A moment that marked a generation
During the years of the Cold War in Italy, there was a day that changed everything: the arrival of the call-up notice. For some it was expected, for others sudden and unsettling. Conscription was not merely a civic duty: it became a component of a complex geopolitical scenario, a passage that led young men from civilian life into the rules, discipline, and uncertainties of military service.
Choices and the unexpected
Many awaited enlistment with a clear idea in mind, like Paolo Candotti, who, as a member of the Italian Alpine Club, requested—and obtained—assignment to the Alpini (Italian mountain infantry).
Yet even those with clear plans could find themselves sent to unexpected places: instead of being assigned to the Basic Training Centre (CAR) in L’Aquila, as was customary for his recruitment area, Candotti was sent to Cuneo, and undertook the journey by train with curiosity and a spirit of adaptation.
An unexpected recall
For Silvano Castellarin, the call-up arrived while he was working in France as an emigrant. This meant a hurried return to Italy, a long journey to Bassano del Grappa, and the disorientation of the first days in barracks.
Growing up in a military environment
Others, such as Manlio Princi, had been familiar with military life since childhood thanks to a family background in the armed forces. For him, the decision to become a reserve officer in the Alpini was natural, and entry into barracks brought no major upheaval.
From school to the Academy
There were also those who approached enlistment with a clearly defined educational path, like Sergio Kocevar. After the selection process in La Spezia, a telegram summoned him to the Naval Academy in Livorno, where military discipline began with something as simple—and symbolic—as a haircut.
The weight of history
For Fabio Ortolani, born and raised in Trieste in the post-war years, military service represented a patriotic duty. Proximity to the Iron Curtain and a family environment imbued with strong patriotic values deeply influenced his decision to become a conscripted officer.
The last conscripts of the Cold War
Even in the closing phase of that historical period, as recounted by Piero Pastorello, a strong interest in the armed forces could lead individuals to undertake military service as conscripted officers, despite the fact that assignments did not always match personal preferences and could still hold unexpected outcomes.
Unforeseen paths
Finally, there were those—such as Domenico Stifanich—who, for bureaucratic reasons, found themselves changing branch of service, moving from the Navy to the Army and crossing Italy from Trapani (in Sicily) to Friuli, inevitably encountering the so-called regimental “grandfathers,” the senior conscripts who enforced informal hierarchies within units.
A mosaic of experiences
The stories of these men form a varied picture of enlistment in Italy during the Cold War years. Some chose their path, others had it imposed upon them; some felt prepared, others were caught by surprise. In every case, the call-up notice marked the beginning of a journey that took them away from home, tested them, and left a lasting imprint on their memories.
