The U.S. Postal Service has released a list of recommended mailing dates for shipping cards, presents and care packages overseas to military or diplomatic members.
To send packages to loved ones serving in the military and diplomatic posts abroad, the Postal Service offers a discounted price of $17.35 on its largest Priority Mail flat rate box, according to a news release.
The price includes a $1.50 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 anytime using Click-N-Ship at usps.com/ship.
To ensure timely delivery by Dec. 25, Jefferson City Postmaster Krystal Drone recommends cards and packages be sent to military APO/FPO/DPO addresses overseas no later than the following mailing dates:
Priority Mail Express Military Service - Dec. 16.
First-Class Mail letters and Cards - Dec. 11 (Dec. 4 for APO/FPO/DPO AE ZIP 093)
Priority Mail - Dec. 11 (Dec. 4 for APO/FPO/DPO AE ZIP 093).
The Postal Service has created a free "Military Care Kit" based on the items most frequently requested by military families. 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 and 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.