Caserma Ederle (USAG Italy — Vicenza)

Caserma Ederle in Vicenza is the main post of U.S. Army Garrison Italy, which MilitaryINSTALLATIONS lists as USAG Italy, Vicenza Military Community (VMC), and describes as “a platform for strategic readiness and power projection” supporting the Vicenza and Camp Darby communities. According to the MilitaryINSTALLATIONS page for USAG Italy, tenant commands include the 173rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), the 207th Military Intelligence Brigade and the 414th Contracting Support Brigade. The same page warns that family members need an Italian visa before they travel and that the garrison has no hospital or emergency room.

The visa your family needs before the flight

“Each of your family members and civilians must have an Italian visa attached to their official passport before coming to Italy!” the USAG Italy page says. The mission visa is issued only by Italian consulates outside Italy, never in Italy; without it, family members may not remain legally in Italy for more than 90 days and will have to return to your home of record at your own expense. Each family member’s medical history is also reviewed during EFMP screening and the command sponsorship process.

The page also lists two warnings for what you ship: firearms, explosives and ammunition are forbidden in Italy, and car insurance in Italy can run up to 20% more than the same coverage stateside, so get an estimate before you ship a car.

Arrival and in-processing

All inbound personnel report to the airport gateway liaison at Marco Polo airport, past the arrivals area on the right side of the hallway, and a shuttle bus to Caserma Ederle leaves from outside the arrivals hall, per the USAG Italy check-in page. In-processing at the Central Processing Facility takes approximately 10 working days. Bring:

• Six copies of your PCS orders and amendments, and your IPPS-A absence request.
• Your flight itinerary from the losing installation.
• Official passports with Mission D visas for family members, if accompanied.
• Your central issue facility and previous duty station clearance documents.

Army Community Service offers a cultural orientation program and Italian language classes for spouses.

Housing: most personnel rent on the economy

“Most personnel assigned to the VMC reside in private rental housing on the local economy, typically within a 30-minute commute of Caserma Ederle”, the USAG Italy housing page says, so it recommends shipping a vehicle early or planning to buy one on arrival.

• Email the Housing Division 15 to 30 days before you arrive; accompanied personnel email again 7 days before arrival to learn whether Army Family Housing is available for their rank.
• Report to the Housing Division Office within 48 hours of arriving in Italy.
• Temporary Lodging Allowance must be revalidated every 15 days, you must show you are actively seeking housing, and refusing adequate government housing may forfeit TLA.
• Unaccompanied E-1 to E-6 live in the barracks on Caserma Ederle or Del Din, and TLA is not authorized if barracks space is available. Unaccompanied E-7 and above, and accompanied personnel when government-controlled quarters are not available, rent privately with the housing office’s help.
• Landlords require a security deposit of one to three months’ rent, plus utility deposits; ask the Finance Office about an advance.

The Central Furnishings Management Office lends washers, dryers, kitchen appliances and wardrobes for the tour, and a loaner furniture set for up to 90 days. Italy uses 220-volt electricity.

The Ederle Inn, Building 345 on Caserma Ederle, takes PCS reservations up to 180 days ahead: 011-39-0444-71-1935 or DSN 314-646-1935, per the USAG Italy temporary housing page. The initial stay for inbound PCS personnel is 30 to 90 days. Pet-friendly rooms allow two cats or dogs per family at $15 per pet per day plus a $75 cleaning fee.

Medical care: no emergency room on post

“USAG Italy does not have a hospital or emergency care”, the garrison page says. The U.S. Army Health Clinic, Vicenza primarily serves TRICARE Prime beneficiaries; others are seen on a space-available basis, and urgent and emergency care is provided off post at San Bortolo Hospital in downtown Vicenza and other TRICARE network facilities, per the USAG Italy health care page. Bilingual patient liaison coordinators at San Bortolo help TRICARE Prime beneficiaries: 0444-75-3300. Dental care on post is for active-duty members and family members ages 0 to 12; others go off post or are seen space-available.

Emergency numbers from the USAG Italy emergency assistance page:

• Ambulance or medical emergency: 112 on post; 0444-71-7112 off post (24 hours).
• Military Police: DSN 646-5300 (24 hours); from a cell phone, 113.
• SHARP 24/7 hotline (Vicenza and Camp Darby): +39 0444 71 8540. The page notes that Italian medical personnel are mandatory reporters by law.

Schools and child care

Vicenza has three DoDEA schools, one elementary, one middle and one high school, all in the Villaggio housing area, according to the USAG Italy education page. The DoDEA Student Transportation Office runs free daily buses for students who live in the established commuting area.

Child and Youth Services serves children of military and civilian ID card holders from 6 weeks to 18 years. Waiting lists for CYS programs are frequent, the overview warns: create a MilitaryChildCare.com account and put children, including unborn infants, on the list as soon as possible.

Driving: the SETAF license

“To drive in Italy, all soldiers and command-sponsored dependents are required to have a Southern European Task Force license”, the USAG Italy motor vehicles page says, and the SETAF license is valid only with your U.S. or country license, which you must carry with it. Vehicles of U.S. and NATO personnel assigned to Italy are registered with Armed Forces Italy plates; you may register three vehicles per tour. Your primary vehicle pays no Italian road tax and gets tax-free fuel; additional vehicles pay annual registration and road tax of 100 to 500 euros. Registration costs 75 USD and 5 EUR.

Bringing a dog or cat to Italy

Italy follows the European Union’s rules for pets from the United States. The USDA APHIS page for pet travel to Italy, last modified Sept. 2, 2026, sets them out:

1. A working microchip before the rabies vaccination; ISO 11784 and 11785 chips, or bring a scanner that reads yours.
2. A rabies vaccination given after the chip; after a primary vaccination, wait at least 21 days (or the manufacturer’s immunity period) before travel. A primary vaccination given in the United States is valid for travel for only 1 year.
3. An EU health certificate. The non-commercial certificate is valid for 30 days after the accredited veterinarian issues it, and USDA must endorse it within 10 days of your pet’s arrival in the EU. A certificate issued by a military veterinarian within 10 days of arrival does not need USDA endorsement.

APHIS adds that new EU health certificates are required from Oct. 1, 2026, under new EU legislation, so make sure your veterinarian uses the current form. In Vicenza, register every pet with the Veterinary Treatment Facility within 14 days of arrival, and register it with the city by getting an EU pet passport, per the USAG Italy pet shipping page. Caserma Ederle has no boarding or kennel service, and the VTF provides no emergency care.

The same EU entry rules apply across Italy; the local registration steps differ, and each guide covers its own: Camp Darby (Tuscan dog registry), Aviano Air Base, Naval Support Activity Naples, Naval Air Station Sigonella (Catania ASP registration) and Naval Support Activity Gaeta.

Legal assistance

The USARAF/SETAF Office of the Staff Judge Advocate handles legal assistance and claims: 011-39-0444-71-8496 or DSN 314-646-8496, per the USAG Italy legal assistance page. Report household goods loss or damage to the transportation service provider within 180 days of delivery. The page gives nine months to file the claim and keep Full Replacement Value; the Military OneSource moving claims guide extends that to 12 months from delivery for shipments picked up on or after May 15, 2026, and keeps nine months for shipments picked up earlier; Article 139 claims must be submitted within 90 days of the incident. The office does not run a tax center.

Three things to settle before you fly

Get Mission D visas into your family’s official passports, email the Housing Division 15 to 30 days before you arrive, and plan for a car: most personnel live on the economy, typically within a 30-minute commute. Then save 112 and the San Bortolo patient liaison number, because emergency care in Vicenza is off post.