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.

Sponsorship

Soldiers are to email your completed DA Form 5434 to your current (losing unit) Total Army Sponsorship Program Manager for accountability purposes. Reach out to your sponsor prior to your arrival and throughout in-processing. Sponsors are encouraged to meet with you while you are in-processing with 18^th RC.

Effective 25 October 2016, The Total Army Sponsorship Program has gone to a tiered approach to sponsorship.  Soldiers in the grades of O4 - O6, CW3 - CW5, and E7- E9 may request sponsorship, it is no longer mandatory.  Sponsorship remains mandatory for all other grades.

NOTE: Senior commanders have the right not to use the tiered program.

All soldiers leaving Fort Bragg, not attending a school over 19 weeks are longer are required to have a sponsor.

Log into Army Career Tracker https://act.now.army.mil to request a sponsor

Complete sections 1, 2, 4, and 5 of the DA Form 5434 for sponsorship.

Ensure they are completely filled out in its entirety before clicking the submit button.

Section 3 is for the gaining unit to assign a sponsor.

15 days prior to receiving installation clearing papers you must log into Army Career Tracker and complete the Out-processing Survey.

If the gaining command has failed to assign a sponsor prior to the Soldier's final clearance from Fort Bragg, the Soldier will be required to request an Exception to the Policy on a DA Form 4187, through their Unit Sponsorship Coordinator which allows the Soldier to proceed on assignment without a sponsor.

The approval authority for the Exception to Policy (ETP) is the first General Officer/Senior Executive Service equivalent in the Soldier's chain of command

All in-processing soldiers will in-process at the Bragg Reception Center, Building. 4-1437 (same proximity as the Soldier Support Center), Normandy Street. The Fort Bragg Reception Company is open 24 hours a day 7 days a week, and can be reached by calling 910-396-9955, 910-396-9304 or 910 396-2656, DSN 312-236-9304, 312-236-9955 or 312-236-2656.

Soldiers E-6 and below will in-process at the Fort Bragg Reception Company, Building. 4-2245 (same vicinity as the Soldier Support Center), Normandy Street, 910-396-9955/4244/4250 or DSN 312-236-9955/4244/4250.

Fort Bragg Post Office does not give P.O. Boxes in advance because of the high demand. Neither Fort Bragg Reception Company will hold mail for personnel en route to the installation. However, you can go to your local Post Office to obtain a box number application "PS Form 1093" for a local post office off the installation. Spring Lake Post Office is recommended as it is located next to the installation. Fill out the application and enclose a check or money order to the Postmaster for $26 for six months plus $1 for each key. You can get the Postmaster address and telephone number from your local Post Office. Allow five to seven days for delivery and then call the Post Office to obtain your box number. Spring Lake address is 225 N. Main Street Spring Lake, NC 28390, 910-497-0113.

The Postal Service is classified as an essential government service operation, which allows them to continue operations. Customers will be asked to limit the Post Office lobby to no more than 10 people at a time, and keep a minimum of six feet between yourself and others. USPS will conduct all passport application services by appointment only.