The sponsor program in Okinawa is a program designed to give you and your family a go-to person during your transition to the island. Most of the time, sponsors are people who are assigned to do this by their command team. Most of them don’t even take a class or have anything to prepare them for this task. Some of them may even be trying to help you in their own personal time, so please keep that in mind with your expectations.

The Basics of the Sponsor Program in Okinawa

It’s important to know that each service is different. There are different expectations for each location, each base and each command. The sponsor program in Okinawa is there to help you and/or your family with your basic needs when you arrive on the island. This will include helping you get into lodging and setting up what type of room you will need, or helping you secure your home with Port to Home. They will also be available to pick you up from the Patriot Express on Kadena Air Base and take you to your home or to lodging.

The sponsors are required to attend training, and they are considered to be on special duty assignment when helping you get to and settled on the island. However, it is voluntary and some sponsors may be willing to do more than others.

Housing

Once the orders are obtained, the sponsor can assist you in setting up a mailbox before you arrive.

If you are doing Port to Home, your sponsor will be a big part of the process in selecting your home. When you apply for housing, you will designate that you would like to do Port to Home. You will need to give them your sponsor’s name and contact information. You will also need to provide a Special Power of Attorney for your sponsor. This will allow them to look at houses and accept a home on your behalf. You can also give them a Power of Attorney to accept your household shipments in case those arrive before you do.

Housing will notify your sponsor that houses are available for viewing. Your sponsor should set up a time to do a video call or at least send photos of each house you are offered so you can make the best decision possible for your family! Once you decide on a home, your sponsor will sign the paperwork to accept the home on your behalf.

Your sponsor will also set up your government furniture delivery. They should also get items from your branch’s Loan Locker to have ready in your home.

Lodging

If you decide to secure a home after arrival, your sponsor will help you secure temporary lodging in one of the base lodging facilities.

Transportation

The sponsors should either be available or make arrangements to pick you and your family up from the Patriot Express and transport you and all of your belongings to lodging or to your new home. Sponsors will sometimes provide a welcome basket of Okinawa niceties and information, but this is on a voluntary basis and dependent upon the sponsor and command what is available for newcomers.

Sponsors should also be available to drive you to and from the Newcomer’s Brief, to any appointments or check-in processes, and anything else you may need (i.e., groceries, running errands) until you have your SOFA license.

Pets

If your family has a pet, they will help set up pet friendly rooms at the temporary lodging facilities (TLF), if rooms are are available. If they are not available, they can assist in transferring the pet to Karing Kennels, the on base location for quarantined pets, or help you find off-base options (if the quarantine is completed).

Buying a Vehicle

The sponsor should assist the active duty member with their immediate driving needs to include checking into the command, medical, newcomers briefings and providing all information requested. They should also assist in driving you to different used car dealerships or provide you with information on vehicles for sale before you arrive.

Find more info about buying a vehicle in Okinawa here.

Other Things Your Sponsor Can Do for You

Some sponsors are available to do more than others, but if you get a good one it can really make arrival to Okinawa a wonderful one.

Sponsors have certain requirements that they must do to fulfill their duties. But some go above and beyond to help you. Here are few things you can ask your sponsor to do to make your life a little easier.

Get your Internet Set Up

If you are doing Port to Home, your sponsor can help you get your Internet set-up and ready to go before you arrive in Okinawa. With MBC, you can sign up for your preferred Internet service using their easy-to-use portal and set up your preferred service start date. Once that is done, your sponsor can head to one of MBC’s convenient locations on Kadena Air Base or Camp Foster to pick up your modem and cables for free Armed Forces Network (AFN) streaming.

If you want, your sponsor can even set up your WiFi or you can do it when you get to your new home — it only takes a few minutes!

Pick Up Your Groceries

The Commissaries here have an order service system. You can order your groceries online and assign your sponsor to pick them up for you on a specific day. Your sponsor can then fill up your fridge (or mini fridge if you’re in base lodging) and stock some of your favorite items so you have them when you get to your home or lodging.

Set Up Bedding

If you do Port to Home you will have government furniture in your home when you arrive. But it does not include bedding, pillows, or towels. Your sponsor can lend you some bedding, pillows, and towels to use. If your sponsor doesn’t have any extra to lend, you can get some cheap items from the base thrift stores (there is one on Kadena and one on Camp Foster) or at the Exchange.

Basically, your sponsor program in Okinawa is there to help you transition from your last base to your new base and residence on Okinawa. They help fill the void of unknown and help get you to where you need to be!

Welcome to Okinawa and I hope your sponsor was every bit as informative as you needed!