Sponsorship

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 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.

To benefit from the Fort Leonard Wood Sponsorship Program, it is essential that Army personnel complete DA Form 5434 Sponsorship Program Counseling and Information Sheet immediately upon receiving notification of assignment to Fort Leonard Wood. Completed forms can be forwarded to the addresses on the sponsorship page in Newcomers Information on the Fort Leonard Wood website. Members of the Marines Corps, Navy and Air Force should contact their particular service office at Fort Leonard Wood. See the major units listing for more information.

If you need a change of address for Fort Leonard Wood, contact the local post office at your current duty station and request a change of address card and a post office box at Fort Leonard Wood. The cost for a post office box varies but is $78 for six months and no longer require the $6 key deposit. Your local post office will mail the request and the payment to the Fort Leonard Wood Post Office. The Fort Leonard Wood Post Office phone number is 573-329-5909.  Change of address procedures can also be submitted through the US Post Office website at www.moverguide.usps.com.