He was a top student at the Naval Academy of Livorno from March 15, 1922 to November 15, 1926. There he graduated as an Ensign, before embarking on the battleship Giulio Cesare. He was then transferred to the battleship Andrea Doria and later served in succession on the hydrographic ship Ammiraglio Magnaghi, the destroyer Augusto Riboty, the destroyer Giovanni Da Verrazzano (after promotion to Sub-Lieutenant on 1 January 1929) and again on Giulio Cesare, being promoted to Lieutenant in July 1932.