Team McChord must adhere to sponsor policy

  • Published
  • By Tyler Hemstreet
  • 62nd Airlift Wing Public Affairs
McChord Air Force Base, Wash. -- --  As the holiday season approaches and family and friends flock to McChord to visit, base officials are asking Team McChord members to be careful of whom they sponsor on base. 

There are a lot of people at McChord who sponsor people and don't understand their full responsibility, said Charles Thornton, administration and report flight commander with the 62nd Security Forces Squadron. 

Sponsoring a guest on base comes with the fact that the sponsors are held responsible for their guests' actions at all times, Mr. Thornton said. 

That responsibility extends to not only active duty military, but anyone authorized to sponsor a guest on the installation, Mr. Thornton said. 

Anyone wanting to host a guest should go through the proper procedures with their supervisors and the pass and registration office, especially if the guest is staying for an extended amount of time, Mr. Thornton said. 

That includes alerting the 62nd Civil Engineer Squadron's housing office if the guest will be staying in the dorms. 

Dependents must be 18 years old to sponsor guests on the installation, Mr. Thornton said. If the dependent is under 18 then the guest will fall under the responsibility of the dependent's parents. He recommends any students bringing home friends for the holidays make sure their guests register through the pass and registration office so they can be cleared to come on base. 

Additionally, long-term guests in base housing should coordinate through the housing office. 

Sponsoring parties can be directly charged under the Uniform Code of Military Justice if their visitor acts in an irresponsible manner whether registered through pass and registration or not, said Master Sgt. Todd Gass, 62nd SFS. 

"They could be charged with failure to control their sponsored member," Sergeant Gass said. "It's an escort privilege, and that privilege can be taken away." 

Air Force Instruction regulations also state that individuals who threaten the orderly administration of the installation or site can be removed from or denied access to for a specific amount of time, in accordance with the commander's exercise of discretion.
The bottom line is simple, Mr. Thornton said. 

"Don't sponsor anyone on this base if you don't know them," he said.