NORTHERN NJ — Serving our country far from home, few things do more to brighten the holidays for military and diplomatic personnel than greeting cards and care packages from family, friends, and neighbors. With the holiday countdown clock ticking away the days before December 25, Northern New Jersey postal officials are taking a proactive approach to raising public awareness in the Garden State of the mail-by dates for ensuring timely delivery of holiday greetings and care packages to the military.

Holiday greetings and shipments to Army / Air Post Office (APO), Fleet Post Office (FPO), and Diplomatic Post Office (DPO) for delivery by December 25, must be sent no later than the following mail-by dates:

1 PMEMS is available to selected military/diplomatic Post Offices. 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. PAL 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.

A discounted price of $18.45 is available for packages sent in the largest Priority Mail Flat Rate Box to military and diplomatic posts abroad. The price includes a $1.50 per box discount for mail sent to APO/FPO/DPO destinations worldwide.

A free “Military Care Kit” can be ordered by calling 800-610-8734. The kit contains: two Priority Mail APO/FPO/DPO Flat Rate Boxes, four Priority Mail Medium Flat Rate Boxes, Priority Mail tape, Priority Mail address labels, and appropriate customs forms.

Log onto the Postal Service’s website at: https://www.usps.com/ship/apo-fpo-dpo.htm to view a special How To Send Military Mail video. You can also learn how to order free boxes, complete custom forms, follow military address guidelines, and check restrictions.

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