SPONSORSHIP

AR 600-8-8
“You never get a second chance to make a
first impression”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=munub33v5tw&fea
ture=email
 What is the Sponsorship
Program?
The purpose of the program is to provide
principles of support, standards of service,
policies, functions, and tasks governing the Total
Army Sponsorship Program.
The Sponsorship Program provides Commanders
with the help and tools needed to assist Soldiers,
civilian employees, and family members
successfully relocate into and out of their
commands.
Sponsorship is a Commander’s program in which
commanders and individual sponsors are key to
success.
 Why have a sponsor?
Relocation can be:

Mentally taxing

Emotionally demanding

Expensive

Time consuming
 How does the Sponsorship
Program benefit the Army?
Assist Soldiers and Families during the reassignment
process.
Assist Families geographically separated from the
Soldier because of duty requirements.
Improve unit cohesion and readiness by decreasing
distractions that hamper personal performance and
mission accomplishment.
Support the Army’s personnel life-cycle function of
sustainment.
 Who can be a sponsor?
Every Soldier from private through Colonel and
civilian employees’ through grade 15 can be a sponsor.
A sponsor should be able to represent the unit in a
positive manner.
What it takes to be a sponsor!
Sponsor’s should receive training in order to
adequately assist new Soldiers and families with their
transition.
A sponsor should be the same or higher rank, gender,
marital status, and MOS as the incoming Soldier
(when possible).
The Sponsor should NOT be the a Soldier who will
PCS within 60 days of the in-bound Soldier.
Sponsors should NOT be the person being replaced by
the in-bound Soldier.
 Roles of the Sponsor
Sponsor will have time and support to perform their
duties.
Welcome letter should be sent within 10 days of
notification of appointed duty as a sponsor. The
welcome letter for Officers should come from the BN
CMDR, for Enlisted it should come from the CSM.
A welcome letter should contain a work address,
phone # where the sponsor can be reached. (e-mail
address is also important)
****Initial contact via phone is recommended****
 Roles of the Sponsor Cont’
Follow up on all correspondence (within 10 working
days of receipt of correspondence)
Sponsors will remain the sponsor through the
transition and in-processing period, until the need no
longer exists for their assistance.
Orienting new Soldiers and family members to the
area is key in making their transition smooth (both
work and local surroundings, culture, events).
 Example Welcome Letter
Dear

Congratulations on your new assignment and welcome to (fill in installation). My name is (fill in name) and I will be your sponsor.
My job is to make your transfer here as easy as possible. I am sure that you have many questions about your new job and the
surrounding community. I will do my best to research and answer all of your questions.

To provide you the most valuable and relevant information and support, I’ve attached a fillable form that asks for information about
you, your family (if you have one), and your travel plans. Please fill in the form, save it, and return it to me at your earliest
convenience. Please provide your contact information including email and phone numbers.

Once I receive your form, I will contact you to discuss the information and answer any questions you may have. Please feel free to
call me to discuss your needs, if you do not wish to fill in the form. Or let me know a good time to call you to discuss your move.

In the meantime, and throughout the process, please contact me if you have any questions or items that are not addressed in the
needs assessment, (fill in email) and (fill in phone number(s)).
To help you get started on your research, I highly recommend that you visit the following websites:
MilitaryINSTALLATIONS has a wealth of information on our location including all the important phone numbers.
Plan My Move is a web based application filled with resources, important articles and tips to help make your move easier.
Additionally, there is a calendar to help you track important dates.
Military OneSource has other resources and consultants that can answer any question 24/7 by calling 1-800-342-9747.
Military Youth on the Move is wonderful if you have children. It is designed especially for them to ally any fears or anxieties that they
may have about moving.
To apply for housing please go to the nearest installation housing office with a copy of your orders and fill out DD form 1746, Application for Assignment to
Military Housing.  If you do not have access to a housing office, let me know and I will assist you with the process through our housing office.  
If you need child care, you can complete a DD form 2606 up to 30 days before you PCS. 
I look forward to hearing from you and helping with your transition to the (fill in installation) community. I am sure your assignment
here will provide you with many professional opportunities and wonderful memories. I am looking forward to meeting you when you
arrive.

Sincerely,
 Example Questionnaire
The following application can be found on the e-
Sponsorship site http://apps.mhf.dod.mil/ESAT and
is for use by the sponsor to gather important and
helpful information from the new in-bound Soldier,
civilian, and their family members.
 
Example Sponsor Checklist
Pre-Arrival Duties
 
___ Initiate contact with incoming personnel within 24 hours of receiving their
information from the S-GATE system.
 
___ Send an Army Community Services (ACS) welcome packet for the community.
 
___ Inquire what specific needs and concerns the newcomers have. If they don't
know, try to determine the need and meet it.
 
___ Promptly provide any information requested. Ask for assistance if
necessary. Do not ignore requests.
 
___ Provide specific unit, mission, duties and inprocessing details.
 
___ Provide specific installation housing policies and cost of living
information.
 
___ Sponsor the entire family. Initiate contact between spouses and children,
as appropriate.
 
___ Provide USAREUR driver's license information.
 
___ Tell the newcomers where you will meet them upon arrival.
 
___ Arrange temporary lodging and transportation.
 
___ Inform the chain of command of any changes in the status of incoming
personnel.
 Example Sponsor Checklist
___
Cont'
Promptly follow-up with the newcomer and all correspondence.
- Travel plans, arrival date and number in party
- Confirmation of temporary lodging
Discuss:

- Local currency
- Pet arrangements, as necessary

Arrival and Post-Arrival Duties

 
___ Meet the newcomers at the arrival point as planned and escort them to the temporary lodging
you have secured for them. Include family members, as appropriate.
 
___ Insure the newcomers basic needs are met, including meals, local currency, pet supplies, and
family and emergency contact numbers.
 
___ Assist with temporary transportation until other means are established.
 
___ Escort the newcomer to the in-processing center and all locations listed on the in-processing
checklist.
 
___ Introduce the newcomer to the immediate chain of command, supervisors and co-workers, and
orient them to the unit and mission.
 
___ Provide a tour of essential post and community locations including the PX, Commissary,
banking facilities, thrift shop, hospital/clinic, schools, clubs and dining facilities. Also
familiarize them with the local area.
 
___ Introduce family members to the Family Support Group. Unaccompanied personnel should be
introduced to the Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers (BOSS) program.
 
 Example Sponsor Checklist
Cont'
___ Assist newcomers in obtaining a USAREUR driver's license, and inspection and
registration of POV, as necessary.
 
___ Take newcomers to ACS for information on the Loan Closet and other available
services.
 
___ Acquaint newcomers with the local school system and child care facilities, as
necessary.
 Resources
ACS Training and support resources, relocation
information, and Welcome Packets.
Child and Youth Services
MWR
Chaplain
Unit Family Readiness Group
www.myarmylifetoo.com
http://www.militaryhomefront.dod.mil
www.militaryonesource.com
e-Sponsorship http://apps.mhf.dod.mil/ESAT
 Summary
Sponsorship is more than a handshake and greeting.

A good sponsor makes newcomers feel welcome in the

unit as a member of the team and helps integrate them
into the community.

Sponsors make the “lasting impressions.”

A sponsor doesn’t get a second chance
to make a positive first impression!
Sources for this Training
were obtained at:
AR 600-8-8
e-Sponsorship http://apps.mhf.dod.mil/ESAT
S-Gate
https://www.updb.hqusareur.army.mil/SPONSORTRA
INING/DEFAULT.ASP
Questions?