Secretary of the Army visits U.S. Army Africa headquarters

VICENZA, Italy -- Secretary of the Army Ryan D. McCarthy visited U.S. Army Africa headquarters and U.S. Army Garrison-Italy in Vicenza, Italy, July 31. During his visit, the secretary met with U.S. Army Africa Commanding General Maj. Gen. Andrew M. Rohling, and received a brief on how USARAF supports U.S. Army campaign plan objectives, increases Army readiness, and participates in exercises and training events in Africa to strengthen partner capacity across the 53 nations in the U.S. Africa Command area of responsibility.

McCarthy also conducted listening sessions with enlisted Soldiers, noncommissioned officers and officers. The sessions are part of Project Inclusion, the Army’s holistic effort to listen to Soldiers, civilians and families and to enact initiatives to promote diversity, equity and inclusion.

Leaders at every echelon of the Army have been directed to conduct similar sessions.

“It’s really important for all of us to take time to actually listen to our Soldiers and hear what they’re saying,” McCarthy said in a recent Facebook Live town hall.

During his visit, McCarthy received a brief from Col. Daniel Vogel, the USAG-Italy garrison commander, on the developments of a current, 370 million dollar Army Family Housing Recapitalization Program.

McCarthy has indicated that housing is the Army’s top quality of life initiative.

"While the Army is making positive steps forward, we must continue to improve in order to provide quality housing to our Soldiers and their families, including planning for future investments in Army housing," McCarthy said during a February discussion with the other military branch secretaries.

For more information, call USARAF public affairs at +39-0444-10-90800 or email usarmy.usaraf.pao@mail.mil.