R 011556Z MAY 12

ALCOAST 204/12
COMDTNOTE 1513
SUBJ: WELCOMING YOUR NEWEST SHIPMATES - SPONSOR MESSAGES AND UNIT
INFORMATION SHEETS FOR RECRUIT TRAINING GRADUATES
A. Military Assignments and Authorized Absences, COMDTINST M1000.8
(series)
1. The Coast Guard Sponsor Program is an important tool utilized
across the service to welcome new members to their unit. Nowhere is
this tool more valuable than with your newest shipmates at Recruit
Training at Training Center Cape May (TCCM). TCCM graduates are the
most junior members of our service and all are going through the
challenges of their first PCS move in the Coast Guard. This makes the
role of the sponsor at the first receiving unit critical to the
future success of each new member.
2. Active duty recruits receive their orders in week 5 of the 7.5
week program. Reserve recruits know their first duty station prior to
arrival at TCCM. Section 1.a.14 of Ref (A) mandates the assignment of
a sponsor to all incoming personnel. In keeping with this policy, all
units receiving a graduate from recruit training (active duty or
reserve) are requested to provide a sponsor message within 5 days of
notification of orders. The TCCM goal is for each recruit (active and
reserve) to receive a sponsor message as prescribed in Ref (A) NLT 10
days from receipt of orders. Timeliness is especially critical due to
the compressed window between issuance of orders and recruit
graduation. The intent is not to burden operational units with
administrative workload, but to ensure that your new shipmates are
set up for success. TCCM looks forward to partnering with the field
to ensure that no recruit leaves Cape May without having made contact
with his or her unit.
3. A recent procedural change was made to facilitate support of
reserve recruits. All reserve recruit orders are now available in
Direct-Access (DA) just like their active duty shipmates.
4. Additionally, to assist receiving units with this process and
notification of recruit orders, TCCM will begin e-mailing a Coast
Guard Sponsor Notification, Form CG-6058 to the XO/XPO/supervisor of
each unit receiving a graduate from basic training.
5. Over the past year TCCM has tracked submission of sponsor messages
from across the service. The success rate in FY-11 for receipt of
sponsor messages for recruits at TCCM:
    a. Active Duty: 85 percent
    b. Reserve: 30 percent
6. To ensure sponsor messages are routed correctly, TCCM requests the
use of a standard subject line for each sponsor notification message
to read as follows: "WELCOME ABOARD SR JOHN R. DOE, RECRUIT COMPANY
FOXTROT 186" (company and member name as appropriate).
7. Another effort that has been u/w for some time to assist your
newest shipmates is the Unit Information Sheet (UIS). Recruits look
fwd to accessing these sheets immediately after receipt of their
orders and they prove to be an important source of information.
Currently more than half of the UIS are in need of updated
information. Request units access and update their UIS to assist your
newest shipmates as they prepare to enter the service. Directions for
updating your UIS can be found on TCCM website using the following
link: http://www.uscg.mil/hq/capemay/recruit/UISinformation.asp
8. For questions related to the sponsor program at TCCM, please
contact LT Ed Herbst at 609-898-6715 or edward.a.herbst(AT)uscg.mil
or BMCM Dawn Smith at 609-898-6923 or dawn.l.smith(AT)uscg.mil.
9. TCCM appreciates the support of the fleet as they continue their
mission to serve as the birthplace of our enlisted corps.
10. RDML S. E. Mehling, Commander, Force Readiness Command, sends.
11. Internet release authorized.