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.

A valuable resource to have before making your move to Ellsworth is your sponsor. Your sponsor should have been appointed by your new unit upon receipt of notification of your assignment. The sponsor is responsible for making contact with you within 48 hours after the appointment. After contacting you and inquiring about any specific needs or questions that you may have, he or she will send you information that you requested, along with other items about the base and the local community. After arriving at Ellsworth, your sponsor will greet you and show you around the base and local area. Spouses may request sponsors as well from your units Key Spouses. Should you need additional assistance and you cannot reach your sponsor, contact Relocation Services within the Military and Family Readiness Center at DSN 312-675-4663 or 605-385-4663.

The Commander Support Staff will also send you an email with your Chain of Command and other helpful information.

The Postal Service Center needs pertinent information from you to handle your temporary address. Prior to having your mail forwarded to Ellsworth, please call the Ellsworth Postal Service Center at DSN 312-675-6229 or 605-385-6229. If you do not notify the PSC ahead of time, your mail will not be held, it will be returned to the sender. Until you get a permanent address, your mail may be forwarded to (Rank/Full Name), 2650 Spaatz Drive, Unit 5000, Ellsworth AFB, SD 57706.