VICENZA, Italy – Elena Esposito knows a little about news, including fake news. To complete her master’s degree, the administrative support assistant at Logistics Readiness Center Italy – who was recently selected as LRC Italy’s employee of the quarter (junior grade) for 4th quarter, fiscal year 2023 – did her university dissertation on the global information war and how controlling the information space has affected the war in Ukraine.
“It's the manipulation of the media, not only mainstream media but also information on social networks and among social media users,” said Esposito, who obtained her master’s degree in translation and interpreting from the CIELS University for Linguistics Mediators in Padova, Italy, in July of 2022.
Esposito has made it her mission to find ways to incorporate her degree and her passion for language to her profession, both at LRC Italy and when she volunteers with other Army organizations and events in Vicenza.
For example, the Italian local national employee and life-long resident of Vicenza volunteered as a personal translator for local mayors from the province of Vicenza who were invited as distinguished guests to the U.S. Army Garrison Italy change of command ceremony this summer.
She also volunteered as a translator for the ‘Taste of Vicenza’ community event a couple months earlier when mayors from across the province were invited onto Caserma Ederle – carrying local cuisines and regional wines – to meet with U.S. community members and leaders from USAG Italy and other Army organizations and units.
“I would do anything for this community, really,” said Esposito, who – through her aunt, her older sister and her parents – was influenced at a young age to respect and admire the Army community in Vicenza and American life and culture, in general.
“At one point in my life, when I was a teenager, both of my parents worked on base. And my aunt always had a passion for foreign languages, especially American English, which got me started with my passion for language. And I grew up on American movies and American music. My sister is older than me, so I grew up listening to American pop punk like Green Day and Blink 182,” Esposito said.
“Personally, I feel very lucky to be working for the U.S. Army and LRC Italy. I absolutely love my job and everything about it,” said Esposito, who started at the LRC Italy Driver’s Testing and Training Station in September 2021 before working at the USAG Italy housing office for a few months and then coming back to LRC Italy about a year ago as the administrative support assistant for the plans and operations division and the director.
Esposito, who is 28 years old, said many young people in her country are burdened by Italy’s current job crisis. She also said there’s a distinct difference between the nepotistic system often practiced in Italy and the meritocratic system the Army uses.
A meritocracy takes into account what work you’ve done and your level of performance when being considered for a promotion or a higher-level position, and that's something young people aren’t really afforded here in Italy, Esposito said. Here, nepotism is more often practiced, which grants the advantage for job promotions and career opportunities to relatives or close friends based solely on privilege.
“But the system on base is heavily based on merit,” she said. “I’ve seen it a lot with my coworkers who are often recognized for their efforts and the things they’ve done. I think this system really works because it motivates you and creates a healthy competition.”
LRC Italy’s employee of the quarter and employee of the year program is a good example of this, so when it was announced that Esposito would be recognized as one of the program’s newest selectees, she said she was ecstatic.
“I was so excited and happy and grateful,” Esposito said. “I am grateful not only to my leadership who recognized me, but also to my coworkers and my team. This employee of the quarter title wouldn't have been possible if I didn't have the support of my team.”
And circling back to Esposito’s dissertation on how controlling the information space has affected recent wars, the support she receives from her team is not fake news. That’s the truth, she said.
LRC Italy is one of eight LRCs under the command and control of the 405th Army Field Support Brigade. LRCs execute installation logistics support and services to include supply, maintenance, and transportation as well as clothing issue facility operations, hazardous material management, personal property and household goods, passenger travel, non-tactical vehicle and garrison equipment management, and property book operations. When it comes to providing day-to-day installation services, LRC Italy directs, manages and coordinates a variety of operations and activities in support of USAG Italy.
LRC Italy reports to the 405th AFSB, which is assigned to U.S. Army Sustainment Command and under the operational control of the 21st Theater Sustainment Command, U.S. Army Europe and Africa. The brigade is headquartered in Kaiserslautern, Germany, and provides materiel enterprise support to U.S. Forces throughout Europe and Africa – providing theater sustainment logistics; synchronizing acquisition, logistics and technology; and leveraging U.S. Army Materiel Command’s materiel enterprise to support joint forces. For more information on the 405th AFSB, visit the official website at and the official Facebook site.
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