No matter how careful you are in selecting just the right things to send to your deployed loved one, if you don’t address and pack the package properly, and send it out on time, your military member may never receive it.

With thousands of packages being shipped to Iraq and Afghanistan during the holiday season, the United States Postal Service has set shipping deadlines for sending packages and letters to ensure they are received by Christmas. 

USPS shipping deadlines

This year’s deadlines are as follows:

Parcel post packages – (these are packages that use ground transportation) it’s too late to ship parcel post. Better use Priority Mail.

Priority Mail — must be shipped no later than Dec. 11

First Class Mail — (includes cards and letters) must be shipped no later than Dec. 11

Express Mail Military Services — (cost is much more than priority mail) must be shipped no later than Dec. 18

Federal Express shipping deadlines

FedEx® International Next Flight — (Within hours between major cities worldwide, 24 hours a day, depending on flight availability) must be shipped no later than Dec. 23     

FedEx International Priority — must be shipped no later than Dec. 22

Labeling packages for shipping

To ensure that packages are received undamaged, the postal service offers these tips for preparing and mailing your parcels:

• Use the service member’s full name.

• Include the APO/FPO address and nine digit zip code.

• Do not write Iraq or Afghanistan anywhere on the package.  

• Include a return address.

• If you are recycling a box, make sure you have blacked out all wording with the exception of your shipping label.

Packaging guidelines

Use a U.S. Priority Mail flat-rate box.  The boxes are free and regardless of the weight of the contents the shipping rate is the same.

Request a military kit online, which contains an assortment of flat-rate boxes, shipping declaration forms, adhesive form sleeves, and mailing labels.

Cushion the contents of the box with Styrofoam or bubble wrap.

Seal the seams of the box with at least a 2 inch wide tape.

Put a card listing the contents of the box inside the box in case the box is damaged or the contents fall out. 

Prohibited items

The following items are prohibited by the Department of Defense:

Obscene articles, alcoholic beverages, horror comics, anything that depicts semi-nude or nude persons including photographs of spouses in semi-nude photos, bulk items of religious materials that are contrary to the Islamic faith, pork or pork by-products.

Shipping tips

When possible send chocolate through the vendor.  They have packaging materials so the candy will withstand the trip.

Send homemade perishable goods to family members only.

Fill in the entire space in a box so that things don’t move around during shipping.  However, do not overfill the box.

Put all hygiene items in Ziploc baggies.

Put glass bottles in Ziploc baggies and wrap in bubble wrap.  Soldiers crave things like hot sauce, and this can be shipped in non-breakable containers that can be reused.