General Staff itself is commanded by the Deputy Chief of the Army General Staff.
Army General Staff
The Army General Staff in Rome is tasked with the study, research, development and general policy of the army. It is headed by the Deputy Chief of the Army General Staff.
Chief of the Army General Staff, in Rome (Lazio)[2][3]
The Operational Land Forces Command (Italian: Comando delle Forze Operative Terrestri, abbreviation: COMFOTER) is the continuously operational command of the army. The command is headquartered in Rome. In case of war, outside of NATO's command structure, it would command the army's units.[5]
On 1 July 2023 the Capital Military Command (Italian: Comando Militare della Capitale) in Rome was merged into COMFOTER, which thus became responsible for managing army events in Rome and its metro area, and for overseeing the administrative Army Military Commands tasked with public duties in, recruitment, administration of the reserves, public information, and promotional activities in the Lazio, Tuscany, and Sardinia regions. Additionally COMFOTER became responsible for the army's Monte Romano training range, the army museums in Rome, the military penitentiary organization, the army band, as well as the Italian military's Geographic Institute in Florence. The Army Military Command "Lazio" covering the Lazio region became an integral part of COMFOTER, while the Army Military Command "Toscana" covering the Tuscany region remained an integral part of the Military Geographical Institute. Before the merger the Central Logistic Grouping supporting the general staff in Rome was transferred from the Capital Military Command to the General Staff.[6][7][8][4]
The Alpine Troops Command (Italian: Comando Truppe Alpine, abbreviation: COMTA) commands the Mountain Troops of the Italian Army, called Alpini (English: Alpines). The command is headquartered in Bolzano.
Alpine Training Center - Sport Department, in Courmayeur (Aosta)
Territorial Areas
The COMTA also controls four administrative Army Military Commands tasked with public duties, recruitment, administration of the reserves, public information, and promotional activities. The Army Military Command "Trentino-Alto Adige" covering the Trentino-Alto Adige/SouthTyrol region is an integral part of COMALP:
The Northern Operational Forces Command (Italian: Comando Forze Operative Nord, abbreviation: COMFOP Nord) commands the brigades in the North of Italy. The command is headquartered in Padua and successor to the army's V Army Corps.[10]
Northern Operational Forces Command, in Padua (Veneto)
Training Battalion "Poggio Rusco", in Pisa (Tuscany)
Aviation Supply Battalion, in Pisa (Tuscany)
Territorial Areas
The COMFOP Nord also controls six administrative Army Military Commands tasked with public duties, recruitment, administration of the reserves, public information, and promotional activities. The Army Military Command "Veneto" covering the Veneto region is an integral part of COMFOP Nord:
Army Military Command "Abruzzo e Molise" , in L'Aquila, covering the Abruzzo and Molise regions
The Southern Operational Forces Command (Italian: Comando Forze Operative Sud, abbreviation: COMFOP Sud) commands the brigades in the South of Italy and on the islands of Sicily and Sardinia. The command is headquartered in Naples.[11]
Southern Operational Forces Command, in Naples (Campania)
The COMFOP Sud also controls six administrative Army Military Commands tasked with public duties, recruitment, administration of the reserves, public information, and promotional activities. The Army Military Command "Campania" covering the Campania region is an integral part of COMFOP Sud:
The Army Aviation Command at Viterbo Airport trains and maintains the army's non-combat flying formations, and provides four operational helicopter regiments to COMFOTER.[13]
The Artillery Command in Bracciano commands the specialized artillery regiments of the army and trains all officers and troops destined for artillery units:
The Anti-aircraft Artillery Command in Sabaudia commands the army's air defense units and trains all officers and troops destined for air defense units:
Anti-aircraft Artillery Command, in Sabaudia (Lazio)
Counter-Mini/Micro-UAV Center of Excellence, in Sabaudia (Lazio)
Engineer Command
The Engineer Command in Rome-Cecchignola commands the specialized engineer regiments of the army and trains all officers and troops destined for engineer units:
Military Working Dogs Group, in Grosseto (Tuscany)
Area Support Veterinary Unit, in Padua (Veneto)
Area Support Veterinary Unit, in Naples (Campania)
Logistic Support Command
The Logistic Support Command in Rome trains officers and troops destined for logistic units and provides operational logistic support with two specialized logistic regiments and four medical battalions.
Each medical unit fields one command and logistic support company, one medical company with a field hospital, and one medical evacuations company.
Training, Specialization and Doctrine Command
The Training, Specialization and Doctrine Command (Italian: Comando per la Formazione, Specializzazione e Dottrina dell'Esercito, abbreviation: COMFORDOT) in Rome trains the army's troops and develops the army's doctrine and education policies.[20]
Training, Specialization and Doctrine Command, in Rome (Lazio)
Army Training Command and Application School, in Turin (Piedmont) (Military University)