From 19 to 25 September 2026, more than 300 men and women of the Italian Army’s Alpine Troops took part in Extreme Patrol 2026, the year’s main summer exercise for movement and combat in mountain terrain. The activity was held across the provinces of Belluno and Bolzano and ended, with the award ceremony in San Candido, with first place for a patrol from the 7th Alpini Regiment, based in Belluno.
The result has particular significance for the local community. The 7th Alpini Regiment is part of the military and civil history of the province, while continuing to meet the modern demands of mountain operations: physical preparation, decision-making, teamwork, rescue skills and the use of advanced technology.
Seventy-two hours of mountain autonomy
The patrols operated for 72 continuous hours in complete logistical autonomy. They covered more than 60 kilometres and over 1,000 metres of elevation gain. The tests included movement and navigation, decentralised command and control, planning, crossing natural obstacles and managing injured personnel under severe physical and mental stress.
This was therefore not a simple speed competition. The exercise assessed whether small units could navigate, communicate, make decisions and complete complex tasks in an environment where terrain and weather influence every choice.
An international exercise
Teams from France, Poland, the Czech Republic, Romania and Spain joined infantry, artillery and engineer regiments of the Italian Alpine Troops. Military observers from Albania, Belgium, Finland, the United Kingdom and the United States were also present.
The multinational dimension is designed to strengthen interoperability. Units from different countries must be able to share procedures, communications and expertise. The same principle had shaped the Carpathians Patrol in Romania only a few weeks earlier, when personnel from the 7th Alpini Regiment also took part.
Technology and mountain skills
Extreme Patrol combined traditional mountain expertise with modern systems. The Italian Army reported the use of reconnaissance drones, radio and geolocation networks, satellite communications, force-on-force simulation systems and a platform for monitoring and training cognitive readiness.
Technology, however, does not replace knowledge of the mountains. Navigation, safety, endurance, autonomy and cohesion remain decisive. The integration of Alpine experience and modern tools makes the exercise especially relevant to anyone interested in the history and continuing development of Belluno’s military units.
A trophy dedicated to Sara Roba
The first-placed patrol from the 7th Alpini Regiment received a trophy named in memory of Warrant Officer Sara Roba, a member of the Alpine Troops who recently died in a tragic road accident. Her family attended the award ceremony.
The dedication adds remembrance and a sense of belonging to the training achievement. Out of respect for her and her family, this article reports only the information officially released by the Italian Army.
The 7th Alpini Regiment and Belluno
The patrol’s first place once again highlights the bond between the regiment and the Belluno community. This relationship has been built through history, ceremonies, rescue activities and the unit’s daily presence in the area.
Extreme Patrol therefore offers a contemporary image of the Alpini: men and women working in the mountains with technical preparation, discipline, solidarity and the ability to cooperate with units from other countries.
Further reading: Colonel Claudio Blardone, commander of the 7th Alpini Regiment, and the history of the Rifugio 7° Alpini below the Schiara.
Source
Italian Army, official release “Conclusa l’esercitazione delle Truppe Alpine ‘Extreme Patrol 2026’”, esercito.difesa.it, 28 September 2026.
Photo: Esercito Italiano — licence CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IT — source: esercito.difesa.it
