Military Mailing Tips

Postal Service announces Military Mailing Dates for Military Mail

BALTIMORE, MD — The U.S. Postal Service reminds families and friends sending holiday packages and letters to servicemen and women overseas that the first mailing deadline is weeks away for letters and packages to arrive before Christmas.

The Department of Defense has issued the following guidelines for addressing your mail to military and civilian personnel deployed in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

• Use the service member’s full name. The Department of Defense no longer allows mail to be addressed to “Any Service Member.”
• Include the unit and APO/FPO (Air/Army Post Office or Fleet Post Office). The address should have the nine-digit zip code if available.
• Include a return address. It’s also advisable to include the destination and return addresses on separate labels inside the package should the box not hold up to rigorous shipping conditions.
• Letters and packages to military service members are shipped worldwide at domestic rates. Do not include the name of the country in an APO/FPO address, or it could be sent by international mail, which has higher rates.  The nine-digit APO/FPO ZIP Code will indicate the destinating country.

The U.S. Postal Service has also introduced a Military Care Kit, or “Mili-kit” to make it easier for military families and friends to send care packages to their loved ones stationed overseas. Since the inception of the Military Care Kit, the U.S. Postal Service has shipped more than 150,000 kits. The kit contains three flat rate boxes, two cube boxes, nine address labels, and 16 customs forms. This kit may be ordered by calling the USPS Expedited Package Supply Center at 1-800-610-8734. There is no charge for the kit.

The Priority Mail Flat Rate boxes included in the kit can be shipped to any APO/FPO in the world, regardless of weight, for $8.95

There are also certain factors to consider when sending packages to the troops overseas. To make sure package contents arrive in good shape, take these into consideration.

• Extreme Temperatures: Desert temperatures typically exceed 100 degrees.
• The Box: Select a strong box with room for cushioning. On recycled boxes, cover all previous labels and markings with a heavy black marker or adhesive labels.
• Cushioning: Cushion contents with Styrofoam or bubble wrap to keep items from shifting.
• Consider double-boxing fragile items, with cushioning inside and between the boxes to absorb shock.
• Batteries: Battery powered items will sometimes get turned on during shipment. Remove and wrap the batteries separately.
• Sealing: Tape the opening of the box and reinforce all seams with 2 inch wide tape. Use clear or brown packaging tape, reinforced packing tape or paper tape. Do not use cord, string or twine.
• Include a card describing the contents: Improperly wrapped packages can fall apart during shipment. Including a card inside, listing the sender’s and recipient’s addresses plus a description of the contents, helps i

All mail addressed to military post offices overseas is subject to certain conditions or restrictions regarding content, preparation and handling. For specific restrictions and mailing rates to an APO/FPO address, visit the USPS Rate Calculator at http://postcalc.usps.gov.