Holiday mailing
Postal Service announces deadlines for service members mail going overseas
INDIANAPOLIS, IN — While the first signs of autumn may yet to appear, it’s not too early to start thinking about holiday cards, letters and packages destined for servicemembers and their families stationed in faraway lands. According to Al Eakle, a spokesman for the Greater Indiana District of the U.S. Postal Service, the first deadline for the 2008 holiday season is about 60 days away.
Thursday, Nov. 13, is the deadline for sending holiday packages to troops stationed overseas using Parcel Post to all Air/Army Post Office (APO) or Fleet Post Office (FPO) ZIP Codes.
“The U.S. Postal Service is encouraging early deadlines,” said Eakle, “to ensure packages reach their destination in time for the holidays.”
All military mail, regardless of destination, is sent by domestic mail rate. International rates do not apply to military mail delivery.
One way Hoosiers can confirm delivery is by using Delivery Confirmation, available for almost all military destinations outside the United States. Delivery Confirmation provides customers with the date, ZIP Code and time the package was delivered. This information can be accessed online at www.usps.com.
“Mail is one of the greatest morale boosters we can give our soldiers, sailors, Marines, airmen and Coast Guardsmen during the holidays.” said Eakle. “When they see packages or letters waiting for them it brings them that much closer to family and the comforts of home.”
The U.S. Postal Service also has a Military Care Kit to make it easier for military families and friends to send packages to servicemen and women and their families stationed overseas. Each free kit contains three flat rate boxes, two cube boxes, nine address labels, and 16 customs forms. The kit may be ordered by calling the USPS Expedited Package Supply Center at 1-800-610-8734.
“Another good deal,” said Eakle, “is the Priority Mail Large Flat-Rate Box introduced earlier this year. It offers a $2 discount to APO/FPO destinations and ships for $10.95. Go online, use Click-n-Ship and the price drops to $10.50.”
The U.S. Postal Service has also made celebrating the holidays more personal by making it as fun and easy as baking holiday cookies.
“With a little creativity, customers can create their own holiday cards and customized postage on First-Class Mail, Priority Mail and Express Mail,” Eakle added. “It’s all available at www.usps.com.”
All packages and mail must be addressed to individual service members, as required by U.S. Department of Defense regulations. “We cannot accept any mail addressed to ‘Any Servicemember,” Eakle added.
The U.S. Postal Service places APO/FPO mail on special charter flights, commercial airlines and military service aircraft to reach armed services members overseas as quickly as possible.
The complete list of military mailing deadlines is:
| Military Mail Addressed To | Express Mail® Military Service (EMMS)1 | First Class Mail® Letters/Cards | Priority Mail® | Parcel Airlift Mail (PAL)2 | Space Available Mail (SAM)3 | Parcel Post® |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| APO/FPO AE ZIPs 090-092 | Dec-18 | Dec-11 | Dec-11 | Dec-4 | Nov-28 | Nov-13 |
| APO/FPO AE ZIP 093 | N/A | Dec-4 | Dec-4 | Dec-1 | Nov-21 | Nov-13 |
| APO/FPO AE ZIPs 094-098 | Dec-18 | Dec-11 | Dec-11 | Dec-4 | Nov-28 | Nov-13 |
| APO/FPO AA ZIP 340 | Dec-18 | Dec-11 | Dec-11 | Dec-4 | Nov-28 | Nov-13 |
| APO/FPO AP ZIPs 962-966 | Dec-18 | Dec-11 | Dec-11 | Dec-4 | Nov-28 | Nov-13 |
“Let the U.S. Postal Service do what we do best — pick up and deliver your mail,” said Eakle. “Prepare Priority Mail and Express Mail packages and then notify us online at www.usps.com/pickup that they’re ready to be picked up. Free package pickup is available from home or office.”
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