Sponsors critical to mission success

  • Published
  • By Terri O'Keefe
  • Airman and Family Readiness Center
HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. --  Sponsorship is one of the most important duties an Air Force member will perform during his or her career. As the busy PCS season approaches, ensuring Hanscom sponsors are ready and trained to help our new arrivals is vital to the mission. Newcomers settle in faster and with less stress when sponsored with care.

The Airman and Family Readiness Center conducts valuable sponsor training twice a month and prepares the Hanscom Sponsor CD welcome packages.

Newcomers and their families feel most accepted when the initial welcome and support comes from the unit, and sponsors serve as the critical link. Telephone calls, letters, packages and personal greetings upon arrival are very important sponsor duties. Base and local area tours, introductions at the office and other thoughtful services also go a long way toward helping the newcomer settle in quickly and successfully.

Research shows good sponsorship saves the newcomer valuable time and money during relocation to a new base. Newcomers may be unfamiliar with local services and information sources or how to navigate the local area. The more information that the inbound service member and family receive, the better prepared they will be for arrival.

With sufficient time on station, sponsors should anticipate difficulties for arriving service members and families that may relate to local culture and climate. For example, imagine a new family flying into Logan Airport during April. Navigating Boston is typically a challenge even for locals, but the newcomer arriving during the Boston Marathon, Patriot's Day or daytime Red Sox game will be even more challenged.

Newcomers arriving from overseas may arrive without transportation or not be prepared for inclement New England weather and difficult driving. They may bring children or pets. Temporary Lodging arrangements need to be made with plenty of advance notice. Holiday hours at local stores and restaurants may be extended or reduced.

Sponsors with similar demographics such as rank and marital status, will also be more aware of potential challenges.

Good Sponsorship at Hanscom is critical due to the high cost of living. Spouses also rely on the important information that sponsors can provide such as school and employment information, volunteer and social activities, children's activities, recreation and more.

Sponsors don't have to have all the answers, but need to know where to go to get them. Sponsor Training provides resource and referral guidebooks for sponsors to use when answering questions or linking newcomers with base agencies.

Newcomers at Hanscom are impressed by the sponsorship and unit support they receive. Comments such as, "The people in my unit went out of their way to make me feel welcome" are common.

Contact the Airman and Family Readiness Center at 781-377-4222, or e-mail 66mss.dpf.cmb@hanscom.af.mil for more information and to register for Sponsor Training.