Sponsorship Program

Ft. Leavenworth Sponsor Program

Recruitment Phase

The IMSD recruits active military officers (ranks Captain to Colonel), and civil service, GS-9 and above, to sponsor incoming International Military Students (IMS). The sponsors are permanent assigned officers, civil service or contractors assigned to Fort Leavenworth. The Fort Leavenworth sponsor assists the International Military Students by meeting them when they arrive and helping them to get settled in the area. Key planning dates for the academic year are located on the Current Event Calendar.

The IMSD welcomes all volunteers in the rank of GS-09 or Capt (O-3) and above. If you wish to volunteer to sponsor an IMS, please complete Internet CGSC Form 88 or print the form and submit it to the IMSD, Room 3524 Lewis & Clark Center. CGSC Form 88 is also available in Room 3524, Lewis & Clark Center. Phone 913-684-7323 to contact the Sponsor Coordinator for the Fort Leavenworth Sponsor Program.

Due to the high demand for certain countries, a sponsor may only be permitted to sponsor the same country for no more than 2 years. This will allow for other individuals to sponsor these countries and allows the program to continue to grow and attract new sponsors.

CGSOC students are no longer eligible to be Fort Leavenworth sponsors but are encouraged to volunteer to be a student ambassador. The point of contact for Student Ambassadorship is the US Student Division, Student Act. Coordinator at 913-684-7313. Also, if you are planning to retire in the local area, you may wish to join the civilian sponsor program.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who are the International Military Students?
The host country selects the international military students to attend the Command and General Staff College based on U.S. Combatant Commander priorities. They are the elite in their armed forces chosen to attend CGSC because of their ability to aspire to higher positions. Approximately 1/3 of each class will attain general officer rank and others go on to the highest positions in their armed forces. Currently 211 International Military Students from 61 countries are members of the CGSC International Hall of Fame. Inductees are officers who reach the equivalent position of Chief of Staff of the Army.

Who are the Fort Leavenworth sponsors?
Are they incoming CGSOC "Snowbird" students?
Are they members of the CGSC staff and faculty?
Do they come from other organizations on post?
Are they retired military officers?
The correct response is "all four"

Am I the only one who is helping the International Military Student?
No. Each International Military Student also has a Leavenworth civilian sponsor provided by the Leavenworth-Lansing Area Chamber of Commerce, a Kansas City civilian sponsor provided by the Greater Kansas City Area People-to-People Organization, and a Student Ambassador who will be a U.S. student classmate.

What does a sponsor do?
The sponsor meets the International Military Student at the airport and assists him/her in getting settled in the local area. Then the sponsor provides the visiting family with a valuable point of contact that the family can turn to for answers to simple questions like "Where do a go to have my electricity turned on?" or "Where do I go to get my drivers license?"
In general, they need a kind hand to help get them acquainted and established once they arrive. The goal is to help the International Military Student feel welcome and at home just like you if you were to move to a foreign country. In time, the international military student and family become rather independent once acclimated to our way of life and established with a home and a vehicle to get around. The only lasting link, following the demands of arriving and unpacking inherent with any PCS move, is the lasting friendship developed between your families.
The IMSD invites the sponsors to join the International Military Students at several functions during the school year.

How do I sign up?
Read the info about CGSC Form 88 above or for more information, contact the International Military Student Division at 913-684-7323.

Assignment Phase

Individuals selected will be notified via e-mail. Sponsors will need to respond and inform IMSD if they will be on leave or TDY during the IMS arrival window. Please contact the IMSD if you wish to join the program.

IMS Reception Phase

This important phase of the Sponsor Program begins with the arrival and initial activities (In-processing and Registration) of the International Military Students.

Sponsor Guide to IMS Reception

How do I, as a sponsor, assist my International Military Student (IMS) when s/he arrives? Basically be there, meet him/her at the airport if s/he travels via time and place if s/he drives.

How do I, as a sponsor, assist my International Military Student (IMS) when s/he arrives? Basically be there, meet him/her at the airport if s/he travels via air or make arrangements to meet him/her at a convenient time and place if s/he drives.

• When will his/her course of instruction begin? View the International Military Student Division Key Dates
• Kansas City Airport (Code: MCI) has latest airport and flight delays information.
• Billeting: Contact IMSD Personal Affairs Coordinator at 913-684-7326 or 913-684-7318. After duty hours call 913-683-4186 or 913 683-4184.
• Information on Leavenworth and Lansing Schools for IMS Dependents is posted on the IMSD website.

For additional information regarding all of the Sponsorship opportunities, the point of contact is the IMSD Field Studies Program Manager

Civilian Sponsor Program

Each international officer also has two civilian sponsors:

1. A Leavenworth-Lansing civilian sponsor, recruited and assigned by the Operation International Committee of the Leavenworth-Lansing Area Chamber of Commerce.
   • You may contact the Sponsor Team Leader or the Leavenworth-Lansing Area Chamber of Commerce: 518 Shawnee, Leavenworth, Kansas 66048, phone (913) 682-4112 or fax (913) 682-8170
2. The Greater Kansas City Chapter People-to-People International sponsor.
   • You may contact the Kansas City Sponsor Team Leader for the Kansas City People-to-People organization at (913) 345-8266 or via E-mail.

The Field Studies Program Manager, IMSD, works with these civilian agencies to coordinate the IMS Sponsor Program. Please coordinate with the civilian agencies mentioned above to apply to sponsor an incoming international officer.

