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.

Sponsors are assigned by the individual’s gaining unit. Make sure you have a sponsor assigned prior to departing from your losing duty station. Keep in contact with your sponsor as your sponsor can assist you with information to help you with your transition. Be sure to request that your sponsor obtain a postal service center mail box at the post office ahead of your arrival, as this will help ensure your mail is uninterrupted during your PCS move. If you are coming to Patrick Space Force Base or Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and do not have a sponsor assigned to you, you may contact your gaining unit's command support staff or the Patrick Military and Family Readiness Center at 321-494-5676 or DSN 312-854-5676 and ask to speak with the relocation program manager for assistance.

Your first stop after arriving in the local area should be your unit's Command Support Staff section. If you arrive after normal duty hours, report to the Space Coast Inn in Building 720. The next morning you will be required to report to your CSS where you will receive additional in-processing instructions.