VICENZA, Italy — Listening to Sonia Zanfavero's story, you might think she's American, but she's not. The Italian host nation employee at Italy's Logistics Readiness Center first began learning English in the late '90s while working as a babysitter for U.S. military families stationed in Vicenza.
She still keeps in touch with the families she babysat for all those years ago, considers the job an important part of her life, and still uses the language skills she learned back then in her current job as a workforce management analyst with the 405th Army Field Support Brigade, LRC Italy.
“It's nice to know that you've been a part of someone's life and that after so many years they are still a part of yours,” said the 38-year-old Italian, who, in addition to her babysitting job, has supported the U.S. Army Garrison Italy community for more than a decade, first with Caserma Ederle Car Care Center and now with LRC.
“One of my daily tasks at LRC Italia is managing HR documentation. I make sure all recruitment activities are tracked and updated. I support new employees with everything from the start of the recruitment process to their first day,” says Zanfavero.
Zanfavero said he loves his job because he's constantly learning and trying to solve new problems as they arise. He also said he really enjoys working as a management analyst.
“In this job, I get to actually analyze data, and I really enjoy it,” Zanfavero said. “For me, it's not work. It's more like a game. For a kid, it's like going to the playground. It's a lot of fun.”
And as for her command of the English language and accent, or lack thereof, the former LRC Italia Employee of the Quarter and later Employee of the Year said it's something she started learning and practicing as a teenager and something she's always enjoyed.
“I've always loved learning English. As a child and teenager, I was always looking for ways to improve my English knowledge. Babysitting for an American family was very helpful,” she said.
“And I still keep in touch with all of them, which is really wonderful,” said Zanfavero, who is very grateful to LRC Italia for giving him the opportunity to meet and learn from such amazing people.
“This learning experience has given me the opportunity to meet so many wonderful people, both local and from all over Europe, which is great,” she said.
The Italian LRC is one of eight LRCs under the command and control of the 405th Air Base. The LRC performs logistics support and services for the base, including supply, maintenance, transportation, clothing supply facility operations, hazardous materials management, personal and household items, passenger travel, non-tactical vehicle and garrison equipment management, and asset bookkeeping operations. In terms of providing day-to-day base services, the Italian LRC commands, manages and coordinates the various operations and activities that support USAG Italy.
The Italian LRC reports to the 405th Air Logistics Squadron, part of the U.S. Army Logistics Command and headquartered in Kaiserslautern, Germany. The brigade provides materiel business support to U.S. forces throughout Europe and Africa, providing theater supply logistics, acquisition, logistics, technology synchronization, and supporting the joint force leveraging U.S. Army Materiel Command materiel businesses. For more information about the 405th Air Logistics Squadron, visit its official website at www.afsbeurope.army.mil and its official Facebook site at www.facebook.com/405thAFSB.
Date of photo: | August 29, 2024 |
Posted on: | August 29, 2024 07:45 |
Story ID: | 479732 |
position: | Vicenza, Italy |
Web view: | 1 |
download: | 0 |
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This work is, LRC Italy Employee: My love for learning English began as a babysitter for an Army familyby Cameron Porteridentified by DVD Videomust comply with the restrictions set forth at https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.