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.

By this time you should have already been assigned to a recruiting company, a recruiting station, the military entrance processing station, or the battalion headquarters. We have six companies and various stations in three states: West Virginia, Virginia and Maryland. Those six company headquarters are located at:

• 101, Blacksburg Company, Blacksburg, VA                  
• 104, Lynchburg Company, Lynchburg, VA                   
• 105, Richmond Company, Richmond, VA                     
• 106, Bridgeport Company, Fairmont, WV                         
• 108, James River Company, Hampton, VA                    
• 109, Norfolk Company, Norfolk, VA 

We are the Richmond Recruiting Battalion. If you are assigned to the Blacksburg, Lynchburg, Bridgeport, Richmond, James River or Norfolk companies, you will report to the Richmond Recruiting Battalion for all in and out processing. It is very important that you contact your identified sponsor from the recruiting station or your station commander as well as your new first sergeant so you can have information sent to you about your new place of duty that is not covered on our web page. Your assignment as a member of this command will be professionally and personally challenging and rewarding. Our mission and role is essential in supporting the Army's mission readiness and execution and to enable the well-being of soldiers, civilians and family members.

We look forward to your arrival and will gladly assist you with your integration into your new assignment. Please do not hesitate to contact your sponsor in the event you have any questions or concerns during your transition. Your sponsor will be identified and in contact with you prior to your arrival. If you have not received any information from your sponsor or the command, it is important that you call us and we will get you all the phone numbers, addresses and whatever else you need. S-1 Richmond can be contacted at 804-774-2849/2852/2851/2850.