CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (CLARKSVILLENOW) – This year, the Postal Service™ is reminding employees and customers about delivery guidelines for the holiday season.
The Postal Service recommends customers in the U.S. observe the following mailing and shipping deadlines to ensure that deliveries are made in time for Christmas. For the complete list of mailing and shipping deadlines, go to usps.com/holidaynews:
November 6 — Air/Army Post Office, Fleet Post Office, and Diplomatic Post Office (APO/FPO/DPO) USPS Retail Ground™
December 11 (military) — APO/FPO/DPO Priority Mail® and APO/FPO/DPO First-Class Mail®
December 14 (domestic) — USPS Retail Ground
December 16 (military) — APO/FPO/DPO Priority Mail Express®
December 16 — First-Class Packages®
(up to 15.99 ounces)
December 19 — First-Class Mail
December 20 — Priority Mail
December 22 — Priority Mail Express
Alaska to Mainland
December 20 — First-Class Mail and Priority Mail
December 21 — Priority Mail Express
Hawaii to Mainland
December 15 — First-Class Mail and Priority Mail
December 20 — Priority Mail Express
International Services
Customers mailing internationally during the holidays are advised to review the specific deadlines based on the locations they are mailing to and the service they are using. When mailing and shipping internationally, customers must also follow necessary customs guidelines. For more information, visit the International Shipping page at wwwu.sps.com/international/preparing-international-shipments.htm.
Military Mail
To send packages to loved ones serving in the military abroad, the Postal Service offers a discounted price of $17.35 on its largest Priority Mail Flat Rate® box. The price includes a $1.50 per box discount for mail sent to APO/FPO/DPO destinations worldwide.
Priority Mail Flat Rate boxes are available at no cost at local Post Offices or customers can order them online at usps.com/freeboxes. Customers may print postage, labels, and customs forms online anytime using Click-N-Ship® at usps.com/ship.
You can find guidelines for packing, addressing, and shipping items to U.S. troops at usps.com/ship/apo-fpo-dpo.htm. To order flat rate boxes featuring the “America Supports You” logo, go to usps.com/freeboxes.
To ensure timely delivery of holiday wishes by December 25, 2017, the Postal Service recommends that you send cards and packages to military APO/FPO/DPO addresses overseas no later than the mailing dates listed in the following table:
Military Care Kit
The Postal Service has created a free Military Care Kit based on the items most frequently requested by military families. The kit contains:
1. Two Priority Mail APO/FPO/DPO Flat Rate boxes,
2. Two Priority Mail Medium Flat Rate boxes,
3. Priority Mail tape,
4. Priority Mail address labels, and
5. Appropriate customs forms.
To order the kit, call 800-610-8734. You can find guidelines for packing, addressing, and shipping items to U.S. troops 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
Use the following directions to properly address your military mail package:
Write out the service member’s full name.
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.
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.