Student Ambassador

Comparable to Sponsors, Student Ambassadors have a less formal relationship with IMS. Unlike Sponsors, Student Ambassadors are selected and appointed by the Director, U.S. Student Division, following review of U.S. student Officer Record Briefs. Officers with SOF and Civil Affairs backgrounds are considered especially well suited to this duty. Volunteers are also given full consideration. Student Ambassadors function within the staff group as an advisor to the IMS, providing limited additional assistance with understanding acronyms, abbreviations, slang, jargon and idioms that would otherwise hinder the IMS’s ability to follow and participate in lecture and discussion. Where appropriate, Student Ambassadors provide limited assistance with understanding the scope and intent of curriculum and related homework assignments, and where necessary also assist their IMS with accessing IT systems and achieving basic understanding of web-based learning systems. For more information on Student Ambassador Program, please call 913 684-7313 or 913 684-7317.

For more information on Student Ambassadorship, please call 913-684-7317.

Awards and Decorations (Revised January 2005)

CGSC Staff & Faculty Bulletin

Section IV. INTERNATIONAL MILITARY STUDENTS' SPONSORSHIP RECOGNITION PROGRAM

PURPOSE

This section contains policies and prescribes administrative procedures for public recognition of sponsors of the CGSC international military students.

REFERENCE AR 12-15, Joint Security Assistance Training (JSAT).

SCOPE

The procedures contained in this section are for use by personnel assigned to the International Military Student Division (IMSD), Command and General Staff School (CGSS), in annual recognition of the Kansas City area civilian, Leavenworth/Lansing area civilian, and Fort Leavenworth military or civilian sponsors of international military students (IMS).

BACKGROUND

Sponsors are volunteers who befriend and assist IMSs and their families during their stay in Kansas. Sponsors provide a warm welcome, a measure of home hospitality, and exposure to American family and community life. Sponsorship is a key component of the CGSC Department of Defense (DoD) Field Studies Program (FSP), having the objective of providing students a functional understanding of internationally recognized human rights and the American democratic way of life. The FSP is an integral part of the IMS's total training program and is of importance second only to the military objectives for which the IMS is in training. This sponsorship recognition program acknowledges the invaluable service of sponsors, and provides a tangible means for CGSC to thank them for their assistance.

CRITERIA FOR SPONSORSHIP RECOGNITION

1. Recognition is given to all sponsors who have served in the IMSD sponsorship program for 1, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 years continuously. Sponsors who resume service after a break of 1 or more years may have their previous years counted if the service can be verified. Sponsors can change from one sponsor organization to another (Kansas City area, Leavenworth/Lansing area, Fort Leavenworth), and their service years can be bridged as continuous if the service can be verified. If a sponsor serves more than one IMS in a single year, the year is still counted as 1 year. Sponsors may serve to a maximum of 50 years.
   1. All sponsors (both members of a couple) who have successfully sponsored for 1 year will receive a sponsor lapel pin. Pins are awarded en masse at the Sponsor Recognition Ceremony.
   2. All sponsors who have sponsored for 5 years will receive a small wood plaque (approximately 5" x 7") with the CGSC crest and an engraved brass plate (1 award per family).
   3. All sponsors who have sponsored for 10 years will receive a medium wood plaque (approximately 9" x 12") with the CGSC crest, an engraved brass plate (1 award per family).
   4. All sponsors who have sponsored for 15 years will receive a large wood plaque (approximately 10" x 13") with the CGSC crest, an engraved brass plate (1 award per family).
   5. All sponsors who have sponsored for 20 years will receive a modestly framed Department of the Army Certificate of Appreciation for Patriotic Civilian Service signed by the Commandant (1 award per family).
   6. All sponsors who have sponsored for 25 years will receive a Fort Leavenworth Lamp Certificate signed by the Commandant and Deputy Commandant and modestly framed; and a Lamp print with an appropriately engraved plate (1 award per family). The Director, CGSS, attests to the awarding of the Certificate.
   7. All sponsors who have sponsored for 30 years will receive the Commander's Award for Public Service, to be signed by the Commandant and modestly framed (1 award per family).
   8. All families who have sponsored for 40 years will have their framed photograph displayed in the International Hall of Fame.
2. Recognition of Sponsors Emeritus. The sponsor organization coordinators may nominate individuals for the Emeritus category if they have served for at least 15 years and because of age or health are no longer able to participate actively as sponsors. Sponsors Emeritus will receive a large wood plaque (approximately 12" x 16") with the CGSC crest, an engraved brass plate, and an International Military Student Badge affixed. Sponsors Emeritus are eligible to receive invitations to select sponsor events, as determined by the IMSD Chief in conjunction with the sponsor coordinators. Exceptions to this policy may be made in rare circumstances.

RESPONSIBILITIES

IMSD, CGSS:

1. Coordinate with the sponsor organizations (Kansas City area, Leavenworth/Lansing area, Fort Leavenworth) to obtain up-to-date rosters annually of all sponsors. Ensure rosters indicate the length of service of each sponsor.
2. Ensure, in cooperation with the sponsor organizations, an accurate listing of sponsors eligible for public recognition annually.
3. Coordinate with the Public Affairs Office to assure media coverage of the Sponsor Recognition Ceremony.
4. Host the Sponsor Recognition Ceremony and Reception at an appropriate location approximately 2 to 3 weeks before CGSC graduation.
5. Invite the Commandant and/or Deputy Commandant to present sponsor awards at the Sponsor Recognition Ceremony.
6. Prepare, order, purchase, and/or obtain all sponsor awards as described in this Section, coordinating as necessary with CGSC G-1, CPAC, and CAC, per the appropriate policies and procedures for awards outlined in this chapter.
7. Costs for Sponsorship Recognition are included in the annual CGSC Department of Defense Field Studies Program budget.