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ROME – Field studies with the Carabinieri , Italian special forces and discussion with parliamentarians and CT experts continued March 6 for the participants who have come from all over the globe in the Defense Department’s premiere counterterrorism course.

The Program in Terrorism and Security Studies and its 73 participants are in the Eternal City March 5th- 9th. The program is one of the courses taught by the George C. Marshall European Center of Security Studies in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany.

Events during the week-long event include visits to the Centro Alti Studi per la Difesa, the Italian National Police Special Forces, and lectures by a number of government and military experts in counterterrorism. Many of the lectures are taking place in historical government buildings and the counterterrorism training area.

Dr. Marco Scarpa from the security force of Vatican City provided the last presentation on the first day. He provided background information about his job in Vatican City. He said his team needed to be able to handle up to 1.5 Million visitors per day in the Holy See.

Retired Marine Corps Col. Nick Pratt, PTSS director, said the Rome field study gives participants an opportunity to learn from the Italian counterterrorism experts and grow the worldwide network of professionals.

“The field study provides hands-on insight to one country’s practices and gives our students the opportunity to network, share ideas and see facets of a counterterrorism strategy they may have never otherwise seen,” Pratt said.

Participants – who come from countries like Afghanistan, Israel, Pakistan, the Palestine Authority, Uganda and beyond – peppered lecturers with questions about the way Italy handles terrorism, including questions about politics, national security and more.

Talking to Intelligence Experts at CASD gave participants access how the national security office is handling different kinds of threats within the Italian Republic. Italian Brig. Gen. Lucio Lepore, chief of the asymmetric threat analysis in the office of Carabinieri, showed the participants the structure of all Italian police sections and the comprehensive approach with the Italian Military. The Carabinieri are a military force that also has police assignments.

In coming days, participants will view demonstrations and tour facilities of Italian Parliament, CT special forces and carabinieri HQ before returning to Garmisch-Partenkirchen.