NAPLES, Italy – Students and teachers from Don Salvatore Vitale Middle School, located in the Naples district of Lago Patria, got a taste of NATO life during a May 21 visit to Allied Joint Force Command Naples.
Event organizers said the visit of the approximately 80 students and faculty to JFC Naples is an example of NATO’s efforts to establish positive cultural and social exchanges with the external community and to strengthen the relationship with local and regional institutions.
Students were able to get an overview on the history, capabilities and missions of JFC Naples. Current topics, such as the role of the civilians within NATO and cyber security, were also touched on.
"I have been here a couple of times for the social events organized by the NATO community,” said Giada Vallone, a 13-year-old student. "Of course, I have never visited the internal part of Joint Force Command Naples Headquarters. Today, this visit definitely convinced me to follow my dream: to become a police officer to defend my nation against aggression and any form of terrorism."
Italian Army Colonel Giancarlo Turco, Base Support Group commander, welcomed the students, and various briefers answered questions posed by the students during a round table discussion.
"My life’s dream is to become a teacher or to join the High Military School "Nunziatella” in Naples,” said 13-year-old student Lucrezia Di Meo, who said he was interested in the lessons provided on cyber domain by JFC Naples troops. "I understood how cyber is really important for our safety and security especially when we use Social Media.”
Story by JFC Naples Public Affairs Office