Postal Service posts holiday deadlines to mail to U.S. troops stationed overseas
Thursday, November 9, 2006 4:01 PM MST
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DENVER, CO - It pays to mail early, especially to our troops serving overseas this holiday season. The Postal Service has announced its recommended mailing dates for delivery by Christmas to our U.S. military troops serving overseas at APO/FPO addresses. (See dates below.)
These are dates based on the most economical air and surface transportation. The earlier the overseas mailing date, generally it costs less to mail based on transportation, handling and type of service.
The good news is that there is still plenty of time to mail overseas, but the dates to save money on package mailing are drawing near.
To save money using the lowest cost Parcel Post package rate, holiday packages for U.S. military overseas should be mailed by Monday, Nov. 13, for delivery by Christmas.
As a general guideline, using regular First Class mail, most holiday mail should be sent to military addresses overseas locations by Dec. 11 for arrival by Christmas.
As for the latest date to mail holiday packages, Express Mail delivery will still be available for delivery by Christmas to most overseas military locations if you mail by December 19.
The Postal Service offers Delivery Confirmation service for almost all APO/FPO destinations. Delivery Confirmation provides customers with the date, ZIP Code and time the package was delivered. This information can be accessed online at usps.com.
The U.S. Postal Service also offers a FREE Military Care Kit, or “Mili-kit” to make it easier for military families and friends to send care packages to their loved ones stationed around the world. Each kit contains four Priority Mail boxes, six Priority Mail Flat Rate boxes, 10 Priority Mail labels, one roll of Priority Mail tape, and 10 customs forms with envelopes.
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. Priority Mail Flat Rate boxes included in the kit can be shipped to any APO/FPO in the world, regardless of weight, for $8.10.
All packages and mail must be addressed to individual service members, in accordance with U.S. Department of Defense regulations. All military overseas units are assigned an APO or FPO ZIP Code and, in many cases, that ZIP Code travels with the unit. The Postal Service places APO/FPO mail on special charter flights, commercial airlines and military aircraft to be delivered to our military overseas as soon as possible.
See below for 2006 overseas military holiday mailing deadlines, along with packaging and mailing tips. For more information, go to USPS.com or call 1-800-ASK-USPS.
Military Overseas Mailing and Packaging Tips
1. Be sure to order a FREE Military Care Package Kit from USPS by calling 1-800-610-8734.
2. To save time and convenience, you can mail your packages from your home or business using Click-N-Ship with FREE package pickup. All you need is a computer with internet access and a printer, a weight scale and a credit card. Prepare your packages and then go to USPS.com.
3. If you use a regular box, use one strong enough to protect the package contents with no writing on the outside.
4. Cushion contents with newspaper, bubble wrap, or styrofoam. Pack tightly to avoid shifting.
5. Package food items like cookies, fudge, candies, etc. securely in leak-proof containers.
6. Use pressure-sensitive or nylon-reinforced packing tape.
7. Do not use wrapping paper, string, masking tape, or cellophane tape outside the package.
8. Print the complete military service member's name, unit, and APO/FPO delivery address, and your return address on one side only of the package.
9. Place a return address label inside the package.
10. Stuff fragile items, like vases, with newspaper or packing material to avoid damage
11. Remove batteries from toys/appliances. Wrap and place them next to the items inside.
12. Purchase insurance and delivery confirmation service for reassurance of package delivery.
13. Purchase packaging products, including tape, envelopes, padded bags, corrugated boxes, and cushioning material from your Post Office. Some locations offer decorative boxes for mailing gifts.
14. Call 1-800-ASK-USPS or access usps.com to obtain all kinds of holiday mailing information.