Tobyhanna Army Depot  Base Essentials

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.

The sponsorship program is available to Active Duty Army, Army National Guard, Army Reserve and civilian employees with permanent change of station orders to Tobyhanna Army Depot. To benefit from the TYAD Sponsorship Program, it is essential that soldiers formally request sponsorship by completing Sponsorship Program Counseling and Information Sheet ( DA Form 5434) immediately upon receiving notification of assignment to Tobyhanna Army Depot. The completed DA Form 5434 should be sent to the Military Personnel Office, ATTN: ELTY-ISR-S, Tobyhanna, PA 18466-5080.

Make sure your sponsor is aware of your arrival date and time. If, for some reason, your sponsor is unable to meet you upon arrival, then you should report to the Military Personnel Office, building 11, to sign in. During your sign-in you should have your orders, 201 file and any other important papers. Soldiers reporting after duty hours should see the staff duty officer at the Security Building, building 20 or call 570-615-7550.  If you need to send mail to Tobyhanna Army Depot prior to your arrival, address it to your receiving unit.