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.

Incoming personnel are encouraged to visit the Official Sigonella website for access to the most current guidelines for sponsorship concerns. As with any overseas assignment, sponsorship is essential. Once you receive hard copy of your orders you may request assistance through our website. A sponsor will be assigned to provide assistance during your transfer process and arrival period. Sponsors are carefully assigned to make your transition as easy, painless and pleasant as possible.

If you arrive at Catania–Fontanarossa Airport via commercial airline be sure that your sponsor knows the time and place of your arrival. Your command may send transportation for you but unplanned arrivals may require taxi fare or an extended wait at Catania–Fontanarossa Airport. Communication with your sponsor is important, not only over email, but over the phone, so it is encouraged to initiate communication once you have orders. Your sponsor will provide you with information about living in Sicily such as climate, culture, language and driving. The more you know about your new duty station and host country, the better prepared you will be. If you need any further assistance, please contact us.

Arrival and Check-In Requirements

If you arrive at Catania–Fontanarossa Airport via commercial airline be sure that your sponsor knows the time and place of your arrival. Your command may send transportation for you but unplanned arrivals may require taxi fare or an extended wait at the airport.

Should you need to take a taxi to Sigonella, here is what we say to use for local address — when asking a cab driver "Sigonella", he will always ask Naval Air Station I or Naval Air Station II (NAS 1 or NAS 2). The cost one way is usually 45-50 Euro. Please make sure you try to contact your sponsor or command before taking a taxi.

Most incoming personnel will arrive at NAS 2 via military contract flights and may be met by their sponsor.  Base Indoctrination, also know as INDOC, which is a mandatory training, is generally every other week at NAS 1, Commons building, Compass classroom, but with a large number of participants, they may move it to the NAS 1 base theatre. The INDOC coordinator can be reached at DSN 314-624-4696 / 4516 or Comm +39-095-56-4696 / 4516. It is very important to start the travel claim process with your Command CPPA within 24 working hours. Make sure to have all your supporting documents and stamped Orders. For questions prior to arriving in Sigonella, contact your command and ask to speak with your CPPA.   If you need child care for your children, the Child Development Center (CDC) can provide you with a list of various options. CDC can be reached at DSN 624-3736 or Comm. +39-095-56-3736 for any further questions.

For mail en route, communicate with your sponsor for a good address. Your sponsor can set up a mailbox at NAS 1 or NAS 2, based the base where you will be working. For those who do not have a sponsor, get in touch with your command or email sicily-sponsor@eu.navy.mil. Your command will be able to get the mail orderly to assign you an address if a sponsor is not available to you at that time. Once you are given your new address, you may forward all your mail to it. If you have navigated all the above options with no luck, contact the Fleet & Family Support Center for assistance: Comm. +39-095-56-4291.