Mailing Tips

New Postal Service

As of November 20, 2004, the US Postal Service introduced flat rate mailing box.  The Flat Rate Box One ships for a flat rate of $8.10 up to 70 pounds.  This box can be mailed anywhere domestically which includes all APO/FPO addresses.  The box can be obtained from the USPS free of charge.  

Addressing an APO/FPO mailing label

To ensure that mail gets through from families and loved ones, the following information is given on addressing labels.  Recommended address:
Service Member’s Name (note 1)
Organization to which assigned (note 2)
Unit # xxxx (note 3)
APO or FPO AE 09xxx-xxxx (notes 4 and note 5)

NOTES:
1) Use of rank is optional
2) Organization name should be included if you have it; however, it is not always used for certain types of forces
3) Unit # is a four digit number assigned to some units, but not all. Where assigned, it should always be used. Soldiers will have notified friends and family if they have one assigned.
4) APOs served by New York have a 09 prefix (09xxx); APOs served by San Francisco have a 96 prefix (96xxx), and APOs served by Miami have a 34 prefix (34xxx)
5) The last four xxxx represent a ZIP 4 add-on to the normal five digit APO Zip Code, and have been assigned to some forces. Where assigned, correspondents should have been notified and the four digit add on should always be used to help in automatic sorting of mail

Supplies

• Supplies - The USPS will provide certain mailing supplies and mail them to you at no charge.  Call 1-800-275-8777.  You will be given a Customer ID number.  (Be sure to keep a record of that.)  Or you can go to www.usps.com  and look for the Supplies Menu.
• Boxes -  We suggest you use a #7 Priority Mail box which can be obtained from your mail service. USPS will mail as many boxes as you need to your home.  (I ordered 50 the first time.)  There are 25 boxes to a pack.  It takes about 10 days after you’ve ordered them for the boxes to arrive. They are already marked as “Priority” mail.  If you use your own box, it is best to send it “Priority” mail and either use the “Priority” tape for sealing the box, or have the USPS stamp it “Priority” when you mail it.  If you order some #4 boxes, you can use them to pack smaller items and insert into the # 7 box.
• Customs Declaration and Dispatch Note -   (Form 2976- A)     It is mandatory to list items in the package and other information on this form which is attached to package.      USPS has lists that identify things that cannot be sent to certain countries, i.e. no pork items to Saudi Arabia, etc.  We suggest you list items as "prepackaged food items, personal toiletries, books, etc.  Do not list each item separately, list collectively by types.  The postal clerk should show you how to attach your declaration to the package, 
• Priority Tape- If available from your post office you may use Priority tape, but clear or brown mailing tape will suffice.  
• Preprinted Address Labels -If you will be sending multiple packages to the same unit or person, call 1-800-610-8734 to order labels preprinted with the recipient’s address.   In addition to preprinting the recipient’s address, the USPS will also preprint your return address on the label for you.

Mailing Information

• The approximate cost of mailing a #7 box via “Priority” mail is $20.00 and takes about 2 weeks (actual cost based on destination and weight – see  Zone Chart and Priority Mail Rate Sheet.  

• There is about a  $5.00 increase to mail Priority Mail over  regular parcel post, but it arrives normally within two weeks. Regular parcel post takes about a month – sometimes longer – to arrive in Iraq.

• The #7 is not the only size box you can use, but experience shows that size has worked best so far.  Larger boxes are usually too heavy to arrive intact.
• You can order the #4 boxes from the USPS also, which are about half the size of a # 7 box.
• You can always use a plain box if you do not obtain your supplies from the U. S. Postal Service.
• Ask for the book rate, if you are only sending books.
• Do not send anything of great value.

Internet or 800 Information for USPS