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.

Moving is a way of life for service members and their families. Resources like MilitaryINSTALLATIONS and Military OneSource can help smooth that transition.

A sponsor is assigned by a newcomer's gaining command and helps the newcomer before, during and after a move. If you haven't been assigned a sponsor, you can request a sponsor through your new unit or through MilitaryINSTALLATIONS. Units try to match sponsors and service members by rank and family status.

Sponsorship goals include the following:

• Providing newcomers with a sense of belonging
• Easing the transition for inbound service members or civilians and their family members
• Increasing productivity
• Helping newcomers make informed decisions
• Cultivating new friendships
• Improving morale

Sponsorship duties include:

• Contacting the service member and family with an introductory email
• Following up with the member's preferred method of contact
• Sending information about the new community and duty assignment, responding to questions and providing resource information
• Confirming transportation and lodging arrangements
• Assisting with post office arrangements
• Meeting service members and family members upon arrival
• Accompanying service members to the unit check-in point
• Introducing service members to the Military and Family Support Center and loan closet
• Orienting service members and families to the installation and key locations, such as the commissary, NEX and Fleet and Family Support Center

Note: Sponsorship duties and responsibilities may vary by service-specific policies and guidance. For more information about sponsorship, contact your installation’s Relocation Assistance Program or, in the Marine Corps, the Information and Referral Office.

Training is available for service members who have been assigned the role of “sponsor.” Requirements regarding training for new sponsors is service-specific. Please check your service’s policy regarding training requirements for new sponsors.

For questions about Sponsorship call Fleet and Family Support Center 805-982-5037.