Bersaglieri The Bersaglieri ( ) ( Marksmen in English ) are a corps of the Italian Army originally created by General Alessandro La Marmora on 18 June 1836 to serve in the Piedmontese Army , later to become the Royal Italian Army . They have always been a high - mobility light infantry unit , and can still be recognized by the distinctive wide brimmed hat that they wear ( only in dress uniform in modern times ) , decorated with black capercaillie feather s . The feathers are usually applied to their combat helmets . Another distinctive trait of the Bersaglieri is the fast jog pace they keep on parades , instead of marching . Origins and history . The relatively poor Kingdom of Piedmont - Sardinia could not afford large numbers of cavalry , so a quick - moving infantry corps of marksmen was needed . These troops were trained to high physical and marksmanship standards . Like the French chasseur s à pied who inspired their creation , a level of independence and initiative was encouraged so that they could operate in looser formations , in which direct command and control was not required . They fired individually and carried 60 rounds instead of the standard 40 rounds of traditional line infantry . The first uniform was black with brimmed hats , called " vaira " . These were intended to defend the head from sabre blows . The first public appearance of the Bersaglieri was on the occasion of a military parade on 1 July 1836 . The First Company marched through Turin with the rapid , high - stepping gait ( 180 paces / minute ) still used by the Bersaglieri in World War II and later . The modern Bersaglieri still run both on parade and even during barracks duty - on penalty of punishment if they do not . The new corps impressed King Charles Albert , who immediately had them integrated as part of the Piedmontese regular army . Throughout the nineteenth century , under La Marmora ’ s leadership , the Bersaglieri filled the role of skirmisher s , screening the slow - moving line and column formations , but acting as special shock troops if required . They were originally intended to serve as mountain troops , as well ; the climber Jean - Antoine Carrel was a Bersagliere . When the Alpini Corps were created in 1872 a strong rivalry arose between the two elite corps . Unified Italy . During the First War of Italian Independence ( 1848 – 1849 ) the Bersaglieri distinguished themselves by storming the bridge at Goito . The most famous action of the Bersaglieri occurred on 20 September 1870 , when they entered Rome through the Porta Pia , ending the temporal power of the Pope , and completing the unification of Italy . A monument in front of Porta Pia commemorates this event and the most notable battles and individuals serving the Corps , and the the National Museum of Bersaglieri is located nearby . The Bersaglieri were deployed abroad for the first time during the Crimean War , by order of Prime Minister Cavour . They were involved in the Battle of the Cernaia , but suffered more casualties due to a cholera epidemic . While in the Crimea the Bersaglieri acquired their undress headdress - a purple / red fez with a blue tassel in imitation of that worn by the French zouave s with whom they served . When the " Armata Sarda " became the " Regio Esercito " ( Royal Italian Army ) in 1860 , the number of Bersaglieri regiments was set at 12 . The Bersaglieri served as the light infantry battalions of the brigades and divisions of the new army of united Italy . Army doctrine later in the century called for them to be held back as corps - level reserves . World War I . During World War I , the 12 regiments of Bersaglieri fought with distinction . Of the 210 , 000 members of Bersaglieri regiments , 32 , 000 were killed and 50 , 000 wounded during the war . Italy ' s last surviving World War I veteran , Delfino Borroni , served in the 6th Bersaglieri Bologna . A contingent of Bersaglieri was sent to participate in the Sinai and Palestine Campaign in 1917 , when they were attached to the Egyptian Expeditionary Force commanded by General Edmund Allenby . Their " mainly political " role was to assert " hereditary ecclesiastical prerogatives in connection with the Christian churches at Jerusalem and Bethlehem . " After the war , restructuring of the Italian Army reduced the number of Bersaglieri battalions to two per regiment . A new role was seen for the light infantry as part of Italy ’ s commitment to Mobile Warfare . The post - war Bersaglieri were converted into bicycle troops to fight alongside cavalry in the " Celeri " ( fast ) divisions . Elite units with high morale and an aggressive spirit were seen as one way to break such tactical stalemates as the trench warfare of 1915 - 18 . The Bersaglieri gave Italy highly - trained formations suitable for