Sponsorship program goes virtual

  • Published
  • By Sara Harr
  • 48th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, England --  The sponsorship program for Liberty Wing sponsors will be completely electronic as of May 1.

The new virtual eSponsor program will provide all-access benefits to incoming Airmen and their sponsors.

"The Office of Communications, Military Community and Family Policy have developed a Web-based electronic sponsorship application training, commonly referred to as eSAT, module," said Angelina Quamina,48th Force Support Squadron Airman & Family Readiness Center base INTRO program manager. "The purpose of this program is to provide standardized sponsorship training to all appointed sponsors."

She went on to explain the program.

"eSAT allows the sponsor to create an online registration and data record for the newcomer," she said.
"A needs-assessment checklist requests information about spouses, children, and pets. Based on the information submitted, the program will pull resources from the Military HomeFront Web site to assist the newcomer."

The program was developed to create a standardized process worldwide, but there are many other benefits as well.

It also provides Airmen the ability to complete their sponsorship requirements without leaving their workstations. According to Ms. Quamina, this is important because it eliminates the need for sponsors to leave the duty section to research information at individual agencies to assist the newcomer.

Further, the eSAT program ensures each newcomer receives timely, accurate and tailored information electronically including their sponsorship packages.

"The goal of this program is to provide an all-inclusive service for the newcomer, relocation team, and sponsor," stated Jane Mickenheim, 48th Force Support Squadron A&FRC community readiness consultant. "The new initiative provides accessibility, accountability, standards, information, and feedback for all parties involved."

Unique to the bases here, sponsors provide newcomers the "Welcome to the UK" DVD, which shows newcomers what they can expect in terms of arriving, living, and working in the U.K.

The A&FRC staff said the eSAT program is user friendly and can be easily completed in a handful of steps.

Ms. Quamina explained how the program will work.

The sponsor will be:

- Notified they are a sponsor and advised to report to their orderly room or commander's support staff

- Provided with their newcomer's contact information and family composition

- Required to log on and register for the eSponsorship application and training

- Complete the required training and needs assessment checklist

- Receive a certificate of completion

- Forward the sponsorship package and welcome letter to their newcomer

Once the newcomer receives the package and welcome letter from their sponsor, they will receive an additional e-mail from eSAT containing their sponsor's information, a sponsorship package and a relocation brochure for review and action. The application will then allow continued communication between sponsor and newcomer, tracking the dates of their interactions.

"This program is so important because people are the number one priority and the sponsorship program is the first impression that new Liberty Wing warriors will receive of RAF Lakenheath," said Ms. Quamina. "The first impression is a lasting one and this program strives toward providing the sponsor and newcomer with relocation tools literally at their fingertips."

Finally, upon arrival, the sponsor will have the option to provide feedback on the eSAT program.

"Additionally, this program will be cost effective and provide accountability for both sponsors and their organizations," Ms. Mickenheim added. "Ultimately, we are each other's Wingman, and successful sponsorship leads to rapid mission readiness."

As this is a new Air Force program, it is has been tested at several bases within the continental U.S. for the past few months, and the staff of the A&FRC say they are excited to start using the program here.

"I am so excited about the program because it's going to simplify the sponsorship program both in terms of tracking the sponsor's training and their connection to the newcomer," Ms. Mickenheim said. "We will maintain the face-to-face education piece of our program through the services and counselors here at the Airman & Family Readiness Center, but this program is an added benefit to the overall sponsorship program. It benefits not only the sponsors, but also the newcomers and our staff."

Sponsors can sign up for this program at: https://apps.mhf.dod.mil/ESAT.

The "Welcome to the United Kingdom" video can be found on the RAF Lakenheath public web site at www.lakenheath.af.mil under the "Newcomer's Info" link.

For more information, contact the Lakenheath A&FRC at 226-3847.