Posted on 11/01/2005 5:11:30 PM PST by SandRat
DoD Announces Recommended Holiday Mail Dates
The Department of Defense announced today the recommended mailing dates to ensure that holiday cards and packages for service members arrive overseas in time for the holiday season.
"To ensure delivery to military APO/FPO addresses overseas and to international addresses, we suggest mail be sent by the recommended dates provided by the U.S. Postal Service," said Mark DeDomenic, the assistant deputy director and chief of operations for the Military Postal Service Agency (MPSA). "Beat the last minute rush by bringing your mail to your post office by these suggested dates.
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 19 |
Dec 10 |
Dec 10 |
Dec 3 |
Nov 26 |
Nov 12 |
APO/FPO AE ZIP 093 |
N/A |
Dec 5 |
Dec 5 |
Dec 3 |
Nov 26 |
Nov 12 |
APO/FPO AE ZIPs 094-098 |
Dec 19 |
Dec 10 |
Dec 10 |
Dec 3 |
Nov 26 |
Nov 12 |
APO/FPO AA ZIPs 340 |
Dec 19 |
Dec 10 |
Dec 10 |
Dec 3 |
Nov 26 |
Nov 12 |
APO/FPO AP ZIPs 962-966 |
Dec 19 |
Dec 10 |
Dec 10 |
Dec 3 |
Nov 26 |
Nov 12 |
1/ EMMS: Express Mail Military Service is available to selected military post offices. Check with your local Post Office to determine if this service is available to your APO/FPO of address.
2/ PAL: PAL is a special service that provides air transportation for parcels on a space-available basis. It is available for Parcel 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 rate of postage for each addressed piece sent by PAL service.
3/ SAM: Parcels paid at Parcel Post postage rates are first transported domestically by surface and then to overseas destinations by air on a space-available basis. The maximum weight and size limits are 15 pounds and 60 inches in length and girth combined.
DoD requests that those who send mail use the service member's full name (with or without rank or rating), unit and APO/FPO (Air/Army Post Office or Fleet Post Office) address with the nine-digit ZIP code (if one is assigned) and a return address. For packages, mailers are asked to print on one side only with the recipient's address in the lower right portion.
Packages must not be mailed in boxes that have markings related to any type of hazardous material, such as bleach, alcohol, or cleaning fluids. Parcels found by the U.S. Postal Service with such markings or labels on the outside of the box will not be processed. Instead, they will be handled as non-mailable matter - regardless of the contents or what is listed on the U.S. Customs form.
While there are specific restrictions for each five-digit military post office ZIP code (APO/FPO), it is prohibited to mail the following items to the CENTCOM region: obscene articles (prints, paintings, cards, films, videotapes, etc.); pork or pork by-products; alcoholic beverages; any matter depicting nude or seminude persons, pornographic or sexual items, or unauthorized political materials. Although religious materials contrary to the Islamic faith are prohibited in bulk quantities, items for the personal use of the addressee are permissible.
There may be size restrictions and customs declaration form requirements to some locations as mail going through the MPSA can be subject to the host country customs requirements. The time to deliver varies depending on the category of mail and the country of destination. Delivery may also take longer when armed forces are on the move during periods of heightened activity.
DVD's
CD's
Any nonperishable food items (cookies, candy, gum, granola bars -- always welcome)
hand sanitizer
chapstick
small individual packages of kleenix
disposable cameras (take a photo of the person packing the camera and then put it in the stocking!)
Wet ones
Hard Candy
gum
dental floss
toothbrush
toothpaste
deodorant
shaving cream
disposable razors
pen/mechanical pencil (with lead)
eye drops
shampoo
bug spray
sunscreen
small flashlight with a BLUE bulb -- not WHITE (remember the battaries)
Lotion
small alarm clock
AT&T calling cards
tiny little "personal" fan (remember the battaries)
clip on lights (remember the battaries)
Tourist type" items indigenous to your area: -- playing cards, Yo-yos, harmonicas, guitar picks
Use your imagination!
The Mail by Date is fast approaching for making the Troops Christmas a little bit more Merry!
Good and useful post. Thank you.
Yeoman's work, as always, Rat!!
You're the best!!
Thanks for the info :-)
Just serving the men and women who serve to protect us.
Oh, don't be so FReepin' humble!
;-)
"To ensure delivery
to military APO/FPO addresses overseas and to international addresses, we suggest mail be sent by the recommended dates provided by the U.S. Postal Service," said Mark DeDomenic, the assistant deputy director and chief of operations for the Military Postal Service Agency (MPSA). "Beat the last minute rush by bringing your mail to your post office by these suggested dates.
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 19
Dec 10
Dec 10
Dec 3
Nov 26
Nov 12
APO/FPO AE ZIP 093
N/A
Dec 5
Dec 5
Dec 3
Nov 26
Nov 12
APO/FPO AE ZIPs 094-098
Dec 19
Dec 10
Dec 10
Dec 3
Nov 26
Nov 12
APO/FPO AA ZIPs 340
Dec 19
Dec 10
Dec 10
Dec 3
Nov 26
Nov 12
APO/FPO AP ZIPs 962-966
Dec 19
Dec 10
Dec 10
Dec 3
Nov 26
Nov 12
Thanks for that information! I need to get on that!
Cripes....probably not! She's a Sicko Pinko! Thank God his dad raised him and not her!
BTTT
BTTT
BTTT
Thanks, I'm bringing this list to school today.
Thanks! Bookmarked.
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