Combat Support Forces Command

{{Infobox military unit | unit_name = Combat Support Forces Command | native_name = Comando delle Forze di Supporto al Combattimento | image =File:Distintivo del Comando delle Forze Operative Terrestri di Supporto.png | image_size =150px | alt = | caption = Coat of arms of the Combat Support Forces Command | dates = 1 October 2016 - present | disbanded = | country ={{ITA}} | countries = | allegiance = | branch = 20px Italian Army | type = | role =Combat support<br>Combat service support | size =16,000 troops ca. | command_structure = Operational Land Forces Command | garrison =Rome | garrison_label = | nickname = | patron = | motto = | colors =  | colors_label =  | march = | mascot = | anniversaries = | equipment = | equipment_label = | battles = | decorations = | battle_honours = | battle_honours_label = | flying_hours = | website =  | current_commander =Gen. C.A.Giuseppenicola Tota | commander1 = | commander1_label = | commander2 =Gen. B. Antonello Messenio Zanitti<ref name="MNI 8 Oct 19">{{cite news |title=Avvicendamento al comando Artiglieria Controaerei, il generale Antonello Messenio Zanitti cede il comando al parigrado Fabrizio Argiolas |url=https://militarynewsfromitaly.com/2019/10/08/avvicendamento-al-comando-artiglieria-controaerei-il-generale-antonello-messenio-zanitti-cede-il-comando-al-parigrado-fabrizio-argiolas/ |access-date=27 July 2020 |work=-Military News from Italy- |date=8 October 2019 |language=it-IT}}</ref> | commander2_label =Chief of Staff | commander3 = | commander3_label = | commander4 = | commander4_label = | commander5 = | commander5_label = | commander6 = | commander6_label = | commander7 = | commander7_label = | commander8 = | commander8_label = | commander9 = | commander9_label = | notable_commanders =Alberto Ficuciello  | identification_symbol = | identification_symbol_label = | identification_symbol_2 = | identification_symbol_2_label = | identification_symbol_3 = | identification_symbol_3_label = | identification_symbol_4 = | identification_symbol_4_label = | identification_symbol_5 = | identification_symbol_5_label =  | aircraft_attack = | aircraft_bomber = | aircraft_electronic = | aircraft_fighter = | aircraft_helicopter = | aircraft_helicopter_attack = | aircraft_helicopter_cargo = | aircraft_helicopter_multirole = | aircraft_helicopter_observation = | aircraft_helicopter_trainer = | aircraft_helicopter_utility = | aircraft_interceptor = | aircraft_patrol = | aircraft_recon = | aircraft_trainer = | aircraft_transport = | aircraft_tanker = | aircraft_general = }} The '''Combat Support Forces Command''' ({{langx|it|Comando delle Forze di Supporto al Combattimento}}, abbreviation: COMFORSUP COMBAT) is a higher command of the Italian Army tasked with providing support resources to the Operational Land Forces Command.<ref name="COMFOTERSUPPORTEI">{{cite web |title=Comando delle Forze Operative Terrestri di Supporto - Esercito Italiano |url=https://www.esercito.difesa.it/organizzazione/capo-di-sme/COMFOTER/comfoter-supporto |website=www.esercito.difesa.it |publisher=Esercito Italiano |access-date=27 July 2020 |language=it}}</ref>

== History == The command as established on 1 October 2016 as Operational Land Forces Support Command by splitting of the Operational Land Forces Command in the Operational Land Forces Command - Army Operational Command (COMFOTER - COE) and in the Operational Land Forces Support Command itself.<ref name="COMFOTERCOEEI">{{cite web |title=Comando delle Forze Operative Terrestri e Comando Operativo Esercito - Esercito Italiano |url=https://www.esercito.difesa.it/organizzazione/capo-di-sme/COMFOTER/Pagine/default.aspx |website=www.esercito.difesa.it |publisher=Esercito Italiano |access-date=27 July 2020 |language=it}}</ref><ref name="Paola Casoli 3 Oct 16">{{cite news |last1=Casoli |first1=Paola |title=COMFOTER: cambio comando, al gen Primicerj subentra il collega Sperotto. E il COMFOTER si trasforma in comando di supporto |url=https://www.paolacasoli.com/2016/10/comfoter-cambio-comando-al-gen-primicerj-subentra-collega-sperotto-comfoter-si-trasforma-comando-supporto/ |access-date=27 July 2020 |work=Paola Casoli Blog |date=3 October 2016 |language=it-IT}}</ref>

The Operational Land Forces Support Command was established in accordance to the 2013 Revision Plan of the Ground Military Instrument of the Army Staff. The Revision Plan gave to COMFOTER SPT a chain of command independent from the Operational Forces Command, by upgrading the former Supports Command of the Land Operational Forces and placing the newly established COMFOTER SPT directly under the Chief of Staff of the Italian Army.<ref name="AnDif 12 May 17">{{cite web |last1=Scarpitta |first1=Alberto |title=Il Comando Forze Operative Nord – Analisi Difesa |url=https://www.analisidifesa.it/2017/05/il-comando-forze-operative-nord/ |publisher=Analisi Difesa |access-date=27 July 2020 |language=it-IT |date=12 May 2017}}</ref> On 1 October 2025, the command was renamed Combat Support Forces Command.<ref name="Supporto al Combattimento">{{cite web |title=Comando delle Forze di Supporto al Combattimento |url=https://www.esercito.difesa.it/organizzazione/capo-di-sme/COMFOTER/comfoter-supporto |publisher=Italian Army |access-date=1 October 2025}}</ref>

