ITALIAN JOINT AIR OPERATIONS SCHOOL: TECHNICAL-OPERATIONAL TRAINING FOR NATO/PfP COUNTRIES

Finished the Initial Remote Sensing (IRS) Course, the first training step in the management, interpretation, and operational analysis of remotely sensed images, specifically designed for NATO/PfP (Partnership for Peace) personnel.

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On May 30, the fifth edition of the Initial Remote Sensing (IRS) Course successfully concluded, an advanced training program aimed at NATO/PfP (Partnership for Peace) military personnel. The course welcomed 18 officers from 10 European countries, including Spain, Montenegro, Ireland, Lithuania, and Denmark, highlighting the growing interest and need for specialized skills in the field of remote sensing.

Entirely delivered in English, the IRS course is the result of a training project developed by the Remote Sensing Course Command of the Italian Joint Air Operations School, designed to provide participants with the fundamental knowledge on the use of remotely sensed images from airborne and satellite sensors. Through visual analysis and the use of digital and analog cartography, participants learn essential techniques for the operational interpretation of geospatial data.

The IRS course represents the first phase of a broader training pathway, structured into progressive modules aimed at strengthening imagery analysis skills. It is also preparatory for admission to the Advanced Remote Sensing (ARS) Course, which delves into imagery exploitation and analysis for operational purposes.

Both the IRS and ARS courses hold "Approved" certification from NATO, as they help address capability gaps among the Alliance. For this reason, they have been included in the Education and Training Opportunities Catalogue (ETOC) of the Allied Command for Transformation in Norfolk (USA), aiming to provide high-standard geospatial training within the Alliance.

Thanks to this initiative, international military personnel have accessed an innovative and high-level training program, enhancing their skills in the analysis of remotely sensed images for operational and strategic purposes.

Scuola di Aerocooperazione, known abroad as Italian Joint Air Operations School (Ita JAOS), was established in 1951 on the Guidonia Airbase, near Rome, inheriting traditions and tasks from the Army, Air Force and Navy Observation Schools. Its mission was to promote the integration between aircraft and ground troops and/or ships, highlighting the mutual cooperation as a milestone of any military operation.

Today the Ita JAOS is the only Italian Military Training Institution accredited by NATO ACT as National Education and Training Facility of the Alliance. It provides high level education adherent to the training needs of the national Armed Forces, as well as to those of allied and friendly Countries, assuring constantly evolution and alignment with technological innovations, operational contexts, and domains. This ensures that its training remains consistently tailored to the needs of the national Armed Forces and allied or friendly Nations.

In the field of air-to-surface operational cooperation and integration, the Ita JAOS has recently expanded its educational offerings, including the entire Joint Terminal Attack Controller (JTAC), Joint Personnel Recovery and Joint Targeting programs. Additionally, the Commander of the School serves as the National Certification Authority for JTAC training and qualification, according to NATO and national standards.

In the field of remote sensing, the Ita JAOS delivers courses on the management, interpretation and operational analysis of remotely sensed images, acquired by airborne and satellite electro-optical and radar sensors. Furthermore, it maintains strong relationships and collaborations with national scientific, academic, and industrial entities and international bodies, to foster technological innovations in remote sensing and enhance education skills.

In order to respond to the new training needs of the Italian Armed Forces, in line with the national and NATO strategic concepts, Ita JAOS implemented a newest third training sector focuses on Space, as operational domain, within the framework of Multi-Domain Operations (MDOs). This includes courses on Space Operations for Operators and Staff Officers, designed in collaboration with the Italian Defense General Staff and Space Operations Command.

 The Ita JAOS' courses are open not only to military personnel from the Italian Armed Forces, but also to external personnel from the Defense Administration, NATO military personnel, as well as friendly and partner Countries of the Partnership for Peace (PfP) program, subject to authorization from the Italian Defense General Staff.

Within this framework, the Commander’s Vision is to be relevant in training to operate, promoting knowledge, skills and enablement, for the benefit of the Country System.

Today the Mission of the School is to design and deliver, in a multi-domain perspective, advanced and specialized training in the fields of Air-to-Surface Integration, Remote Sensing and Space, in support to National, NATO and partner Countries personnel.

Thanks to its Subject Matter Experts in remote sensing imagery interpretation and analisys, Ita JAOS’ Institutional Flag has been awarded the “Meritorious School, Culture and Art Gold Medal“, assigned by the President of the Italian Republic, for the contribution provided to the Civil Protection Department, during natural calamities. Moreover, it has been recently awarded the Joint Medal of Honour of the Italian Defence General Staff.

In 2024, upon thorough and accurate auditing of quality assurance and control standard of its Quality Management System, Ita JAOS received the UNI EN ISO 9001:2005 Certification for the effectiveness, efficiency and continuous improvement of customer satisfaction in Education and Training.