Sponsorship

To help prepare sponsors for success, the Sponsorship Program provides training and access to important information and resources that can help newcomers master their move. The Sponsorship Program helps sponsors fulfill their responsibilities, which may include:

• Contacting the service member and family with an introductory email
• Staying in contact with the service member throughout the moving process
• Sending information about the new community and duty assignment, responding to questions and providing information about resources
• Confirming transportation and lodging arrangements
• Helping with post office arrangements
• Meeting service members and family members upon arrival
• Going with service members to unit check-in point
• Introducing service members to the Military and Family Support Center and loan closet, if it’s available
• Familiarizing service members and families with the installation and key locations, like the commissary

Note: Responsibilities may vary based on service-specific policies and guidance. Make sure to check with your service branch for sponsor training requirements.

Overall, the Sponsorship Program aims to:

• Provide newcomers with a sense of belonging
• Ease the transition for inbound service members or civilians and their family members
• Increase productivity of service members and loved ones
• Help newcomers make informed decisions
• Cultivate new friendships
• Improve morale

For more information on the Sponsorship Program, contact your installation Military and Family Support Center.

Sponsorship is also available for youth. Installation youth sponsorship programs help military-connected youth make a successful transition to a new community. Primarily directed to preteen and teenaged youth, installation youth programs/centers provide information and materials on programs and services available at their new location. Where available, youth can exchange emails, talk on the phone or chat online with other youth. The youth program staff at your new installation can offer more information on installation youth sponsorship programs.

You can also contact your installation School Liaison Program office for information about school-based youth sponsorship programs such as Anchored4Life and Student2Student. These peer-to-peer programs help your student adjust to and navigate their new school.

If your child would like to become a youth sponsor, contact your installation School Liaison Program or youth program/center.

For many here, sponsorship is not automatic. Upon receiving assignment to Aberdeen Proving Ground, contact your gaining command or the Adjutant Office, West Wing, Building 4305, 410-306-2301, DSN 312-458-2301 or the operations officer 410-306-2303, DSN 312-58-2303. FAX may be sent to 410-306-2307, DSN 312-458-2307.

If mail is received after your departure to your new duty station, the mail will be processed by the old unit mailroom with the information you supplied on the change of address card before your departure. The mail will be sent back to the installation post office for reprocessing then forwarded to the gaining unit. The turnaround time normally takes about seven to 10 days, possibly longer in some cases. Make sure all agencies and organizations which you interact and conduct business with has written knowledge of your transition, so mail and other correspondences can be sent to your new address in a timely manner.

Once assigned to APG, it is essential that soldiers and civilians fill out the Sponsorship Program Counseling and Information Sheet (DA Form 5434) 

E-mail the completed form to the APG Installation Sponsorship Program Manager at usarmy.apg.imcom.mbx.imne-apg-hrm@mail.mil. For assistance, call 410-278-0944, DSN 458-0944.

The Army Community Service (ACS) agency provides relocating personnel with counseling, welcome packets and pre-move destination information. For assistance with relocation, visit the APG MWR website to locate an ACS representative. The POC for ACS is William Green, and he can be reached at 410-278-4232.