Foreword

Commander’s Biography

Mission Statement

Commander’s Vision

Contributing Nation

Background Notes

“Ugo Mara” Barracks

The Emblem

The Longobards

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The overall classification of this document is NATO UNCLASSIFIED RELEASABLE TO THE PUBLIC

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CommanderLieutenant General ITA (A)

Giorgio BATTISTI

Deputy CommanderMajor General GBR (A)Sir George NORTON

Chief of StaffMajor General ITA (A)

Giovanni FUNGO

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FOREWORD

On behalf of the Soldiers, Airmen, Seamen and Carabinieri at NATO Rapid Deployable Corps Italy, I would like to welcome you all to our Headquarters!

This handbook is designed to give you some information and help you gain an understanding of the environment.

NRDC-ITA is one of the Alliance’s nine Rapid Deployable Corps Headquarters, and is one of the two high profile NATO organisations based in Italy.

We are a multinational NATO Headquarters with more than 2000 military and civilian personnel coming from 15 NATO nations, based in Solbiate Olona, close to Milan. We pride ourselvers in our diverse and talented work force.

Our is a military community that includes the families of NRDC-ITA personnnel and encourages their participation in the Headquarters daily life, through a variety of clubs and organisations supported by dedicated welfare facilities.

At NRDC-ITA we feel privileged to live in and be part of the local Italian communities, in which our members also play a key role supporting local schools, clubs and organisations.

Again, welcome to the NATO Rapid Deployable Corps – Italy!

Giorgio BattistiLieutenant General, Italian ArmyCommander of NATO Rapid Deployable Corps - Italy

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THE COMMANDER

Lieutenant General Giorgio Battisti was born in Mantova on October 11, 1953. He is a graduate of the 154th course at the Italian Army Military Academy, the Italian General Staff Course and Advanced General Staff Course for senior Officers. General Battisti was commissioned into the “Taurinense” Alpini Brigade in 1976, when he was assigned as Deputy Commander of the 40th Artillery Battery with the rank of First Lieutenant. He then commanded various

battery-level units affiliated to the Italian contingent at the Allied Mobile Force (Land) (AMF (L)), and took part in 21 NATO exercises.Once promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, he commanded the “Conegliano” Artillery Group, of the “Julia” Alpini Brigade. In 1997, upon promotion to Colonel, General Battisti returned to the Italian Army Military Academy, as the Commander of the Cadets’ Regiment. General Battisti has extensive experience both as a staff officer and an operational Commander. He has a wide-ranging background that includes operations in coalition environments, at the tactical, operational and strategic levels. In fact, he deployed to Somalia in 1993 and Bosnia in 1997 to take part in the ongoing military operations. Furthermore, from December 2001 to May 2002 he was the first Commander of the Italian Contingent during the ISAF mission in Kabul. He also held the appointment of the in-Theatre Italian Senior National Representative. Promoted to Brigadier General, in 2002 he assumed command of the “Taurinense” Alpini Brigade. At this time he deployed to Afghanistan to be the Commander of first “Nibbio” Mission, within the framework of Operation Enduring Freedom and the ISAF Mission, as well as the Italian Senior National Representative. Throughout his career, General Battisti has held several appointments at the Army General Staff, serving in various capacities, such as Staff Officer at the Information Technology Branch, from 1988 to 1990, Section Chief of the Office of the Army Deputy Chief of Staff, from 1991 to 1993, as Chief of the Ops Center, from 1994 to 1997, and as Chief of Plans and Situation, from 1999 to 2001.Further on, in late 2003, he stepped down as Brigade Commander to become the Deputy Head of the General Affairs Department, and then Head of Department from 2005 to 2006. In the latter capacity he was also appointed

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as the Italian Army Official Spokesperson. Promoted to Major General in 2006, he deployed to Afghanistan for the third time, as Deputy Chief of Staff Support at ISAF Headquarters and Italian Senior National Representative.From 31 May 2008 to 24 June 2011 he was the Chief of Staff at the Italian Operational Land Forces HQ in Verona.General Battisti was promoted Lieutenant General on 1 January 2011He assumed command of the NATO Rapid Deployable Corps – Italy on 30 June 2011. From 15 January 2013 to 24 January 2014 he deployed to Afghanistan for the fourth time, being appointed as Chief of Staff ISAF and Italian Senior National Representative.Amongst his many distinctions he has twice received honours from the Ordine Militare d’Italia for outstanding service in Afghanistan. He firstly received the Croce di Cavaliere for the ISAF Mission and was then awarded the Croce di Ufficiale for Operation Enduring Freedom. He was also awarded the Italian Commemorative Cross for UNOSOM Operation in Somalia in 1993. Additionally General Battisti received the US Bronze Star Medal for the Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan in 2003 and the Commander of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic, the Officier de l’Ordre National du Mérite of the French Republic, the UN Medal, the French and Polish Commemorative Medal and the Spanish Distintivos de Operaciones de Mantenimiento de Paz for the ISAF Mission in 2007 and the Emblem of Honor of the Romanian General Staff in 2013. In the same year, for his achievements throughout the ISAF mission he was awarded the US Legion of Merit Medal.General Battisti and his wife Simonetta have three sons, Alessio, Umberto and Filippo, and a daughter, Cecilia and he cares for spending every moment of free time he can with them. He is a non-competitive runner challenging himself on a regular basis and is an enthusiastic and sometimes suffering Inter Milan fan.

