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.

Fort Riley Soldier & Spouse Sponsorship Guide

Home of the 1st Infantry Division — “Big Red One”

1. Sponsorship Program Overview

Moving to a new duty station brings both excitement and challenges. The Fort Riley Sponsorship Program pairs inbound service members and their families with sponsors from their gaining unit to ease the transition before, during, and after relocation. Units make every effort to match sponsors and newcomers by rank and family status.

Core Objectives

• Cultivate Community: Instill newcomers with an immediate sense of belonging and build lasting friendships.
• Smooth Transitions: Ease relocation hurdles for service members, Department of Defense civilians, and their families.
• Informed Decision-Making: Provide reliable, up-to-date installation and local area information.
• Mission Readiness: Improve morale and boost personal and professional productivity upon arrival.

2. Requesting a Sponsor

Advanced Individual Training Soldiers

If you are an Advanced Individual Training soldier and have not yet been contacted by your sponsor via phone, text, or email:

• Reach out immediately to the Army Community Service Relocation Program or the Relocation Manager.
• Contact your assigned Brigade or Battalion Staff Duty desk to request sponsor assignment.

General Sponsor Requests

To request or confirm a sponsor assignment:

• Email: usarmy.riley.imcom.mbx.acs@army.mil
• The ACS Relocation Readiness team will coordinate with your unit to connect you with a sponsor promptly.

3. What Your Sponsor Does

To ensure a successful transition, sponsors receive specialized training and access to installation resources. Key sponsor responsibilities include:

Pre-Arrival & Planning

• Initial Contact: Sending an introductory email and maintaining regular communication throughout the moving process.
• Community Guidance: Answering questions and sharing insights regarding housing, schools, and community resources.
• Logistics Coordination: Assisting with post office box setups and confirming lodging/travel arrangements.

In-Processing & Acclimation

• Arrival Welcome: Meeting service members and families upon arrival at Fort Riley.
• Unit In-Processing: Accompanying the service member to the official unit check-in point.
• Resource Orientation: Introducing the family to the Military and Family Support Center, the Loan Closet, and community agencies.
• Installation Tour: Familiarizing families with key facilities, including the commissary, post exchange (PX), medical facilities, and recreation areas.

Note: Specific duties may vary based on service-branch policies, operational requirements, and individual unit guidelines.

4. Spouse and Family Support

Recognizing that relocation impacts the entire household, Fort Riley provides robust programs specifically designed for military spouses and families.

Spouse Sponsorship & SFRG Connection

• Early Connection: ACS Relocation Readiness can connect spouses with the gaining unit’s Soldier and Family Readiness Group (SFRG) coordinator up to one year prior to arrival.
• Spouse-to-Spouse Program: Matches incoming spouses with seasoned Fort Riley spouses for peer-to-peer relocation advice and support.
• Sponsor Training: Spouses interested in sponsoring other incoming families can receive official sponsorship training.
• Welcome Letter: Spouses can request a Fort Riley Welcome Letter and link up with the unit SFRG by emailing usarmy.riley.imcom.mbx.acs@army.mil (responses are typically provided within 2 business days).

5. Youth Sponsorship Program

Relocating can be particularly challenging for children and teenagers. The Fort Riley Youth Sponsorship Program supports youth dependents of active duty, reserve, retired military personnel, and DoD civilians.

Program Benefits

• Peer Connection: Pairs incoming youth with active student volunteers at local School-Age Centers and the Youth Center.
• School Navigation: Delivers first-hand information about local area schools, extracurricular activities, and academics.
• Community Engagement: Encourages new friendships, self-confidence, independence, and active community participation.

6. Fort Riley PCS Social

All newcomers and their families are invited to attend the Fort Riley PCS Social.

• What to Expect: A welcoming environment featuring complimentary finger foods, an opportunity to meet other newly arrived families, and face-to-face access to installation subject matter experts. Great way to meet new friends and begin networking for your future.
• Participating Agencies:
  • Housing Services (On-Post and Off-Post)
  • Child and Youth Services (CYS)
  • School Support Services & Education Services
  • Employment Readiness Program (ERP)
  • Financial Readiness & Army Emergency Relief (AER)
  • Religious Support Services
  • Sponsorship Non-Commissioned Officers (NCOs)

7. Key Contacts Directory

• ACS Relocation Program Customer Service Desk, 785-239-9435 usarmy.riley.imcom.mbx.acs@army.mil 
• Relocation Manager Bryan Bartlett, 785-239-5739 usarmy.riley.imcom.mbx.acs@army.mil 
• School Support Services Youth Sponsorship Office, 785-240-3261 — 
• School Support Services Alternate Line, 785-239-1648 — 
• Spouse Sponsorship Relocation Readiness Office, 785-239-5739/9435 usarmy.riley.imcom.mbx.acs@army.mil