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Malmstrom Sponsorship Program

Malmstrom Command Chief, Chief Master Sgt. Ron Harper, discusses sponsorship programs at MAFB.

MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. --

RON HARPER, 341ST MISSILE WING COMMAND CHIEF: "THROUGH THE MONTH OF OCTOBER, WE'RE GOING TO HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE OUTSTANDING SPONSORSHIP PROGRAMS WE HAVE HERE AT MALMSTROM, WITH THE INTENT OF HOPING THAT FOLKS WILL BE ABLE TO ENHANCE THEIR PROGRAMS THAT THEY HAVE HERE AT MALMSTROM AND MAKE IT MORE UNIQUE FOR THAT UNIT. 

"I WOULD SAY THAT SPONSORSHIP WAS KEY TO MY SUCCESS IN THE AIR FORCE. COMING FROM A SMALL TOWN, MY MOM HAS THIRTEEN BROTHERS AND SISTERS AND THEY ALL KIND OF STAYED DOWN THERE IN THE COUNTY. I COME FROM A VERY BIG FAMILY. JOINING THE AIR FORCE WAS A LITTLE INTIMIDATING FOR ME TO LEAVE THAT NETWORK OF FAMILY. SO WHEN I JOINED THE AIR FORCE AND WENT TO MY FIRST DUTY STATION, THAT UNIT, WITH THEIR SPONSORSHIP PROGRAM, MADE ME FEEL LIKE PART OF A FAMILY. THEY BROUGHT ME IN AS A BROTHER. THROUGH THAT SPONSORSHIP PROGRAM WITH THAT UNIT WAS THE KEY TO MY SUCCESS. 

"THE SPONSORSHIP PROGRAM IS NOT ONLY FOR OUR FIRST-TERM AIRMEN. AS YOU CONTINUE YOUR AIR FORCE CAREER, THERE WILL BE A FEW MORE PCS'S IN YOUR FUTURE AND THE SPONSORSHIP PROGRAM IS VITALLY IMPORTANT FOR OUR FAMILIES TO MAKE THAT TRANSITION. I, MYSELF, ON MY TWELFTH ASSIGNMENT, CAN TELL YOU THAT HAVING A GOOD SPONSOR ON THE OTHER END MAKES A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE.

"THE SPONSORSHIP PROGRAM IS ALSO IMPORTANT FOR OUR AIRMEN THAT ARE THOUSANDS OF MILES AWAY FROM THEIR FAMILIES. KNOWING THAT SOMEONE ON THE OTHER END IS GOING TO TAKE CARE OF THEM WHEN THEY GET TO THEIR NEW DUTY STATION PUTS THEM AT EASE AND LETS THEM KNOW THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE OKAY. 

"STAY TUNED THROUGH THE MONTH OF OCTOBER AS WE HIGHLIGHT SOME OF OUR OUTSTANDING SPONSORSHIP PROGRAMS HERE AT MALMSTROM. WE HOPE YOU FIND THEM HELPFUL AND INSPIRING AND THAT THEY HELP YOU GET INVOLVED WITH YOUR UNIT SPONSORSHIP PROGRAM."