LAGO PATRIA, Italy – ninety-eight students and 6 teachers from the High School "Gaetano De Bottis” located in Torre del Greco, Naples, Italy spent a day touring the facilities of Allied Joint Force Command Naples, December 12 in order to better understand the role of the NATO base within their community.
The students were welcomed and briefed by Dr. Diana Sodano, Community Relations Officer, about the structure, mission and goals of JFC Naples and were provided an overview of the new headquarters. As part of the presentation the students viewed a video about JFC Naples and its capabilities then received a brief by Italian Air Force Lt. Col. Luigi Verzelletti and Colonel Margaret Romero, Deputy JOC Director, via Video Tele Conference on the Joint Operations Center (JOC) and their activities. Colonel Romero also answered to some questions
of the students.
The students were then greeted in person by JFC Naples Chief of Staff, Italian Army Lt. Gen. Luciano Portolano who answered questions from the students. The questions ranged from military operations to the general’s career.
Following the meeting with Lt.Gen. Portolano, the students were given the opportunity to be briefed on the NCIS Group 2nd NATO Signal Battalion activities at Parco Leonardo where Italian Army Cpt. Umberto Cervone gave them a complete overview of the Satellite Communication Activities.
The visit concluded with a walking tour of the base to include the community center, gym, library and the pool providing the students with a better idea on how NATO members live and work within their community.
This is part of the community relations campaign to establish a good cultural and social exchange with the external community and to strengthen the relationship with local and regional institutions.
Photos by German Air Force Master Sergeant Dennis Tappe, member of JFC Naples Public Affairs Office.