Delivering Holiday Cheer to Service Members Worldwide

Postal Service Recommended Mailing Dates

WASHINGTON — Making sure those serving in the nation’s armed forces receive their presents and care packages in time for the holidays is a priority for friends and family members of military personnel serving around the world and for the U.S. Postal Service. Helping to get packages on their way, the Postal Service offers a discount on its largest Priority Mail Flat Rate box at $14.85. The price includes a $2 per box discount for military mail being sent to APO/FPO/DPO (Air/Army Post Office, Fleet Post Office, Diplomatic Post Office) destinations worldwide. 

In addition to a lower cost per package, customers can be assured that shipping with the Postal Service provides reliable, trusted and secure delivery to military personnel stationed anywhere in the world.

Priority Mail Flat Rate boxes are available at no cost at local Post Offices, or can be ordered online at shop.usps.com. Postage, labels and customs forms can be printed online anytime usingClick-N-Ship.

To ensure timely delivery of holiday wishes by Dec. 25, send cards and packages to military APO/FPO/ DPO addresses overseas no later than the mailing dates listed below.

Shipping Deadlines

Thanksgiving	Christmas	New Year’s
Tuesday, Nov. 26 Normal delivery day Normal Post Office™ hours Wednesday, Nov. 27 Normal delivery day Normal Post Office hours Priority Mail® accepted today will have an extra day added to the delivery time Thursday, Nov. 28 Post Offices closed Only Priority Mail Express™ will be delivered Friday, Nov. 29 Normal delivery day Normal Post Office hours Saturday, Nov. 30 Normal delivery day Normal Post Office hours	Monday, Dec. 16 Busiest mailing day for cards, letters and packages Wednesday, Dec. 18 Busiest delivery day for cards and letters Thursday, Dec. 19 Busiest delivery day for packages Friday, Dec. 20 Deadline for sending First-Class Mail® Normal delivery day Normal Post Office hours Saturday, Dec. 21 Deadline for sending Priority Mail Normal delivery day Normal Post Office hours Monday, Dec. 23 Deadline for sending Priority Mail Express Normal delivery day Normal Post Office hours Tuesday, Dec. 24 Normal delivery day Most Post Offices will close at noon Mail in blue collection boxes will be picked up at noon or earlier Priority Mail accepted today will have an extra day added to the delivery time Wednesday, Dec. 25 Post Offices closed Only Priority Mail Express will be delivered	Monday, Dec. 30 Normal delivery day Normal Post Office hours Tuesday, Dec. 31 Normal delivery day Most Post Offices will close at noon Mail in blue collection boxes will be picked up at noon or earlier Priority Mail accepted today will have an extra day added to the delivery time Wednesday, Jan. 1 Post Offices closed Only Priority Mail Express will be delivered

Use the Military Care Kit to Send Presents and/or Care Packages
With Priority Mail supplies as the packaging of choice for families preparing care packages for service members overseas, the Postal Service created a free “Military Care Kit” based on the items most frequently requested by military families.

The kit contains:

·         Two Priority Mail APO/FPO Flat Rate Boxes.

·         Two Priority Mail Medium Flat Rate Boxes.

·         Priority Mail tape.

·         Priority Mail address labels.

·         Appropriate customs forms.

To order the kit, call 800-610-8734. Guidelines for packing, addressing, and shipping items to U.S. troops can be found at usps.com/ship/apo-fpo-guidelines.htm. To order flat-rate boxes featuring the “America Supports You” logo, go to store.usps.com.

Addressing the Package

1.    Write out the service members full name in the address.

2.    Include the unit and APO/FPO/DPO address with the 9-digit ZIP Code (if one is assigned).
For example:

·         CPT JOHN DOE
UNIT 2050 BOX 4190
APO AP 96278-2050

·         SGT ROBERT SMITH
PSC 802 BOX 74
APO AE 09499-0074

·         SEAMAN JOSEPH SMITH
USCGC HAMILTON
FPO AP 96667-3931

·         MSG JANE DOE
CMR 1250
APO AA 09045-1000

3.    Include a return address.