Information on Sending Mail to Service Members Stationed Overseas

With the men and women of our military presently engaged in an armed conflict, our offices have been receiving numerous requests for information regarding the procedures for sending mail to troops overseas, who should send mail, and if there are other ways to support our troops. These are all good questions, and we would like to address those concerns.

Q. I have a family member in the military who is stationed overseas. I want to send him/her a package. How much will it cost?

A. You may have noticed that zip codes for United States military installations overseas contain either an APO or FPO designation. Packages mailed to these designations take the same domestic postage as regular packages mailed through the United States Postal Service (USPS). You should calculate postage the same way you would for regular domestic mail.

For more information regarding postage rates, please visit your local Post Office or consult the USPS online.

Q. Are the rules for sending a letter or a package to an APO or FPO any different than the rules for sending regular domestic mail?

A. Yes. Even though you are paying the domestic postage rate, you still need to follow the USPS guidelines for mailing a package to an international destination.

For more information on properly preparing a letter or a package, please visit your local Post Office or consult the USPS online.

For more information on rules and restrictions for sending packages to another county, please visit your local Post Office or consult the USPS online.

Sources:

• United States Department of Defense
• United States Postal Service
• USA Freedom Corps