Post Messenger Recorder -

Ensuring those serving in the nation’s armed forces and diplomatic service receive their presents, care packages and cards in time for the holidays is a priority for the Postal Service and for friends and family members of military and diplomatic personnel serving their country around the world.

The Postal Service offers a discounted price of $16.75 on its largest Priority Mail Flat Rate Box to send packages to loved ones serving overseas. The price includes a $2.00 per box discount for mail sent to APO/FPO/DPO (Air/Army Post Office/Fleet Post Office/Diplomatic Post Office) destinations worldwide.

Priority Mail Flat Rate Boxes are available at no cost at local Post Offices and online at shop.usps.com. Postage, labels and customs forms can be printed online anytime using Click-N-Ship at usps.com/ship.

To ensure timely delivery of holiday wishes by December 25, the Postal Service recommends that cards and packages be sent to military APO/FPO/DPO addresses overseas no later than the dates listed below.

Military Mail Addressed To and From APO/FPO/DPO and AE ZIPs 090-092: Priority Mail Express Military Service (PMEMS) – December 16; First-Class Mail Letters and Cards – December 9; Priority Mail – December 9; Parcel Airlift Mail (PAL) – December 2; Space Available Mail (SAM) – November 25; USPS Retail Ground – November 7.

Military Mail Addressed To and From APO/FPO/DPO and AE ZIP 093: Priority Mail Express Military Service (PMEMS) – NA; First-Class Mail Letters and Cards – December 2; Priority Mail – December 2; Parcel Airlift Mail (PAL) – December 2; Space Available Mail (SAM) – November 25; USPS Retail Ground – November 7.

Military Mail Addressed To and From APO/FPO/DPO and AE ZIPs 094-098: Priority Mail Express Military Service (PMEMS) – December 16; First-Class Mail Letters and Cards – December 9; Priority Mail – December 9; Parcel Airlift Mail (PAL) – December 2; Space Available Mail (SAM) – November 25; USPS Retail Ground – November 7.

Military Mail Addressed To and From APO/FPO/DPO and AA ZIP 340: Priority Mail Express Military Service (PMEMS) – December 16; First-Class Mail Letters and Cards – December 9; Priority Mail – December 9; Parcel Airlift Mail (PAL) – December 2; Space Available Mail (SAM) – November 25; USPS Retail Ground – November 7.

Military Mail Addressed To and From APO/FPO/DPO and AP ZIPs 962-966: Priority Mail Express Military Service (PMEMS) – December 16; First-Class Mail Letters and Cards – December 9; Priority Mail – December 9; Parcel Airlift Mail (PAL) – December 2; Space Available Mail (SAM) – November 25; USPS Retail Ground – November 7.

PMEMS is available to selected military/diplomatic Post Offices. Check with your local Post Office to determine if this service is available to an APO/FPO/DPO address.

PAL is a service that provides air transportation for parcels on a space-available basis. PAL is available for Standard 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 price for each addressed piece sent by PAL service.

SAM parcels are paid at Standard Post prices with maximum weight and size limits of 15 pounds and 60 inches in length and girth combined. SAM parcels are first transported domestically by surface and then to overseas destinations by air on a space-available basis.

The kit contains: Two Priority Mail APO/FPO/DPO 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-dpo.htm. To order Flat-Rate Boxes featuring the “America Supports You” logo, go to usps.com/freeboxes.

Addressing the Package

Write the service member’s full name and include the unit and APO/FPO/DPO address with the 9-digit ZIP Code (if one is assigned). For example:

Army/Air Post Office (APO): PFC JOHN DOE, PSC 3 BOX 4120, APO AE 09021

Fleet Post Office (FPO): SEAMAN JOSEPH SMITH, UNIT 100100 BOX 4120, FPO AP 96691

Diplomatic Post Office (DPO): JOHN ADAMS, UNIT 8400 BOX 0000, DPO AE 09498-0048

Do not write the country name where the service member is stationed in the address. Remember to include a return address. Inside the box, include the service member’s name and address as well as the sender’s name and address on an index card in case the shipping label gets damaged in transit.

Domestic mailing guidelines are as follows: USPS Retail Ground – December 15; First-Class Mail – December 20; Priority Mail – December 21; and Priority Express Mail – December 23.