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MISSION STATEMENT

NRDC-ITA is to be prepared to deploy as a Corps, Land Component Command or Joint Task Force HQ for land-centric operations under NATO or, when authorised, EU command to conduct or sustain missions throughout the operational spectrum, both within and beyond NATO’s area of responsibility for the collective defence of Alliance territory or in pursuit of Alliance, EU or coalition security interests.

COMMANDER’S VISION

NATO ‘s premier High Readiness Force Headquarters that is adaptive, deployable and able to successfully conduct operations across the full military spectrum. A unique, challenging and rewarding environment that empowers, motivates and fulfils its members to be part of a winning team.

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CONTRIBUTING NATIONS

NRDC – ITA is a multi-national Headquarters based in Solbiate Olona, Varese, close to Milan. Italy is the framework nation, providing approximately 70% of personnel, and the remaining 30% is made up of Officers, Non-Commissioned Officers and Soldiers coming from the other nations contributing to the project.The multi-national environment is the key factor that enables NRDC-ITA to operate successfully. The project currently involves around 400 military personnel coming from 15 contributing nations: Italy, Bulgaria, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, The Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Turkey, The United Kingdom and the United States of America. Albania and Croatia are anticipated to join us soon.Including the Support Brigade and subordinate units, the population at Ugo Mara Barracks is approximately 2000 strong.

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Following a review of its force structure, in 2001 NATO decided on the parameters of a new structure to provide the Alliance with rapid deployable, mobile, sustainable and flexible multinational forces and their command and control capabilities. Following NATO’s requirements for High Readiness Forces, the Italian Ministry of Defence formed the NATO Rapid Deployable Corps – Italy.

NRDC-ITA is an organization with a committed, confident and experienced multinational staff working in a cohesive and structured team and using well-developed doctrine for multinational and joint operations at the land component level.

NRDC-ITA is a multi-national Headquarters comprising of personnel from 15 NATO nations with Italy as the lead nation. English is the working language and the Headquarters encourages and utilizes the different experiences and approaches of its personnel.

BACKGROUND NOTES

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The HQ is operationally experienced including the deployment of numerous staff to Afghanistan in 2012 as part of the ISAF HQs in Kabul. Through sustained and robust training, deep professional knowledge and efficient and effective decision making processes NRDC-ITA is one of NATO’s premier Response Forces.

NRDC-ITA is moving from operating solely at the tactical level to the operational level. The generation of a Joint Task Force HQ is considered as an additional capability to the already existing Land Component Command and Corps. The joint capability of NRDC-ITA is given by the presence of Navy and Air Force staff and coordination cells. The Headquarters is not only able to Command and Control military Operations, but also to operate, through skilled professionals, with non-military actors in any crisis scenario (governative organizations, non-governative organizations, humanitarian aid agencies, etc.) following the NATO concept of the Comprehensive Approach.

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UGO MARA BARRACKS

The NRDC-ITA and its Support Brigade are headquartered in Solbiate Olona, in the province of Varese, in the Ugo Mara Barracks, which has hosted a number of military headquarters during its history.

After being used as a military firing range in the period 1884-1911, in 1913, the Italian Ministry of Defence, then called “Ministry of War”, accepted a request from the Mayor of Busto Arsizio to turn the site into an Air Force base, home of

the 5th Air Force Wing (where the legendary Italian fighter pilot, Francesco Baracca, served). The barracks were later to be used as an internment camp for Prisoners of War before becoming an artillery depot in 1920.

Chronologically, it housed the 3rd Armoured Battalion and the 4th and 20th Bersaglieri Battalions. In 1976, following a Force structure review, the Italian Army decided to base here the 4th “Passalacqua” Armoured Battalion and the 10th Bersaglieri Battalion, then the 67th Infantry Battalion, the Logistic Battalion of the Legnano Mechanized Brigade, and, finally, in

Hangar dietro la palazzina-comando, lo storico capannone della 5^ Squadriglia di Framcesco Barracca. Foto del 1913

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1995, the 33rd “Ambrosiano” Logistic Regiment.In 2000, Italy decided to join the NATO High Readiness project, and the Ugo Mara Barracks was officially designated to host NRDC-ITA, due to its excellent existing infrastructure and strategic location. It is, in fact, situated only 30km from Milan, 15km from Malpensa international airport, and 1km from the A8 highway. On 1 November 2001, NRDC-ITA was officially born.

