Air Force Times

Military families — like retail managers — have to plan for the holidays early.
The first deadline for mailing packages to Iraq, Afghanistan and other points overseas so that your loved ones get them by Christmas is coming up Nov. 13. Last call for cards and gifts to the war zones is Dec. 4. Families shipping to Europe, Latin America and the Pacific have until Dec. 11 — longer if they’re willing to pay extra for express service.

A lighter load
Military postal officials are expecting “a bit” less holiday mail to be sent to Afghanistan, Iraq and ships in the theater this year compared with 2007.
“People aren’t spending as much money,” said Air Force Lt. Col. Mary Gould, chief of the transportation division for the Military Postal Service Agency. “It’s the economy.”
As such, MPSA doesn’t expect to have problems obtaining the airlift capacity to get mail to the theater, Gould said.

Packing, shipping guidelines
U.S. Postal Service officials recommend the priority mail flat-rate boxes. You can stuff up to 70 pounds of cookies, gear and Christmas decorations into a box and ship it at a set rate. The largest flat-rate box mails to an APO or FPO address for $10.95, a $2 discount.
USPS also offers a special military package kit. “If you call ... (800) 610-8734, they’ll send you a free kit of packaging materials — priority mail boxes, tape, labels and stuff that can make your holiday packing much easier,” Al DeSarro, spokesman for the western region of USPS, said in an Air Force news release.
DeSarro had a few suggestions to make sure your package arrives on time and in shape:
• Don’t use wrapping paper or string on the outside.
• Print both the shipping and return addresses clearly.
• Package contents securely and in leak-proof containers.
• Consider the customs of the country to ensure the items are appropriate and acceptable.
• Include the mailing address, return address and the contents of the box on a slip of paper with the other contents, just in case something out of the ordinary should happen.