VICENZA, Italy -- The second annual Home for the Holidays multicultural event dedicated to Italian and American female military was held at the Golden Lion conference center on Caserma Ederle, Dec. 4.
33 Italian female military from six different headquarters throughout the Veneto region joined American colleagues from Caserma Ederle, Del Din and the Air Force base of Aviano for a Female to Female evening of fun networking organized by the Vicenza garrison Army Community Service.
"F2F is an initiative that aims to create a positive and welcoming environment for newcomer military and civilians to Vicenza," said Julia Sibilla, director of ACS, and it's primary audience is the female newcomer junior grade officer, enlisted and civilian.
Within these initiatives, the spirit of the holiday event was to connect Italian and American military women so that they could exchange thoughts and talk about their experiences in a profession that has unique challenges, Sibilla said.
One of the special guests to the event was Col. Robert L. Menist Jr., U.S. Army Garrison Vicenza commander.
"I am thankful for your presence with us this evening and I welcome every opportunity where we can share ideas and make new friends," he said in his welcome remarks. He encouraged participants to interact and exchange contact information which will help them build on and fortify the important relationships between the two military communities.
Breaking the ice with a Christmas song, a traditional American Thanksgiving dinner kept the conversations going at the tables. Discussions included work information, mentoring, future plans and cultural differences.
"This is an amazing initiative and I am thrilled to be here. When I received the invite I called the other girls who were here with me last year and we RSPV'd immediately," said Caporal Maggiore Sara Galliolo, a native of Camisano who serves in the 7th Alpini Rgt. based in Belluno. Galliolo, already a veteran of Kosovo and Afghanistan, has had several positive experiences working shoulder to shoulder with American Soldiers downrange and she said at Ederle she feels between friends.
"This F2F initiative began what I am certain will be a continuing and fruitful dialogue on numerous areas of interaction," Menist said. He added that this is especially important as "we train and mentor younger generation of Soldiers who face the challenges of a multicultural environment and can stand proudly together as friends and partners as we are doing here tonight."
In attendance was also Col. Frances Hardison, G1 USARAF Vicenza, who arrived to Vicenza four months ago. She is enthusiastic about the F2F initiatives, and sees the value of reaching out to foreign national female military.
"Mentoring of women in the military is one way that could assist in integrating other services where we can help them avoid the mistakes that we (U.S.) have learned from years past," she said. "USARAF hosts an annual event "Gender Integration" on the African continent where we exchange best practices and obstacles that impact integration in their services."
Besides mentoring, relationship with male colleagues was another topic of discussion.
"From my experience of 29 years, one of the challenges the U.S. Army faces is having a basic understanding of the value of teamwork; male or female," Hardison said. "Stereotypes still exist however the Army's Profession of Arms is a way to address it. The value that each of us as individuals brings to the fight is equally important."
Capt. Ola Odunaike, U.S. Army Africa, said that genders make no difference to her. Referring to her enlisted team members, both male and female, she said "I work well with anybody who is willing to work and keeping it professional."
Maresciallo Capo Teresa Di Benedetto, from the Comando Forze Difesa Interregionale Nord based in Padova, shared a table with two Army officers and one Air Force, an Army civilian employee and an Italian local national. Comparing her experience to the American colleagues, she said that the Italian army is a relatively new army especially for women. She has several years of experience at international level and said that, "Italians have a lot to learn from the Americans when it comes to passion, work attitude and willingness to engage diversity."
Federica Nicoletti was one of the 16 Caporal Maggiore Scelti who attended from the Multinational NATO CIMIC Group from Motta di Livenza.
"These meetings are very important as they help us grow professionally and personally," Nicoletti said. She was also here last year and just returned from an English full-immersion course in Ireland. "Interaction among different cultures is key to making significant contributions to one's organization. Actually we should meet more often and build on these experiences," she said.
Other Italian Army female military came from the 32^ Rgt. Trasmissioni Padova; airmen arrived from 3^ Stormo of Villafranca, Verona and a female Carabinieri attended from the Center of Excellence of Stability Police Units, Vicenza.
Commenting about the success of the evening, Sibilla said to be "thrilled with not only the great turnout but especially the enthusiastic participation of both the Italian and American attendees."
"It was really great to see the interaction between the Italian and the American military females," said USO manager Glenn Gibbs, honored to be part of the event.
To address the several requests for more frequent interactions, Sibilla promised that ACS plans on hosting a sporting event with the Italian military in spring similar to the "Pink Bowl" series that they have started with the female airmen at Aviano AFB.
"There is no better way to interact and bond than through sports," she said.
Related Links:
Vicenza Military Community facebook page
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