Time to Start Thinking About Holiday Mailing Deadlines for Military and Diplomatic Service Members Serving Overseas

Free Military Care Kit Available

October 28, 2014 



http://www.facebook.com/uspsspacerTwitter @USPS

There may not be snow on the ground, but now is the time to start thinking about holiday mailing deadlines for military and diplomatic service members overseas.

“Making sure those serving in the nation’s armed forces and diplomatic service receive their presents and care packages in time for the holidays is our priority,” said USPS District Manager Jimmy Wolf.

The Postal Service offers free military care kits, designed specifically for military families sending packages overseas. Each kit includes: Two Priority Mail APO/FPO Flat Rate Boxes, Two Priority Mail Medium Flat Rate Boxes, Priority Mail tape, Priority Mail address labels and appropriate customs forms.

To order the kit, call 800-610-8734. Guidelines for packing, addressing, and shipping items to U.S. troops can be found at usps.com/ship/apo-fpo-guidelines.htm.  Priority Mail Flat Rate boxes are also available at local Post Offices.

The Postal Service offers a $2 per box postage discount on its largest Priority Mail Flat Rate box at $15.90, for mail being sent to APO/FPO/DPO (Air/Army Post Office, Fleet Post Office and Diplomatic Post Office) destinations worldwide. 

Postage, labels and customs forms can be printed online anytime using Click-N-Ship at usps.com/clicknship. The online price for Priority Mail is on average 6.8 percent less than at a Post Office, and even bigger savings are possible with Priority Mail Express. Customers who receive mail delivery can request a free pickup of Priority Mail and Priority Mail Express packages by their carrier the next day. Just go online at usps.com/pickup for more information.

To ensure timely delivery of holiday wishes by Dec. 25, send cards and packages to military APO/FPO/ DPO addresses overseas no later than the mailing dates listed below.

Military Mail Addressed To

Priority Mail Express Military Service (PMeMS) 1

First-Class Mail —letters and Cards

Priority
Mail

Parcel Air Lift (PAL) 2

Space Available Mail (SAM) 3

standard
Post

APO/FPO AE ZIPs 090-092

Dec 17

Dec 10

Dec 10

Dec 3

Nov 26

Nov 8

APO/FPO AE ZIP 093

N/A

Dec 3

Dec 3

Dec 3

Nov 26

Nov 8

APO/FPO AE ZIPs 094-098

Dec 17

Dec 10

Dec 10

Dec 3

Nov 26

Nov 8

APO/FPO AA ZIP 340

Dec 17

Dec 10

Dec 10

Dec 3

Nov 26

Nov 8

APO/FPO AP ZIPs 962-966

Dec 17

Dec 10

Dec 10

Dec 3

Nov 26

Nov 8

1 PMEMS is available to selected military. Check with your local Post Office to determine if this service is available to an APO/FPO/DPO address.
2 PAL is a service that provides air transportation for parcels on a space-available basis. It is available for Standard Post items not exceeding 30 pounds in weight or 60 inches in length and girth combined. The applicable PAL fee must be paid in addition to the regular surface price for each addressed piece sent by PAL service.
3 SAM parcels are paid at Standard Post prices with maximum weight and size limits of 15 pounds and 60 inches in length and girth combined. SAM parcels are first transported domestically by surface and then to overseas destinations by air on a space-available basis.

Addressing the Package

1. Write out the service member’s full name in the address.

2. Include the unit and APO/FPO/DPO address with the 9-digit ZIP Code (if one is assigned). For example:

CPT JOHN DOE
UNIT 2050 BOX 4190
APO AP 96278-2050

SGT ROBERT SMITH
PSC 802 BOX 74
APO AE 09499-0074

SEAMAN JOSEPH SMITH
USCGC HAMILTON
FPO AP 96667-3931

MSG JANE DOE
CMR 1250
APO AA 09045-1000

3. Include a return address.

4. Include the service member’s name and address as well as the sender’s name and address on an index card inside the package in case the label is damaged.

The Postal Service receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.

# # #

Please Note: For broadcast quality video and audio, photo stills and other media resources, visit the USPS Newsroom at about.usps.com/news/welcome.htm.

For reporters interested in speaking with a regional Postal Service public relations professional, please go to about.usps.com/news/media-contacts/usps-local-media-contacts.pdf.

Follow us on twitter.com/USPS and like us at facebook.com/USPS. For more information about the Postal Service, go to usps.com and usps.com/postalfacts.

Postal News
 

Idaho Media Contacts

  •  
    Margaret Putnam

    801-974-2303

  •  
    Robert Vunder

    801-974-2307

  •  
    Brian Sperry

    303-313-5132