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.

SPONSORSHIP

All incoming personnel should be connected with a sponsor to answer questions and assist with the logistics of your arrival on base. However, if you are within 60 days of PCSing and have not heard from your sponsor, please contact the Military & Family Readiness Center at Spangdahlem to connect you with your gaining unit. Please provide your rank, name, gaining unit, departure date, and Report No Later Than Date. The Spangdahlem M&FRC can be reached at DSN 314-452-6422, Comm: +49-6565-61-6422, or send an email to the Military & Family Readiness Center.

If you travel via a military contract carrier (Rotator), you will arrive at the Ramstein Air Base terminal. If traveling with a commercial carrier, you will arrive at Frankfurt Airport, which is approximately a 2-hour drive from Spangdahlem. Make sure to have transportation secured prior to your travel. Options for transportation are (1) your sponsor or office may plan to pick you up at the airport or (2) arrange transportation via the Saber Shuttle, which is the base’s airport shuttle. Reservations can be made up to 60 days prior to your travel date, but you will want to book as early as possible since space is limited. Contact the Saber Shuttle Office at DSN: 314-452-7684, Comm: 011-49-6565-61-7684 or visit Saber Shuttle for reservations and more detailed information.

Your PSC (post office) box can be set up prior to arrival by simply providing a copy of your orders to your sponsor. If a box has not been set up yet, mail can be initially sent here as early as 90 days prior to arrival, using the following address format: 

Service Member's First Name, Last Name, 

Unit 3567, General Delivery 

APO, AE 09123

For information on what can and cannot be shipped to Germany, visit the Post Office website.

Visit Spangdahlem AB where you can find a list of valuable newcomer information regarding your PCS to Germany.