Sponsorship

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.

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.

The newcomer can expect to be contacted by their assigned sponsor in a reasonable amount of time. If the newcomer does not hear from their sponsor, it is highly recommended that they become proactive and call their new unit. The sponsor will provide timely, honest, constructive and positive assistance including their own name, rank, work and home phone numbers and email addresses. The sponsor will contact the newcomer in a timely manner to conduct a needs assessment. They will send a personal letter, unit information, and additional information requested by the newcomer based on the needs assessment. This is a personalized process to assist in a smooth move. The sponsor is also expected to greet the newcomer, assist with the settling-in process, orient them to the unit, as well as their family members to Vandenberg Space Force Base and the community. Newcomers may call the Military and Family Readiness Center if they experience difficulty in obtaining a sponsor, at 805-606-0039 or DSN 312-276-0039.

To forward mail to Vandenberg SFB in advance, you may request an address by writing to the Postal Service Center, include: "Your Name", PSC BOX 2000, Vandenberg SFB, CA 93437-6225. You may also request your postal box in advance by calling the Postal Service Center directly with your request at 805-606-1841 or DSN 312-276-1841. The Postal Service Center fax number is 805-606-3766 or DSN 312-276-3766. Your sponsor may also request a postal box for you by providing the Postal Service Center with a copy of your PCS orders.