The commander general of the Italian Carabinieri, General Salvatore Luongo, has raised the alarm about a critical personnel situation in the force. According to official data, the force is grappling with a shortage of over 10,200 officers, which is tangibly affecting the operational efficiency of units across the country. In response to this crisis, the government is considering establishing a new auxiliary structure to function as a volunteer reserve supporting regular troops.

Huge Personnel Shortages

The Italian Carabinieri are suffering from a lack of over 10,200 officers, which constitutes 8.5% of the force's planned personnel strength.

Operational Capability Threatened

General Salvatore Luongo warns that personnel shortages negatively affect operational tasks and increase the workload.

New Volunteer Reserve

The government plans to create a volunteer reserve numbering up to 15,000 people to support the gendarmerie's operations.

During the ceremonial inauguration of the academic year at the Carabinieri Officers' School, commander general Salvatore Luongo presented alarming data regarding the personnel status of the Carabinieri. The information provided indicates that the service is currently short exactly 10,200 personnel. This number constitutes as much as 8.5 percent of the total personnel strength provided for by law, creating serious challenges for Italy's public safety. The Italian Carabinieri trace their history to 1814, when King Victor Emmanuel I established the force to protect the Kingdom of Sardinia, combining military and police duties. The main problem is the excessive workload on current officers, which is trending upward. General Luongo emphasized that these shortages directly affect operational units in all functional structures. The solution is to introduce a new institution: the volunteer auxiliary Carabinieri reserve. This formation is intended to number up to 15,000 people, which would allow for relieving professional soldiers in simpler administrative and logistical tasks. The introduction of the reserve is part of a broader government plan aimed at filling vacancies and modernizing security structures. Salvatore Luongo noted that without systemic changes, maintaining the current level of operational capability will be extremely difficult. This situation coincides with growing demands on uniformed services in the context of hybrid threats and the necessity of ensuring public order in the face of new social challenges in Italy. „This deficit conditions the operational units of all functional organizations, called upon today to bear a burden that is already very significant and shows a growing trend.” — Salvatore Luongo Personnel Shortages in the Carabinieri: Authorized strength: 120000, Vacancies: 10200, Planned reserve: 15000 8.5% — vacancies in the structures of the Italian Carabinieri Service Model in the Carabinieri: Personnel structure: Exclusively professional officers → Professionals supported by a volunteer reserve; Number of vacancies: No historical data → 10,200 unfilled positions Liberal media may emphasize that the volunteer reserve is merely a temporary patch for budget holes at the expense of service quality. | Conservative media typically support strengthening uniformed services and the grassroots patriotism of a professional reserve.

Mentioned People

  • Salvatore Luongo — Commander general of the Italian Carabinieri, who announced the personnel crisis.