Contact Information


NAME:  Veterinary Readiness Activity, Italy

EMAIL ADDRESS: usarmy.usag-italy.medcom-ph-e.mbx.hq-battlebox@health.mil

TELEPHONE:  +39-04446-19441

DSN:  314-636-9441

MAILING ADDRESS: Unit 31403, Box 54 APO, AE 09630-1403

About Veterinary Readiness Activity, Italy
Mission: Veterinary Readiness Activity, Italy provides public health and veterinary medical services in support of European Command, Africa Command, and Central Command to enable readiness, conserve the fighting strength, and protect the health of those we are privileged to serve.

Vision: The first line of defense against preventable disease - the foundation for readiness.

Veterinary Readiness Activity, Italy​ History

Veterinary Readiness Activity, Italy traces its origins to Veterinary Detachment, Medical Group, 7779th Army Unit. After World War II, the headquarters of the 7779th Army Unit was combined with the Quartermaster Market Center in Frankfurt, Germany. The unit was responsible for animal-origin food inspection in the areas not covered by area commands within Germany or by the Berlin command, the Bremerhaven Port of Embarkation, or the U.S. Army Europe Communication Zone. The unit had two branches located at The Hague, Holland and Odense, Denmark in addition to various sections located throughout Holland, Denmark, Belgium, Germany, and the former Yugoslavia.

Veterinary Detachment, Medical Group, 7779th Army Unit deactivated on November 15, 1956 and reorganized as U.S. Army, Europe Veterinary Detachment 7719th. On July 1, 1957, the name changed to U.S. Army Veterinary Detachment, Europe and the unit was assigned to U.S. Army Communication Zone, Europe.

The unit headquarters later moved to Giessen, Germany along with the U.S. Army Quartermaster Supply Center on July 1, 1958. The U.S. Army Veterinary Detachment, Europe was assigned to the 819th Hospital Center on March 15, 1963 and later to U.S. Army Medical Command, Europe on July 1, 1968 where it remained until reorganized as the 7th Medical Command on September 21, 1978. On September 16, 1986, the 34th Medical Detachment Veterinary Services (VS) was activated in Vicenza, Italy. As part of the reorganization of our military forces in Europe following the fall of the Berlin wall and breakup of the former Soviet Union, the 34th Medical Detachment (VS) remained as such through the inactivation of 7th Medical Command and task organization under the 30th Medical Brigade in October 1994.

On January 16, 1995, the 34th Medical Detachment (VS) was renamed Southern Europe Veterinary Detachment. The SEVD area of responsibility varied over the years to encompass missions in Austria, Crete, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Morocco, Portugal, Romania, Spain, South Africa, Syria, Turkey, Ukraine and the former Yugoslavia.

On January 4, 2012, when U.S. Army Veterinary Command merged with the Center for Health Promotion and Preventive Medicine to form U.S. Army Public Health Command, the unit was re-designated as PHCD-SE. On July 1, 2015, following the inactivation of USAPHC and reorganization of U.S. Army MEDCOM, PHCD-SE was task organized under Public Health Command-Europe which is currently subordinate to Regional Health Command-Europe. On October 1, 2016 the name was changed to Public Health Activity-Italy. Following the Army Medical Command Transformation to Readiness in late 2022, the unit was redesignated as Veterinary Readiness Activity, Italy on 15 March 2024.
 
Today, VRA, I provides Food Safety and Defense, Animal Medicine, Zoonotic Disease Surveillance, Occupational Health and Industrial Hygiene from its seven branches within the UK, Spain, Turkey and Italy supporting 26 countries in Europe and Africa, remaining one of the most geographically-dispersed veterinary units in the Army.

commander

Lieutenant Colonel Jeremy J. Trescott

U.S. Army Medical Service Corps

Lt. Col. Jeremy Trescott is a native of Canton, Ohio. Upon graduation from High School, he entered the Army in August 1999 as Postal Clerk serving in the 18th Airborne Corps,  Fort Bragg, NC. During his enlisted tour he was deployed twice, first with 3rd Infantry Division to Bosnia-Herzegovina in support of Operation Joint Forge and then with the 101st Infantry Division (Air Assault) to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. He was awarded a Green-to-Gold Scholarship in 2002 to attend Army ROTC at The Ohio University.

