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.

A sponsor is someone from your new command who is assigned to assist you with settling into your new location, and is usually assigned through your gaining command.

A sponsor's duties include:

• Contacting you and your family by letter or email upon learning of your assignment to the command
• Sending any information you may require about the installation/area/command, or putting you in touch with the proper authorities who can supply the information
• Answering any questions you or your family may have, or, again, providing the proper resources to answer those questions
• Being available when you arrive at your installation to meet you, show you around, and help you through in-processing

Contact your gaining command to request a sponsor to assist you with your transition.  Your official orders contain contact information for your gaining command's sponsorship program.

Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek:

All personnel reporting to the amphibious base or one of the tenant commands should report directly to their assigned command. All personnel reporting to the ships must report directly to the ship. If you do not know where to find the ship, call the ship information line at 757-444-0000 and request the pier number and directions. If the ship is deployed, report to the Naval Station Norfolk, Transient Personnel Unit, or TPU, phone: 757-444-1640.

Remember to ask your sponsor about forwarding your mail while in route or simply ask your local post office for other options, in regards to holding and forwarding your mail.

JEB Fort Story:

For soldiers wanting to know more information on pin-point assignments and sponsorship upon arrival to Fort Story, contact the Fort Eustis Officer and Enlisted Reassignment Section, Building 650, room 131, or call 757-878-1395 (for officers) 757-878-4413 (for enlisted).