leaders and Soldiers assigned to the various tenant units located in the
U.S. Army Garrison-Italy area Oct. 27, at Vicenza, Italy. Milley's visit
included discussions on profess... VIEW ORIGINAL
VICENZA, Italy -- Gen. Mark A. Milley, the 39th chief of staff of the U.S. Army, visited leaders and Soldiers assigned to the various tenant units located in the U.S. Army Garrison-Italy area Thursday.
During his visit, Milley discussed professional development opportunities for Soldiers and overall unit readiness.
"American Soldiers join the Army for many different reasons," Milley said. "Some join for education benefits. Others come in because of health care or patriotism. But, I would say, all of us come in because we have a sense of adventure; we want to travel and do things that make a difference in parts of the world that are bigger than ourselves."
Milley said Soldiers can find in Africa many of the opportunities and experiences that originally attracted them to the Army.
"There is a great opportunity there for Soldiers to deploy to different African countries, [where they can] engage with cultures and engage with allied and friendly partner armies," Milley said. "You learn a lot from that, and you bring that back to your unit, and the unit is better for it."
Milley's visit also included a tour of the Vicenza Military Community, which is managed by U.S. Army Garrison-Italy.
During an interview with American Forces Network personnel, Milley commented on the important role a garrison plays in the lives of Soldiers and their families.
"If you are married, the No. 1 concern that you have is the welfare of your family," he said. "Garrisons provide that welfare. They make sure we have a good house, medical care and education."
Milley said Soldiers who worry about the welfare of their families may have trouble maintaining focus on their mission, which is why the garrison-provided services are fundamentally important to the readiness of the force.
In addition to praising the garrison's housing, medical care and educational facilities, Milley said he was pleased by the state of the physical fitness facilities.
"Physical fitness is fundamental to being a Soldier, and having high quality fitness facilities is key to that as well," he said.
Milley's wife, Hollyanne, accompanied him during his trip. She spent the much of her day at the garrison visiting the facilities commonly sought out by family members, such as the Vicenza Health Clinic, Army Community Service and the Vicenza Middle School.
"It is obvious that the Soldiers and families here are being taken care of," she said. "You can see the passion of the staff. They care deeply."
Milley concluded his visit with a luncheon with battalion-level command teams at the Caserma Ederle dining facility.
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