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.

To request a sponsor, you can contact your current commander's support staff (CSS), your gaining base unit CSS, or the Military and Family Readiness Center at either your current base or at Barksdale Air Force Base. This request should be a part of every PCS move. Your sponsor will assure you receive current information about Barksdale AFB, answer any questions you have about the base and the local area, make lodging/dorm arrangements, and meet you upon arrival. Your sponsor will be there to help you and your family until you are settled into your new community. 

The Barksdale Postal Service Center can accept mail before your arrival at the base. The best practice is to append the unit and office symbol of your gaining unit so delivery can be ensured, otherwise all mail will be held at the Postal Service Center. Barksdale's General Delivery Address is as follows:

(Name/Rank)/(Gaining Unit/Office Symbol)
204 Curtis Rd., Suite 100
Barksdale Air Force Base, LA 71110-2455

If you have problems with delivery, or you would like to establish a P.O. Box for delivery prior to your arrival (dormitory residents only), you can contact the Postal Service Center at Comm 318-456-3950, or DSN 781-3950.