In June 2005, he graduated as a ROTC Distinguished Military Graduate with  a BS in Healthcare Administration. He was commissioned in the Medical Service Corps, served as Patrolling Committee TAC officer at ROTC Warrior Forge and attended the AMEDD Officer Basic Course in the fall/winter of 2005.

His first assignment as an officer was with the 4th Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment 2nd BCT, 1 CD, at Ford Hood, Texas as the medical platoon leader. He remained in 2nd BCT, 1 CD filling several additional positions including: medical company executive officer, brigade medical plans officer, and brigade current operations liaison. During his time with 1st Cavalry Division, he completed two deployments to Iraqi Freedom 06-08 and 09-10. Afterwards, he was selected to command B Company, Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center at Fort Hood.

After completing a successful company command, he was selected to attend the Army-Baylor MHA/MBA program and Comptroller Internship. He completed his internship and MHA/MBA administrative residency at Tripler Army Medical Center in Hawaii. Following graduation he remained at Tripler as the Chief, Program & Budget and Deputy Chief, Resource Management Division. Upon leaving Tripler, he assumed the role of Chief, Resource Management Division at Reynolds Army Community Hospital where he also completed the USC Cost Management Certification Course.  Afterwards, he served as the Chief, Business Integration Division for the DHA Deputy Assistant Director - Financial Operations (J8). He most recently served as the Chief Administrative Officer for the Trauma, Burn and Rehabilitative Medicine Security Assistance Team in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

His military schooling includes the AMEDD Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, Airborne School, Air Assault School and MSC Company Grade Leader Development Course, Command and General Staff College and the Defense Strategy Course.

His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Commendation Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Achievement Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters, Meritorious Unit Commendation with two Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with one Bronze Star, Iraq Campaign Medal with three Bronze Stars, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Army Overseas Service Ribbon with Numeral Three Device, NATO Medal, Parachutist Badge, Air Assault Badge, and the German Parachutist Badge. He is a Certified Defense Financial Manager, Level III certified in the Defense Financial Management Certification Program and is a recipient of both the Order of Military Medical Merit (O2M3) and the Chief, Medical Service Corps, Award of Excellence.
First sergeant

First Sergeant Mario A. Leon

First Sgt. Mario A. Leon was born on Naval Air Station Jacksonville, FL. He was raised throughout numerous naval bases around the United States and Bermuda. He entered the U.S. Army in September 2007 and graduated Basic Combat Training as the distinguished honor graduate in Fort Benning, Georgia. He completed Advanced Individual Training at Fort Sam Houston, Texas as a Food Inspection Specialist.

His various assignments and positions include: Food Inspection Specialist, Fort Campbell, Kentucky 72nd Medical Detachment Veterinary Services; while there he deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Camp Leatherneck, Helmand Province; Food Inspection Sergeant, Naval Station Pearl Harbor, Hawaii; Section NCOIC Marine Corps Base Hawaii; Training NCO Central Pacific District Veterinary Command, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii; Section NCOIC Submarine Base New London, Connecticut; Squad NCOIC 43rd Medical Detachment Veterinary Services Support, Fort Hood, Texas; while there he deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom-Horn of Africa in Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti; Phantom Warrior Academy Air Assault School instructor Fort Hood, Texas; Drill Sergeant/Senior Drill Sergeant C Co, 232d Medical Battalion, Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, TX; Bavaria Branch NCOIC Vilseck, Germany.

He has completed the Master Leaders Course, Army Modern Combatives Course Level 2, Drill Sergeant School, Advanced Food Technology, Installation Food Vulnerability, Master Driver’s course, and Field Sanitation. He also holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Phoenix in business management and globalization.

His awards and decorations include: Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal (7 OLC), Navy Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal (6 OLC), Army Good Conduct Medal (5th award), National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal (2 star), Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Medal, Armed Forces Service Medal, Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, NCO Professional Development Ribbon (Numeral 4), Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon (Numeral 3), NATO Medal, Superior Unit Award, Meritorious Unit Award, Expert Field Medic Badge, Air Assault Badge, Drill Sergeant Badge, French Marine Commando and Dessert Survival Badge, German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge (silver), Schützenschnur (gold), and the Polish Marksmanship Badge.