AMICI 7.0: Bridging Cultures, Building Understanding

VICENZA, Italy - For Italian civilian employees working alongside U.S. Army personnel, understanding the full scope of the Army mission can be challenging. That's where AMICI comes in.

Now in its seventh iteration, the AMICI program-short for American Military Italian Civilian Integration and meaning "friends" in Italian-is a workforce enrichment initiative sponsored by U.S. Army Garrison Italy. Its goal: to deepen awareness, foster appreciation, and strengthen collaboration between Italian host nation employees and the American military community.

Participants in AMICI experience a "Day in the Life of a Soldier," gaining hands-on insight into the daily operations and strategic priorities across installations like Caserma Ederle, Caserma Del Din, Caserma Miotto, Aviano, and Camp Darby.

"I like this program since it helped me see the bigger picture of what's happening across the garrison," said Giorgia Polo a Contract Specialist for the 414th Contracting Support Brigade. "AMICI provided that broader understanding, which is really helpful for building connections and strengthening working relationships between different offices."

During a visit to Camp Darby, Polo was struck by the installation's strategic importance and rich logistical infrastructure-from canals and railways to a surprisingly large airport nearby. But what impressed her most was the passion of the personnel. "Their enthusiasm and commitment came through clearly in their presentations. It was genuinely inspiring."

For Leda Sartore a Management Program Analyst of the Resource Management Office, AMICI reaffirmed her pride in the mission. "This program enlightens people about the different working areas the Army supports and shows where our piece of the big puzzle fits," she said. "It confirmed what I've known for years-that this 'firm' we help operate is a complicated, impressive operation. I'm proud to be part of it."

AMICI continues to serve as a modern, forward-thinking model of integration-one that reflects the shared priority of building a stronger, more connected Italian-American workforce. Through real-time experiences and meaningful exchanges, it turns colleagues into collaborators-and collaborators into friends.