La Palazzina di fronte al corpo di guardia quando la Caserma Ugo Mara era Campo di Aviazione. Foto del 1913

It is worth devoting a few words to the person after whom our workplace is named. If one looks on the wall at the entrance, near the main gate there is there is a plaque of Second Lieutenant Ugo Mara, from the Italian Army. Born in Busto Arsizio, Ugo Mara served as an infantry officer during World War Two at Gorizia, near the Slovenian border, where he fought bravely distinguishing himself for valour and rising to the post of Battalion commander. Ugo Mara died on 28 January 1918 and was posthumously awarded a Silver and Bronze medal for military valour.

La Palazzina di fronte al corpo di guardia quando la Caserma Ugo Mara era un Campo di Aviazione. Foto del 1913

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THE EMBLEM

The history of the NRDC-ITA emblem goes back to the 3rd Celere Division, which during World War Two fought bravely in the Yugoslavian campaign (1941) and in Russia (1942) within the Italian Expeditionary Corps.

In 1957, the 3rd Italian Corps was established in Milan, in control of three Divisions and various

support units. During almost 40 years of activity the Corps, amongst others, played a key role in

contributing and supporting the Italian Contingent deployed in Lebanon in 1982. Furthermore, its units

participated in Operation IBIS in Somalia in 1993/4. Finally, in 1997 the Corps assumed responsibility for the “Alba” Mission in Albania, the first multinational Italian-led mission. Fifteen contributing Nations brought humanitarian aid to a country experiencing a dramatic economic and political situation.

In 1998, in the wake of the restructuring of the Italian Army, the 3rd Corps was transformed into the Projection Forces Headquarters (FOP), in command and control of three Brigades, which were characterized by high mobility and deployability.

In 2001, following NATO’s request to provide a High Readiness Force Headquarters, the Italian Ministry of Defence reshaped the FOP forming the NATO Rapid Deployable Corps – Italy (NRDC-ITA).

The NRDC-ITA emblem is a shield in two parts with a sword and an eagle’s head. The sword is historically based on the one adopted by the “Celere” Division during World War Two. The eagle’s head represents strength and the Headquarters’ ability to deploy quickly. The colours are the same as those adopted by the Projection Forces HQ. The shield is framed by another shield, which is green and carries the acronym NRDC-ITA and the motto “Ubique Celere”, which is the Latin for “Everywhere Rapidly”.

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THE LONGOBARDS

NRDC-ITA has chosen as its symbol the Longobards by virtue of their multi-ethnic vision and strong ability to absorb the best of other cultures, especially when they settled in the territories of Northern Italy, giving birth not only to a kingdom of warriors but also of enlightened men.The Longobards were an ancient semi-nomadic people belonging to the Scandinavian line of the ‘Winnili’. After a long migration southward, in the second century AD, which saw them stopping progressively along the lower course of the Elba river, the middle course of the Danube River and in Pannonia, they settled in Italy in 568. During this long migration they were able to integrate with other

ethnic groups, mainly Germanic, assimilating their traditions.In Italy the Longobards founded a kingdom that expanded over much of the peninsula (Friuli, Veneto, Piemonte, Lombardy, Emilia, Tuscany, Umbria and Campania), where they ruled for over two centuries before being defeated by the Franks of Charlemagne in 774. After being in contact with the Italic-Roman and the Byzantine populations, they assimilated their culture and traditions, embraced the Catholic religion (at the time of their arrival they were partly still pagans) and adopted Latin as the official language, as evidenced by the emanation of the Edict of Rotari in 643 AD.Once in Italy, the Longobards assimilated the Roman tradition, the spirituality of Christianity and the Byzantine influences, knowing how to integrate them with Germanic values, and so giving rise to a new and original culture between the late sixth and the eighth centuries.The Lombard warrior, called Arimanno (army man), had as his main weapon the spatha, a double-edged sword up to a meter long, and the saxe, a shorter single cut sword. To ensure his own protection, he also had one round wooden shield at the centre of which the handle was protected by an iron boss facing outwards. Their helmets and their breastplates were made of thin s-shape plates tied together with leather straps. The helmets had a front plate and a mail protection for the back of the neck. The current Lombardy, where NRDC-Italy is located, was the heart of the Lombard kingdom, as shown by the name itself, synonymous of the deep and significant interaction which took place between the new conquerors and the old Roman organisation.

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NOTES