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I've got 4 huge boxes packed in the other room ready to go out but I've hesitated to send them. I don't know if they'll arrive in Iraq before my guys are transferred out. I haven't heard a word about them rotating out yet but the rumors over here aren't clear who is going and when. I'd hate to send all that stuff and have it either arrive the day before they leave (and they'd either have to pack it or give it away which wouldn't be too bad) or worse, have it arrive the day after they leave and have the whole thing shipped back to me for another $100 in postage.

The suggestion, when sending any package, remains even more important now. In the Customs form, you can put it an alternate person to deliver the package to, should the addressee not be available. I always put in "CO or Chaplain" knowing that they will distribute the contents as they see fit, and the package won't wind up coming back, or sitting somewhere, to be transferred when another address is received.

Most of the return trips that I've heard about here on FR seem to indicate March or April.

I mailed a very big, very heavy box on Dec. 4th, and it was received in Balad, Iraq, 4 days before Christmas.

Another that I sent directly to a Chaplain I haven't heard a peep about. I have however, verified by email that the Chaplain is still in Baghdad, so I am assuming he will get the box any day now.

What this should indicate is that the mail to our soldiers is, if nothing else, inconsistent.

Hope this helps.

TNT