Fort Drum  Base Essentials

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.

The welcome center is open 24 hours a day. The staff there is available to assist you with all aspects of your arrival/in-processing. Call 315-772-7529/0423 or DSN 312-772-7529 or 800-661-7158.

All Air Force personnel with orders to the 20th Air Support Operations Squadron must report to the 20th ASOS command support staff with their sponsor (if available) for in-processing.

The 20th ASOS can be reached at 315-772-0412/0729 or DSN 312-772-0412/0729. If you fly into the Hancock International Airport in Syracuse, New York, look for the Fort Drum information sign.

Soldiers may request a sponsor by going to their Army Career Tracker and clicking on sponsorship. Fill out the Department of the Army 5434 on the ACT. Call the Fort Drum Sponsorship Liaison for inbound soldiers at 315-772-1692 for any questions, concerns or help with sponsorship.

If a sponsor is not assigned to you prior to your arrival to Fort Drum, one will be assigned when you arrive. Once you sign in, your unit will be informed of your arrival and your sponsor will arrive to greet you. See the sponsorship narrative for additional information.