service with both cavalry and tanks . When the armoured divisions were formed in 1939 , the link between the Bersaglieri and mobile warfare continued . Each new armoured and motorised division was allocated one Bersaglieri regiment . World War II . Italy ’ s Bersaglieri regiments were expanded to three battalions each during the Second World War . However , the Army resisted any temptation to dilute their quality , and recruits continued to be of above - average size and stamina . They endured intense physical training , just as their great - grandfathers had , as well as having to qualify as marksmen . The Bersaglieri fought in southern France and Greece in 1940 . The first Bersaglieri unit to see combat in North Africa was the 10th Bersaglieri Regiment . They arrived in Libya in early 1941 . Later , they were also deployed on the Eastern Front . Cold War . During the Cold War the Bersaglieri were exclusively employed as mechanized infantry . The Bersaglieri battalions were part of the armoured or mechanized regiments of the Army ' s armoured divisions , with the mechanized regiments fielding two Bersaglieri and one Tank battalion , while the tank regiments fielded two Tank and one Bersaglieri battalion . Attached to the motorized division were armoured infantry regiments , which consisted of one Tank and one Bersaglieri battalion . Without exception the Bersaglieri battalions were armed with M113 armoured personnel carrier s . The only two active Bersaglieri regiments at that time were the 3rd Bersaglieri and 8th Bersaglieri Regiment in the " Centauro " Armoured Division respectively the " Ariete " Armoured Division . In 1975 the Army abolished the regimental level and battalions became independent under newly formed brigades . The Army formed the " Goito " Mechanized Brigade with the regimental command and units of the 3rd Bersaglieri Regiment and the " Garibaldi " Mechanized Brigade with the regimental command and units of the 8th Bersaglieri Regiment . Both brigades received one extra Bersaglieri battalion from disbanded armoured infantry regiments and both fielded only personnel - with the exception of the tank crews and artillerists - from the Bersaglieri corps . When the battalions became independent they received the flags and traditions of disbanded Bersaglieri regiments and each battalion was give an honorary name commemorating a significant event in which it had participated : e . g . the 3rd Bersaglieri Battalion " " Cernaia " " received its honorary name to commemorate the conduct of the regiment in the Battle of the Chernaya in Crimea during the Crimean War in 1855 . In the following list of Bersaglieri units active in 1986 , the honorary names link to the articles about the historic events for which they were awarded : Additionally the Bersaglieri fielded five Anti - tank companies , one per Bersaglieri and one per Armoured Brigade ( " Ariete " , " Centauro " and " Mameli " Armoured Brigade ) . With the end of the Cold War , the Italian army began a reduction in personnel and units which also affected the Bersaglieri . On 1 June 1991 the " Goito " Mechanized Brigade was disbanded , while the " Garibaldi " Mechanized Brigade moved to the Southern city of Caserta , as the Army had decided to reduce the number of units in the north of Italy . The Garibaldi arrived in Caserta on 1 July 1991 and changed its name to 8th Bersaglieri Brigade " Garibaldi " . Also in 1991 , the battalions of the Army were renamed as regiments without changing composition . Today . While in the past the mobility of the Bersaglieri was helped by their training in running and by the aid of bicycles , regiments currently in service are all mechanised . The modern Bersaglieri have served , as part of the " Garibaldi " Bersaglieri Brigade , as peacekeepers in the Multinational Force in Lebanon , and in Yugoslav and Somali Civil War s , and were also active in Operation " Iraqi Freedom " . Bersaglieri traditions are still stressed . The Bersaglieri collar patches are purple - red " flames " . Enlisted troops still wear the red fez . Officers wear black berets with their ordinary uniforms , but the feathered " vaira " in ceremonial uniform . They also wear black gloves , while other Italian regiments wear white ones . Each Bersaglieri unit had a band called a " fanfara " , who played their instruments at the run while on parade . The " fanfara " does not contain percussion instruments . Today only the Garibaldi Brigade , Ariete Brigade and 7th Bersaglieri regiment retain a " fanfara " . The 1st , 8th and 11th Bersaglieri regiments serve in their traditional role as tracked mechanized infantry in the armys two heavy brigades , while the 3rd , 6th and 7th Bersaglieri regiments are the third manoeuvre element in wheeled mechanized infantry brigades .