usps-military-mail-guide[1].pdf

delivers to

APO/FPO/DPO

locations

UPS

FedEx cannot deliver cannot deliver

USPS®

Your Step-by-Step Guide on how to ship packages to Military Mail APO/ FPO/DPO addresses using the USPS.

While carriers such as FedEx® and UPS® offer delivery to countries where military personnel may be stationed, the USPS is the only carrier that can deliver mail and packages to APO/FPO/DPO locations.

Due to security restrictions, APOs, FPOs and DPOs cannot accept mail or packages from any other carrier, except the USPS.

MILITARY

MAIL GUIDE

WHAT IS A MILITARY ADDRESS?

APO:

“Army Post Office” is associated with the Army or Air Force installations.

FPO:

“Fleet Post Office” is associated with Navy installations and ships.

DPO:

“Diplomatic Post Office” is associated with U.S.

embassies overseas.

MPO:

“Military Post Office” provides postal services for military personnel.

NAME OF THE RECIPIENT

Rank/grade/rating is optional for APO or FPO. Do not include recipient’s title for DPO.

INCLUDE THE UNIT

AND BOX NUMBER

Army:

Unit [Number] Box [Number]

Air Force:

PSC* [Number] Box [Number]

Navy:

Ship [Number] Hull [Number]

Embassy:

Unit [Number] Box [Number]

ZIP CODE

STATE

AA (Armed Forces Americas)

AE (Armed Forces Europe)

AP (Armed Forces Pacific)

HOW TO ADDRESS A SHIPPING LABEL

FOR AN APO/FPO/DPO PACKAGE

CITY

APO, FPO or DPO

3 4

Enter the full name of the addressee. Mail addressed to ‘Any Service Member’ or similar wording such as ‘Any

Soldier, Sailor, Airman or Marine’ is prohibited. Mail must be addressed to an individual name or job title, such as

‘Sergeant’ or ‘Private First Class.’

Enter the unit or Post Office box number.

Enter the city. The city must be entered as either “APO,” “FPO” or “DPO.” Don’t put the name of the actual city.

Enter the state. The State must be either “AA” “AE” or “AP.”

Don’t put the name of actual state or country.

Enter the zip code. Enter the 5-digit zip code for the military unit. It must start with a 0 or 9.

CORRECT FORMAT WRONG FORMAT

CPT John Doe Unit 45013 Box 2666

USAG J

APO AP 96338

CPT John Doe USAG J Box 2666

APO AP 96338

SFC Jane Doe 1st Cav Div A Co 1st Plt

Camp Victory

APO AE 09388

Camp Victory 1st Cav Div A Co 1st

SFC Jane Doe

APO AE 09388

John Doe USS Bainbridge DDG 96

A3 Div

FPO AE 09565

John Doe A3 Div

USS Bainbridge (DDG 96)

FPO AE 09565

MSG John Doe PSC 123 Box 987

APO AE 96601

MSG John Doe PSC 123 & Box 987

APO AP 96601

*Postal Service Center

Letters and packages addressed to military personnel are first sent to Miami, New York City or San Francisco before being shipped to their international destinations.

Once the letter or package arrives in its destination country, it is handed over to a Military Postal Service representative who transports it to the Military Post Office, from where it is distributed to the service member’s unit for delivery to the recipient.

HOW IS MILITARY MAIL PROCESSED?

AP (Armed Forces Pacific) mail is routed to San Francisco

AA (Armed Forces Americas) mail is routed to Miami

AE (Armed Forces Europe) mail is routed to New York City

DO I NEED CUSTOMS FORMS? YES.

Since the recipient country may have restrictions on what can be imported, mailpieces addressed to a military destination must include a properly completed PS Form 2976 or PS Form 2976-A.

Package weighs MORE than 1 lb (16 oz)

Use PS Form 2976-A (and Customs

Declaration CN 22)

First-Class Letters, Large Envelopes or Priority Mail Flat Rate Envelopes that weigh under 16 ounces DO NOT require Customs Forms.

SAN FRANCISCO

3PACIFIC OCEAN

ATLANTIC OCEAN4 ATLANTIC OCEAN4

MIAMI

NEW YORK CITY

Package weighs LESS than 1 lb (16 oz)

Use PS Form 2976 (and Customs Declaration and Dispatch Note – CP 72)

Delivery tracking information is available for APO/FPO/DPO packages if one of the following services was used to ship the package (Using the customs declaration form number, buyers and sellers can track the status of their APO/FPO/DPO shipments):

MISSING A PACKAGE?

If tracking isn't available and you need to track your package, first determine whether or not your mailpiece has left the jurisdiction of the USPS:

• If your mailpiece is still with the USPS, file a case with the USPS here.

