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.

Fleet and Family Support Centers provide training and ongoing support for Command staff on how to manage their Sponsorship Program. Each Navy Command has a designated Sponsorship Program Coordinator who assigns Command Sponsors to newly reporting Service Members and coordinates on behalf of transferring Service Members to ensure their new Command has the necessary information to engage and communicate with them.

The Command Sponsor should make contact with prospective gain prior to transfer. Expect sponsors to ask questions regarding travel plans, whether dependents will be travelling with Service Member, lodging upon arrival, transportation from the airport if flying, special needs Service Member or family member may have and other information. Any concerns or questions, relay them to the Command Sponsor.

If contact has not been made by the gaining Command prior to the scheduled transfer date, request the assistance of the Command Sponsor at the current Command in making contact with the next Command. Review current orders, which include contact information for the gaining Command.

Check with utilities, cable, satellite and other service providers prior to transferring. Ensure they have a gaining address or, if a new address is not yet established the address of a trusted person, so that any deposits or final bills make it to you. To ensure mail is forwarded, fill out a change of address card at the local post office. The forwarding address can be the address listed on the permanent change of station orders for the new command, next residence or a trusted agent.