COMALP

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Comando Truppe Alpine
Coat of Arms of the Alpine Troops Command
Active	1997 - today
Country	Italy
Branch	Italian Army
Type	Alpini
Role	Corps Command
Size	2 Brigades
Part of	COMFOTER - Terrestrial Operational Forces Command
Garrison/HQ	Bolzano (BZ)
Engagements	War in Afghanistan

Subordinate Units
Components	Alpine Brigade Julia Alpine Brigade Taurinense Support Units

Alpini from the 4th Alpini regiment in Afghanistan

Alpini from the Taurinense Brigade.

The “Comando Truppe Alpine” (Alpine Troops Command) or COMALP commands the Mountain Troops of the Italian Army, called "Alpines" - in Italian Alpini - and various support and training units. The Alpinis are light Infantry units specializing in Mountain Combat. The COMALP is the successor of the Italian Army's IV Alpine Army Corps. The subordinate units of the COMALP distinguished themselves during combat in World War I and World War II. Today the Command is located in the northern Italian City of Bolzano and consists of the following units:

Tridentina Division Command (without fixed units) in Brixen
Taurinense Alpine Brigade in Turin (Piedmont)
Julia Alpine Brigade in Udine (Friuli)
4th Alpini Parachute Regiment "Monte Cervino" in Bolzano (Forces for Special Operations)
Alpini Formation and Training Center in Aosta
6th Alpini Regiment (high altitude training unit) in Innichen
Alpine Troops Command Support Battalion in Bolzano

For operational needs the COMALP can draw troops from the following support units located in the same region as the Command itself:

2nd Mountain Artillery Regiment "Vicenza" in Trento
2nd Signal Regiment in Bolzano
24th Maneuver Logistics Regiment "Dolomiti" in Merano
4th Army Aviation Regiment "Altair" in Bolzano
7th Carabinieri Regiment "Trentino-Alto Adige" in Laives

Today the Alpine Commands main duty is the organization, preparation and conduction of Italy's contribution to the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan. Since the beginning of the ongoing war in Afghanistan the Alpine commands has provided and commanded at all times at least one of the two Italian battlegroups in the theater of operation.