Michigan Army National Guard New Soldier Sponsorship Program Handbook

MICHIGAN ARMY NATIONAL GUARD NEW SOLDIER SPONSORSHIP PROGRAM HANDBOOK TABLE OF CONTENTS:

SECTION I 1. ……………………………………………………………………. OVERVIEW 2. ……………………………………………………………………….PURPOSE 3. ……………………………….………………………………. APPLICATION 4. ……………………………………………………………ACCOUNTABILITY 5. ……………………………………….DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

SECTION II

1. ……………………NON-PRIOR SERVICE SOLDIER SPONSORSHIP 2. …………………………………………PRIOR SERVICE SPONSORSHIP

APPENDICES

A.…………………MIARNG FORM SP-1 SPONSORSHIP WORKSHEET B…………………………………………….DA Form 4856 CAREER GOALS SECTION I

1. OVERVIEW: The MIARNG Sponsorship Program is designed to help ensure complete integration of all new Soldiers, both prior service and non-prior service, into their units. This handbook and the accompanying appendices will aid commanders at all levels in the development, implementation and monitoring of their Sponsorship Program. Please recommend SOP changes through your chain of command to the state retention NCOIC.

2. PURPOSE: An effective Sponsorship Program will help reduce attrition especially in the area of first term losses. This program is time-oriented as opposed to event oriented. The new Soldier will remain under sponsored status for 3-6 months after reporting to the unit.

3. APPLICATION: Commanders, Command Sergeants Major, First Sergeants, First Line Leaders (FLL) and MSC/BN-level Career Counselors are responsible for the implementation and oversight of this Sponsorship Program. It is vitally important that the RSP and unit level personnel work closely together in the integration of new soldiers into the MIARNG. The Sponsorship Process is complete upon 1SG certification of MIARNG Form SP-1 (Appendix A) and execution of career goal oriented counseling utilizing DA Form 4856.

4. ACCOUNTABILITY: Units will maintain a Unit Sponsorship Binder. The purpose of this binder is to control the sponsorship forms and keep a record of all unit sponsorship activities within the unit. This item is inspectable under the State Organization Inspection Program (OIP).

5. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

a. COMMANDER : The Commander will ensure implementation of the New Soldier Sponsorship Program at all subordinate units. b. COMMAND SERGEANTS MAJOR : Emphasize importance of New Soldier Sponsorship Program to First Sergeants and FLL. Ensure training on program is developed and conducted during NCODP.

c. FIRST SERGEANT : Responsible for implementing and monitoring the Sponsorship Program for individual Soldiers. They are to ensure the proper execution of this program, to include the final certification of new Soldiers integration into the unit. d. FIRST LINE LEADER (FLL) : Responsible as primary Point of Contact for the new Soldier’s attendance and effective, timely sponsorship. Complete Initial Counseling including Soldiers Career Goals documented on DA Form 4856. e. FULL-TIME SUPPORT STAFF (FTS) : Notify Unit Command Staff of new soldier accession. Assign and inform unit sponsors as directed by the First Sergeant. f. UNIT CAREER COUNSELOR (UCC) : Maintain the Unit Sponsorship Binder that houses the Sponsorship Forms for record. Disseminate New Soldier Sponsorship Forms at beginning of drill. Assist the First Sergeant with the implementing and monitoring the effectiveness of the Unit Sponsorship Program. Ensure the Sponsorship Program adheres to SOP. Review career goals on Initial Counseling from FLL and upload into RMS. g. SPONSOR : Integrate New Soldier into the Unit. Responsible for ensuring Sponsorship forms are checked out from and turned into the UCCs. The Sponsor will guide the new Soldier through the Sponsorship process ensuring each Unit Representative briefs and initials their assigned topics in Section II of Form SP-1. Upon completion, Form SP-1 will be signed off by unit 1SG and turned into the UCC. and initial Career Goals Counseling is completed with a UCC. h. BN CAREER COUNSELOR (BCC) : Responsible for the primary oversight and completion of the Sponsorship Program at the Battalion level. Review Initial Career Counseling’s, worksheets, and validate during quarterly Unit Assistance Visits to ensure adherence to SOP.

SECTION II

1. NON-PRIOR SERVICE (NPS) SPONSORSHIP: All Non- Prior Service Soldiers will be assimilated into the Michigan Army National Guard, the Unit and the RSP using MIARNG Form SP-1, Sponsorship Worksheet (Appendix A). This worksheet is designed to capture personal Soldier data, sponsor data, and the various “waypoints” during the new Soldier Sponsorship process. a. Enlistment Notification. Every Soldier will complete a final drill with the RSP after IADT graduation. All administrative data (i.e. IADT graduation, MOS, APFT and HS Diploma) will be updated into UPS at that time. The RSP will notify the gaining unit FTS of the new Soldier gain by completing Section I Parts 1-2 of Form SP-1 (see Appendix A) and E- Mailing the form to the gaining unit. The BCC will be copied on this notification. b. Assignment of Sponsor. The FTS will assign an appropriate sponsor IAW unit Strength Operation Plan (SOP), complete Part I, Section 3 and hand / email the form to the Sponsor. Unit’s SOP should outline Sponsorship assignment procedures. c. Soldier contact. The assigned sponsor will initiate contact with the new soldier before the next scheduled drill to provide details and schedule meeting the Soldier prior to opening formation at the next drill. d. Recognition: The Commander, First Sergeant, and Sponsor will ensure the new Soldier is recognized at the opening formation on the first drill. e. Sponsorship Duties during First Drill at Unit. Section II of the MIARNG Form SP-1, Sponsor will explain areas the new Soldier will be briefed on by each of the Unit Representatives. Ensure new Soldier’s meet with UCC to complete initial Career Goals Counseling by end of first drill.

2. PRIOR SERVICE SOLDIER SPONSORSHIP: All Prior Service Soldiers (including Officers) will be assimilated into their unit as per Section II Paragraph 1b above, using MIARNG Form SP-1.

All PS Soldiers will have an Initial Career Goals counseling completed by the UCC utilizing DA Form 4856 (Appendix B).

a. PS Enlistment Notification. The Recruiter will inform the unit of the PS Gain. The gaining unit will initiate the MIARNG Form SP-1 by completing Section I. A copy will be furnished to the BCC.

b. PS Gain through IST. The FTS will complete MIARNG Form SP-1, Section I parts 1 & 3 and hands / emails to the Sponsor.

c. PS Gain through EPS. The losing unit will send all the Soldier’s personnel records. The gaining unit FTS completes the MIARNG Form SP-1 Section I parts 1 & 3 and completes notification procedures as per Section II Paragraph 1b, above.