DCOMARRC
Major General Marcello Bellacicco Deputy Commander Allied Rapid Reaction Corps
Major General Marcello BELLACICCO was born in Savona (Italy) on 19 th June, 1959. He attended the 160th Course of the Italian Army Military Academy in Modena (1978-1980) and the following Infantry Specialization Course at the Junior Officers School in Torino (1980–1983), earning a Bachelor’s degree in Strategic Sciences. After completing this formative period he served in several mountain units in Monguelfo, Brunico, Bolzano, Pinerolo, holding command and staff positions. As Lieutenant Colonel he commanded the "Monte Cervino" Airborne Battalion, stationed in Bolzano (1997-1999). From 1999 to 2002 he served at the Army General Staff in Rome as Chief Education and Training Section (1999-2002). As a Colonel he commanded the "Taurinense” Brigade’s 2nd Alpini Regiment in Cuneo (2002-2003), and the Italian Army Academy’s Cadets Regiment in Modena (2003-2005).
From February 2006 to July 2009 he held the position of Army Attaché with secondary accreditations for Holland and Denmark at Italy’s Embassy in Berlin. From August 2009 to April 2010 he served as Chief of Staff at the Alpini Troops Headquarters. From 16th April 2010 to 14th July 2011 he commanded "Julia” Alpini Brigade and Multinational Land Force in Udine. During his command period he was deployed in Afghanistan, where he served as commanding officer of the ISAF Regional Command West from October 2010 to April 2011. On the 18th of February 2012 he took over the post of Deputy Commander of the Allied Rapid Reaction Corps in Innsworth UK.
Major General BELLACICCO earned a Master’s degree in Strategic Sciences at the Italian Army Staff College in Civitavecchia (Rome) (1992-95) and attended the Italian Joint Defence College in Rome (1995). His key qualifications are: - Parachute Course (July 1981) at the Army Airborne School in Pisa (Italy) ; - Combat Patrol Course (July 1982) at "Folgore” Airborne Brigade in Livorno (Italy); - Ski Basic Course (January-March 1983), Sky Instructor Course (January-March 1985), Climbing Basic Course (May-July 1983) and Climbing Instructor Course (May – July 1986) at the Mountain Military School in Aosta (Italy); - UK parachute qualification (March 1987) at Salisbury (UK) , German parachute qualification (October 1987) at Baumholder (GE) and USA parachute qualification (May 1998) at Fort Bragg (USA); - Intelligence Course (June 1992) at the AMF(L) Training Centre in Salisbury (UK); - Winter Survival Commander Course (December 1997) at the Norway Infantry School in Elverun (NO); - Crisis Management Course (November 1998) at the NATO School in Oberammergau (GE); Human Rights Basic Course (September 2001) at the International Humanitarian Institute in Sanremo (IT).
His international experiences and assignments include: - several NATO AMF(L) Exercises in Norway, Denmark and Turkey (1988-92); - ONUMOZ Mission in Mozambique (June-December 1993); - IFOR (December 1995-February 1996) and SFOR (November 2002-June 2003) missions in Bosnia and Herzegovina; - Multinational Operation "Alba” ( May-July 1997) in Albania; - ISAF mission (October 2010 – April 2011) in Afghanistan. He was awarded the following decorations: - Distinguished medal for disaster relief operation (Stava Valley – 1985); - Distinguished medal for disaster relief operation (Valtellina Valley – 1985); - UN Medal, ONUMOZ operation (Mozambique – 1993); - Bronze Cross of the Italian Army for ONUMOZ operation (Mozambique – 1993); - Bronze Cross of the Italian Army for SFOR operation (BiH – 2002-2003); - Bronze Cross of German Bundeswehr for SFOR operation (BiH – 2002-2003); - Bronze Cross of the Italian Army for ISAF operation (AFG – 2010-2011); - NATO Medal, IFOR operation (BiH – 1995); - NATO Medal, SFOR operation (BiH – 2002-2003); - NATO Medal, ISAF operation (AFG – 2010-2011); - NATO Meritorious Service Medal; - Knight of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic; - Knight of the Military Order of the Italian Republic; - Italian Army Medal for meritorious and long command time; - Italian Armed Forces "Mauriziana” Medal for long meritorious service; - Slovenian Armed Forces Medal for multinational cooperation of 1st grade; - Lithuanian Armed Forces Medal of Merit; - Hungarian Minister of Defence Medal.