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 appointed when a soldier receives a duty assignment and can be verified through the battalion S-1. GLRB S-1 #517-887-5774 (Main#),  NCOIC: 517-372-3113, or GLRB main # 517-372-3108.

Station and company headquarters phone numbers will be provided to incoming soldiers once assignment is confirmed and/or during in-processing. Sponsors are traditionally the station commander, but may be assigned according to similar demographics (e.g. soldiers with families are often paired with a sponsor who also has a family, etc.). Incoming soldiers will report to assigned recruiting station as indicated in orders. Soldiers will be escorted to company headquarters for initial in-processing and coordination with Battalion Headquarters for final in-processing. Mail from soldier's losing unit should be forwarded to the recruiting station which a soldier is assigned.

Soldiers who have never before been assigned to a remote location are encouraged to go through Military One Source's Plan My Move sections and reach out directly to the MOS team. Request additional assistance from the MOS team as they will interview you and provide detailed and targeted information for your situation and family dynamic. 

GLRB does NOT have housing or quarters available; It is important to know what the housing market is like prior to arrival to ensure you make an informed decision whether or not to choose BAH or to go with Government Leased Housing. Please understand that either option requires a time investment. The current housing market is challenging and one often needs considerably more time to locate housing than the allotted 10 days, depending on specific location. 

In addition to the military sponsor, there is another person available to assist with a U.S. Army Recruiting Command transition. Soldiers are encouraged to reach out to the battalion's Soldier and Family Assistance Program Manager in advance. The SFA may be able to provide additional resources and guidance prior to a USAREC move, including commonly-overlooked actions that may ease the transition process from a military base to remote USAREC locations. The SFA is able to assist with guidance beyond the green. The current SFA at the Great Lakes Recruiting Battalion, Dixie Pettit, can be contacted at 517-372-3202. or by email: usarmy.knox.usarec.list.5ibn-SFA@army.mil