=== Commanders === In its various configurations, the Operational Land Forces Support Command has had a total of ten Commanders:<ref name="COMFOTERSUPPORT EI COMANDANTI">{{cite web |title=I Comandanti - Esercito Italiano |url=https://www.esercito.difesa.it/organizzazione/capo-di-sme/COMFOTER/comfoter-supporto/Pagine/I-Comandanti.aspx |website=www.esercito.difesa.it |publisher=Esercito Italiano |access-date=27 July 2020 |language=it}}</ref>

Commanders of the Operational Land Forces Command * Ten. Gen. Alberto Ficuciello (2001 - 2003); * Ten. Gen. Antonio Quintana (2003 - 2003); * Gen. C.A. Cosimo D'Arrigo (2003 - 2005); * Gen. C.A. Bruno Iob (2005 - 2008); * Gen. C.A. Armando Novelli (2008 - 2010); * Gen. C.A. Francesco Tarricone (2010 - 2012); * Gen. C.A. Roberto Bernardini (2012 - 2014); * Gen. C.A. Alberto Primicerj (2014 - 2016); * Gen. C.A. Amedeo Sperotto (2016 - 2018); * Gen. C.A. Giuseppenicola Tota (2018 - 2020); * Gen. C.A. Massimo Scala (2020 - )

Commanders of the Operational Land Forces Support Command: * Gen. C.A.Amedeo Sperotto (2016 - 2018);<ref name="Paola Casoli 3 Oct 16" /><ref name="Paola Casoli 28 Sep 16">{{cite news |last1=Casoli |first1=Paola |title=COMFOTER, cambio al vertice: il gen Primicerj cede il comando al collega Sperotto |url=https://www.paolacasoli.com/2016/09/comfoter-cambio-al-vertice-gen-primicerj-cede-comando-al-collega-sperotto/ |access-date=27 July 2020 |work=Paola Casoli Blog |date=28 September 2016 |language=it-IT}}</ref><ref name="DOL 3 Jul 18" /> * Gen. C.A.Giuseppenicola Tota (2018–2020).<ref name="DOL 3 Jul 18">{{cite news |title=Passaggio di consegne al comando delle Forze Operative Terrestri di Supporto |url=https://www.difesaonline.it/news-forze-armate/terra/passaggio-di-consegne-al-comando-delle-forze-operative-terrestri-di-supporto |access-date=27 July 2020 |work=Difesa Online |date=3 July 2018 |language=it}}</ref><ref name="ReportDifesa 4 Jul 18">{{cite news |last1=Cannataro |first1=Francesca |title=Il Generale Giuseppenicola Tota prende il Comando delle Forze Operative Terrestri di Supporto |url=https://www.reportdifesa.it/generale-giuseppenicola-tota-prende-comando-delle-forze-operative-terrestri-supporto/ |access-date=27 July 2020 |work=Report Difesa |date=4 July 2018 |language=it-IT}}</ref><ref name="Paola Casoli 4 Jul 18">{{cite news |last1=Casoli |first1=Paola |title=COMFOTER SPT: la cerimonia del passaggio di consegne tra il gen Sperotto e il gen Tota |url=https://www.paolacasoli.com/2018/07/comfoter-spt-la-cerimonia-del-passaggio-di-consegne-tra-il-gen-sperotto-e-il-gen-tota/ |work=Paola Casoli Blog |date=4 July 2018 |language=it-IT}}</ref>

== Mission == The Combat Support Forces Command is a management, coordination and control body of the tactical and logistic support Commands and Units of the Italian Army.<ref name="COMFOTERSUPPORTEI" /> The Command is also responsible for the preparation of these Units and Commands, subject to an operational use both nationally<ref name="ConacadiVerona 20 May 20">{{cite news |title=L'Esercito fa il buon Samaritano |url=https://www.cronacadiverona.com/lesercito-fa-il-buon-samaritano/ |access-date=27 July 2020 |work=La Cronaca di Verona |date=20 May 2020 |language=it-IT}}</ref> and internationally.<ref name="COMFOTERSUPPORTEI" />

== Organization == The Combat Support Forces Command is subordinated to the Operational Land Forces Command and based in Rome.<ref name="COMFOTERSUPPORTEI" /> The Commander makes use of several subordinate bodies to direct the complex of activities entrusted and the subordinate units and commands:<ref name="MINDIFE COMFOTERSPT">{{cite web |title=Comando delle Forze Operative Terrestri di Supporto |url=https://www.difesa.it/Protocollo/AOO_Difesa/Esercito/Pagine/E26429.aspx |website=www.difesa.it |publisher=Ministero della Difesa |access-date=27 July 2020 |language=it-IT}}</ref> * Commander area; * Office of the Commanding General; * Administration Office; * Chief of Staff - Coordination Section of the General Staff; * Planning, Programming and Budget Office; * Legal affairs Office; * Plans and Situation Office; * Training Office; * Security Office; * Personnel Office; * Logistic Office; * General Affairs Office; * Studies, Regulations and Lessons Learned Office; * Command Unit. The Command controls a total of approximately 16,000 troops.<ref name="COMFOTERSUPPORTEI" />

=== Organization === thumb|right|420px|Combat Support Forces Command organization 2025 (click to enlarge)

As of 2025 the Combat Support Forces Command consists of the following five commands at brigade-level:<ref name="COMFOTERSUPPORTEI" /> * 20px Artillery Command (Bracciano) * 20px Anti-aircraft Artillery Command (Sabaudia) * 20px Engineer Command (Rome) * 20px Signal Command (Rome) * 20px Tactical Intelligence Brigade (Anzio) * Cecchignola Base Command, in Rome-Cecchignola (Lazio) ** Support Regiment "Cecchignola", in Rome-Cecchignola (Lazio) (supporting the commands, schools and units based at the Cecchignola military base)

== References == {{Reflist|1}}

Category:Army units and formations of Italy Category:Military units and formations established in 2016