Having won a scholarship to attend the Turin Military Academy, after a five-year course he graduated as a Lieutenant in the Engineer Corps.
At the outbreak of the Second World War, he volunteered to be sent to North Africa, where he served with distinction, was injured and in 1942 was awarded a Silver Medal for bravery. During the same year he was captured by the British and transported to a prisoners-of-war camp in India.
At the end of the war, he returned to Turin, where he graduated in civil and electrical engineering.
