Naples embraced the new cadets of the Scuola Militare Nunziatella as the 239th course took its oath of loyalty to the Italian Republic in Piazza del Plebiscito.
The class numbers 76 cadets: 20 young women and 56 young men, according to Il Mattino. With the oath on 14 November 2026, they formally entered the Army family, according to the account of the ceremony.
The course is named for Captain Giovanni Di Castri, a Gold Medal for Military Valour recipient and former Nunziatella pupil from the 1925-1928 course.
Defence Minister Guido Crosetto attended the ceremony in Piazza del Plebiscito, according to la Repubblica. Also present were Chief of Defence Staff Luciano Portolano and Army Chief of Staff Carmine Masiello.
The school's commander, Colonel Alberto Valent, described the Nunziatella as guardian of its own history and oriented toward the future. "Siamo custodi di storie straordinarie," he said.
Valent linked that mission to both tradition and innovation in training, including cyber security, drones and artificial intelligence, according to Il Mattino.
The ceremony closed with the traditional handover of the spadino, the short ceremonial sword, to the first-year cadets by the students of the final year.
