NAPLES, Italy – Eighty-seven students and seven teachers from Naples middle schools, "San Giovanni Bosco” of Somma Vesuviana and "Salvatore Di Giacomo” of Qualiano, spent a day touring the facilities of Allied Joint Force Command Naples, April 29, 2016.
Dr. Diana Sodano, Community Relations Officer, briefed the students 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 and then received a brief by Italian Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Luigi Verzelletti, via Video Tele Conference on the Joint Operations Center (JOC) and their activities.
The students were then greeted in person by JFC Naples Chief of Staff, Italian Army Lieutenant General Leonardo di Marco. During his welcome remarks Lt. Gen. di Marco expressed his gratitude for such a large representation from the two schools and focused on the mission of the JFC Naples personnel.
"We are an operational headquarters directly under the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe and our mission is to be ready to intervene wherever the North Atlantic Council may decide,” said Lt. Gen. di Marco. "But our primary task is to train assigned military and civilian staff to conduct of any operation we may asked to perform, ranging from strictly military to those in support of national authorities in case of an emergency."
Afterwards the students were granted a question and answer period with the general. In response to a question regarding NATO strategies against the so called Islamic State, Lt. Gen. di Marco said that solving the crisis would require more than military intervention and responses by political, financial, economic, and social powers were needed.
"Only when there is a perfect combination of all these factors, can the crisis be resolved.” said Lt.Gen. di Marco.
Following the meeting with Lt. Gen. di Marco and after a group photo, the students were given the opportunity to visit the NATO Communication Information Systems Group (NCIS) 2nd NATO Signal Battalion where Italian Army Captain Sebastiano Capone, gave them a complete overview of the Satellite Communication Activities.
The visit concluded with a walking tour of the base including the community center, gym, library and the pool providing the students with a better understanding of 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.
Story and photos by Allied Joint Force Command Naples Public Affairs