CALDOGNO, Italy – On a crisp Sunday morning, a group of Soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, donned bright yellow vests and gathered in the town piazza.

They were among the Italian community volunteers determined to make this town – adjacent to Caserma Del Din, the headquarters of the Southern European Task Force, Africa and the 173rd Airborne Brigade – to look better.

It wasn’t a military operation, but a rather a community collaboration. The battalion is aligned with the Caldogno under U.S. Army Garrison Italy’s Community Alliance Plan. In the lead up to the Feb. 23 event, 1st Lt. Jeff Jensen, helped coordinate the community outreach.

“We are passionate about keeping the communities we live in clean, as well as building lasting relationships between the paratroopers of ‘First Rock’ and the local Italians,” Jensen said.

Soldiers from the battalion know Caldogno well. Last Summer, they played a friendly soccer game against the local team – and won. They also took part in the December Christmas market.

Armed with trash bags and grabbers, the Soldiers dispersed throughout the town. It wasn’t all work. There were smiles and laughs as they went about the cleanup. Passersby would not necessarily know they were American, as they were dressed in civilian clothes. Only their friendly banter, in English was the giveaway.

Before long, they had filled more than a dozen trash bags full of litter and other garbage found in the area. They posed for photos, proud of their effort.

Paolo Meda, Caldogno's Councillor for Ecology, Green Areas, and Youth Policies, was glad to see the Soldiers’ effort, as far too often he’s seen Americans not being mindful of trash and recycling.

“Seeing our community and the soldiers working side-by-side is truly heartwarming,” Meda said. “This initiative isn't just about cleaning our streets; it’s about nurturing the bonds of friendship and understanding."