• If not, your mailpiece would have been handed over to the Military Postal Service Agency (MPSA). File a case here or write to: Deputy Director, Military Postal Service Agency (MPSA), 2900 Crystal Dr Ste 410, Arlington, VA 22202-3557

USPS TRACKING

FOR APO/FPO/DPO ADDRESSES

ESTIMATED DELIVERY TIMES

The transit time for sending mail and packages to military addresses varies by destination and mail class. See the table below for delivery time estimates:

MAIL CLASS

Destination State First 3 digits of zip code

Priority Mail Express

Priority Mail / First-Class Mail

Package Service Parcel Select

Europe/Atlantic AE 090-092 and

094-099 3 days 7 to 9 days 30 to 45 days

Iraq/Afghanistan/ Middle East

AE 093 Not available 7 to 13 days 20 to 24 days

Japan/Korea/Pacific Islands/Far East

AP 962-966 3 days 7 to 9 days 30 to 45 days

Central America/South America/Caribbean

AA 340 Not available 7 to 9 days 18 to 21 days

• PRIORITY MAIL EXPRESS®

• PRIORITY MAIL®

• INSURANCE

• REGISTERED MAIL

• CERTIFIED MAIL

• USPS TRACKING™

• RETURN RECEIPT

• FIRST-CLASS PACKAGE SERVICE

DISCOUNTS FOR LARGE FLAT-RATE PRIORITY MAIL BOXES

There is one exception – Large Flat-Rate Priority Mail boxes labeled for an APO/FPO/

DPO destination cost $13.80 if sent via an online postage provider, such as Stamps.com, compared to $15.80 for a regular Large Flat Rate Priority Mail box. That’s nearly a $2 discount for APO/FPO/DPO packages!

When sending packages to military destinations, you will always pay the same for postage as though your package was being shipped domestically.

2014 DISCOUNTED RATES FOR APO/FPO/DPO PACKAGES

Priority Mail Post Office/ Retail Postage Rates

Stamps.com/ Online Postage Rates

Large Flat Rate Boxes $17.90 $15.80

APO/FPO/DPO Large Flat Rate Boxes $15.90 $13.80

SAVINGS $2.00 $2.00

USPS PRICING

FOR APO/FPO/DPO PACKAGES

ALWAYS PAY DOMESTIC POSTAGE RATES FOR MILITARY MAIL!

Per a 1959 Interagency Agreement executed between the Department of Defense and the Post Office Department, the USPS is required to provide continued mail service to military personnel and their families worldwide. According to this agreement, the level of service provided to these overseas customers needs to be the same as though they were living in the U.S., which is why the price of Military

Mail postage is always the same as that of domestic postage. Even though these customers reside in foreign countries, APO/FPO/DPO addresses are not considered international addresses by the USPS.

APO/FPO/DPO mail will be delivered to military personnel across the globe as long as the military service member has an assigned ZIP code, also referred to as an

APO/FPO/DPO number.

THE USPS PROVIDES DOMESTIC LEVEL

OF SERVICE TO MILITARY PERSONNEL.

PRODUCT RESTRICTIONS

FOR MILITARY PACKAGES

GPS hardware and software Major appliances and oversized products

Mobile phones Obscene articles

Family Radio Service (FRS) radios

Any matter depicting nude or seminude persons, pornographic or sexual items, or non-authorized political materials

Cordless phones

Bulk quantities of religious materials contrary to the Islamic faith (items for the personal use of the addressee are permissible)

FM transmitters Pork or pork by-products

CERTAIN PRODUCTS ARE PROHIBITED FROM BEING SHIPPED TO

MILITARY DESTINATIONS, SUCH AS:

INCLUDE A COPY OF

THE MAILING ADDRESS.

Always place the mailing address inside the package on a separate piece of paper.

USE A STURDY BOX.

Use a box constructed to conform to the contents you are sending.

CHECK FOR WEIGHT

DISTRIBUTION.

If shipping multiple items, place them in a way that the weight is evenly distributed throughout the box.

ADD CUSHION.

If any portion of the box looks like it is sagging or can be easily depressed, add packing material on the inside.

USE TAPE, NOT STRING.

Only use packaging tape for wrapping the outside of the box. Never wrap with string.

SCRATCH OUT

EXTRA MARKINGS.

To avoid your package being sent to an incorrect destination, always cross out or cover excess markings or printing.

USE SEALABLE OR

PLASTIC BAGS.

Enclose all personal hygiene items — such as deodorant, lotion, or shampoo — in a sealable bag. Also, place all perishable items such as cookies and chips in a plastic container.

HOW TO SHIP LIQUIDS?

When mailing liquids, ensure they are properly packaged. Limit the quantity, use a leak-proof container, and wrap the articles in an absorbent material between the inner and outer containers.

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