Plan ahead when sending mail to troops

    WASHINGTON — It may seem too early to start thinking about the holidays, but if you’re mailing to a loved-one serving in the military, it’s a good idea to know the 2009 mail-by dates — some are less than a month away.
    It costs the same to mail a letter or package to an overseas military address as it does to any other domestic destination. With timing and the right shipping product, you can save money and be assured it’ll arrive in the ‘Nick’ of time.
    For military service members stationed around the globe, holiday gifts are a big morale boost. To help the families and friends of U.S. military personnel, the U.S. Postal Service offers a discount on its largest priority mail flat rate box.
    The recommended mailing date for the most economical postage to overseas military installations, including Iraq and Afghanistan, is Nov. 13.
    Mail sent to overseas military addresses is charged only domestic mail prices. The domestic mail price for the priority mail large flat rate box is $13.95, but for packages to APO/FPO addresses overseas the price is reduced to $11.95. Additional discounts are available for customers printing their priority mail postage labels online at Click-N-Ship.
    Flat-rate boxes are free at any post office or can be ordered online at shop.usps.com. Postage, labels and Customs forms can be printed online any time using Click-N-Ship.
    The Postal Service continues to show support to those serving in the armed forces by offering free Military Care Kits, designed specifically for military families sending packages overseas. The mailing kits can be ordered by phone by calling 800-610-8734 and asking for the Care Kit. Each kit includes two “America Supports You” large priority mail flat-rate boxes, four medium-sized priority mail flat-rate boxes, six priority mail labels, one roll of priority mail tape and six Customs forms with envelopes.
    For online ordering of the large priority mail APO/FPO flat-rate boxes featuring the “America Supports You” logo and APO/FPO addressing block, visit: shop.usps.com. More information about mailing letters and packages to military destinations is available online at “Supporting Our Troops.”
    “Mailing holiday gifts to service members early will help ensure that a piece of home arrives in plenty of time to make the celebration complete,” said Pranab Shah, vice president and managing director, Global Business.
    To ensure delivery of holiday cards and packages by Dec. 25 to military APO/FPO addresses overseas, the Postal Service recommends that mail for service members be entered no later than the mailing dates listed in the box. Mail addressed to military post offices overseas is subject to certain conditions or restrictions regarding content, preparation and handling. APO/FPO addresses generally require Customs forms. To see an online table of updated APO and FPO addresses and mailing restrictions by individual APO/FPO ZIP codes, visit: www.usps.com/cpim/ftp/bulletin/pb.htm, select “Pull-Out Information” and click on “Overseas Military/Diplomatic Mail.”