Active-duty soldiers in the rank of sergeant first class and above, Title X instructors and competitive sport head coaches living on West Point or Stewart or within the boundaries outlined by the U.S. Corps of Cadets can sign up to sponsor members of the Class of ‘03 through the Fourth Class Sponsor Program through today. A boundary map is located on the USCC internal homepage.

By signing up, sponsors get the chance to serve as a home away from home for members of the plebe class.

"Basically, it’s a chance for the cadets to experience Army family life," said Sgt. Myron C. McCray, who, as assistant operations noncommissioned officer for USCC, oversees the program.

And signing up to be a sponsor does not mean that you have to provide a floor show, tickets to Disney World or jump through hoops to entertain your cadets.

"You don’t have to do anything extra," McCray said. "It’s just an opportunity for cadets to relax and interact with their sponsor."

"It’s a great program for the cadets to get away from the barracks and relax in a home atmosphere," added retired Master Sgt. Nils Anderson, a USCC operations specialist.

And the sponsors gain from the experience, as well, McCray said.

"They get a better idea of cadet life," he said.

The relationships formed with tomorrow’s leaders can last well beyond the cadets’ plebe year.

"A lot of these relationships last a long time," said Anderson.

Signing up is easy. Go to the USCC internal homepage and follow the directions.

Members of the Class of 2003 are scheduled to hear a briefing on the program Aug. 17. Sign-ups for the class will be held Aug. 14-23.

Questions?