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.

If you are not a Specialized Undergraduate Training Student and do not currently have a sponsor, please call the Columbus Air Force Base Military and Family Readiness Center relocation manager at DSN 312-742-2701/2790 or 662-434-2701/2790, so a sponsor can be assigned to assist you. For those spouses desiring a sponsor, a spouse-to-spouse sponsorship program is available by simply contacting the sponsor's gaining unit. It is very important to keep the active-duty member's sponsor informed of any changes and/or concerns.

Upon your arrival at Columbus Air Force Base, contact our 24-hour arrival point located in building 956 Magnolia Inn DSN 312-742-2548 or 662-434-2548 for assistance in contacting your sponsor or obtaining general information about the base.

All personnel PCSing to Columbus Air Force Base should have their mail forwarded to the address below, using an Official Mail Forwarding Change of Address order form (available from your servicing postal facility). Be sure to check "Yes" in block 2 and include in block 4 the date to discontinue forwarding (no later than 45 days after your arrival).  Once you establish a permanent address, you will need to complete a new change of address. Please be sure to notify all concerned of your new permanent address as soon as possible. Columbus Air Force Base does not have an on-base post office

To have your mail forwarded while en route or after being newly assigned, you may have it sent as follows to: [your name], General Delivery--14 FSS/FSVP, 179 F St, Bldg 956, Columbus Air Force Base, MS 39710-6801.