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.

Many of the Camps don't have a base exchange which means they can't even buy the simplest "amenities". Here's some suggestions:

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!

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