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Meet the Italian Army’s Bersaglieri (Master)

Natochannel

Nov. 19, 2021 | 0:51

The ‘Bersaglieri’, or sharpshooters in Italian, are a unique unit of the Italian Army who trace their roots back to the 19th century.

An elegant black feather plumage marks them out in the field. Once made from raven feathers and used as camouflage, the elaborate decorations are now synthetic, and the soldiers of the Bersaglieri wear them as a badge of pride.

1st Corporal-Major Giusy Cosentino of the 1st Bersaglieri Regiment talks us through the regiment’s history, and why she is proud to be a member.

The 1st Bersaglieri Regiment took part in the NATO exercise Steadfast Defender 2021 in Romania. Footage includes shots of the Bersaglieri performing tactical drills alongside other Allied troops during the exercise.

All soldiers were operating within a self-contained bubble in accordance with COVID-19 guidelines for NATO deployments abroad. NATO videographers observed these guidelines in accordance with NATO policies.

-GRAPHIC-
THE BERSAGLIERI
1st Corporal-Major Giusy Cosentino
1st Bersaglieri Regiment

-SOUNDBITE IN ITALIAN-

1st Corporal-Major Giusy Cosentino
1st Bersaglieri Regiment

‘The Bersaglieri are a specialised unit of the Italian Army's infantry corps and I am proud to be part of it.

-GRAPHIC-
THE BERSAGLIERI TRAINED
WITH OTHER NATO ALLIES
IN ROMANIA

DURING EXERCISE
STEADFAST DEFENDER 2021

THE FEATHERED HELMET
IS A UNIQUE SYMBOL
OF THE UNITS

-SOUNDBITE IN ITALIAN-
The feather hat that we wear was made of natural feathers in the past, but now they are synthetic.

It was originally worn to
help provide camouflage.

-GRAPHIC-
THE UNITS CAN BE
TRACED BACK TO 1836

-SOUNDBITE IN ITALIAN-

Our motto is
‘Ictu impetuque primus’,

which means
‘First in striking and assaulting’.

END