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.

The Fort Stewart Sponsorship Program requires every soldier, sergeant (E5) through colonel (O6), receiving an assignment to Fort Stewart, be provided a sponsor. To get the benefits of the Sponsorship Program, soldiers must fill out the DA Form 5434 (Sponsorship Program Counseling and Information Sheet). The program also provides that every effort is made to provide a pinpoint assignment and facilitate an advanced-arrival sponsor for all married soldiers in the grade of E1 through E4. A reactionary sponsor will be provided for these soldiers if a pinpoint assignment and advanced-arrival sponsor cannot be provided. A reactionary sponsor for single soldiers in grade E1 through E4 will also be provided.

Whether being assigned to Fort Stewart or Hunter Army Airfield, all must sign in at Fort Stewart. Wounded soldiers and MEDDAC soldiers check in at Mower Processing Center which is located on Harmon Avenue. All other soldiers check in at the Marne Reception Center (MRC) at the intersection of Harmon Avenue, Hase Road and Pony Soldier Avenue. Contact the MRC at 912-767-0115 for questions or other concerns. A few days will be spent here for initial in-processing.

Please check with the post locator for the holding of early arrival of mail; I.D. cards must be shown. The post locator is in the same building as the Post Office, Bldg. 418. As soon as an exact unit is assigned, complete in-processing at the mail room of unit. No matter the rank or the living arrangement, the unit's mail clerks need to know of the assignment.