Touring NSA Naples: Italian students visit Capodichino

ByAaliyahEssex

U.S. Naval Support Activity Naples

NAPLES, Italy Within Italy and across the world, it is common for people to tour important landmarks and areas to learn aboutthehistoryandlifestyleinanarea.

In service of this, Community Relations Specialist, Teresa Merola, is bringing the tour experience back to U.S. Naval Support Activity(NSA)NaplesforItalianstudents.

“LikemuchoftheItaliancommunity,the studentsmayseeU.S.Navymembersintheir localcommunities However,itisnottypical forthemtoseehowSailorsoperateonbase. The base tour gives students a glimpse of U.S.militarylifehereinNaples,”saidMerola.

Seventeen middle school students were welcomed onboard the Capodichino base

Friday,Feb.10,2023toseeNSANaples’facilitiesandoperations.

The tour began at the base chapel. Students were able to sit in the pews while learning about the services base personnel areofferedatthechapel

After viewing the chapel, Merola along withothertourguidesescortedthestudents to the library and gym to view recreational opportunities available to those stationed onboard Capodichino Merola took the students to see the base’s air terminal and a firetruck, temporarily housed outside of thefirestation.

Towards the end of the tour the students weresurprisedwithabriefrehearsalperformancebymembersoftheU.S.NavalForces Europe-AfricaBand.Finally,theyvisitedthe USO offices back at the air terminal where thetourconcluded.

Thestudents,visitingfromIstitutoComprensivo1AriostoinArzano,Italy,arethefirst studenttoursince2019 Priortothepauseon tours due to COVID-19, students from the schooltouredthebaseroutinely.

“We’vebeencomingherefor20yearsand every time is a wonderful experience, said Sveva Ricciardi, said Sveva Ricciardi, the class teacher from Istituto Comprensivo 1 Ariosto

WithCOVID-19measuresandregulations lifting,Merolaplanstosafelyconducttours throughouttheItalianschoolyear

“Hosting Italian students on base has always been very exciting for everyone involved—from the students and teachers to the base personnel they come in contact with. Both the students and teachers are always very impressed with the base facilities,”saidMerola.

Commanding Officer of NSA Naples

Capt. James Stewart expressed his support of the continuation of base tours for Italian students

“TherelaunchofourItalianstudentbase tours allows us to further connect with our local community,” said Stewart. “Through these experiences, we are able to show younger generations some of the ways we support our bilateral cooperation here at NSANaples.”

NSA Naples is an operational ashore base that enables U.S. allied, and partner nation forces to be where they are needed, when they are needed to ensure security and stability in the European, African, and CentralCommandareasofresponsibility