Posted on 10/13/2008 2:18:25 PM PDT by billorites
One of the unexpected military impacts of the Internet is the stress Internet shopping has placed on the military mail system. It works like this. Americans can cheaply send things to a soldier overseas, because the troops use a special military address in United States. The military then pays for shipping letters (less frequently) and packages (much more frequently) to wherever the military recipient is on the planet. Because of the ease of shopping online, and the near-universal access to the Internet by troops overseas, more stuff is being bought online and shipped overseas largely at government expense. In 2006, the Department of Defense shipped 112,000 tons overseas. In 2007, that was up to 139,000 tons. This year, it's headed for a total of 180,000 tons. It costs the Department of Defense over half a billion dollars a year to move this stuff, most of it moving by air.
Internet shopping became important both because it improves morale, and also saves lives. Little luxuries mean a lot, and just about anything is available via the Internet. This includes things like Netflix (the low cost two discs a month deal works well with troops overseas). But troops also buy military equipment (and some weapons, like knives) as well. Special clothing and equipment (tools, flashlights, goggles, etc.) are the most common items ordered. When one trooper finds a new item that works real well, the word gets around very quickly. The troops have a network of message boards, social sites (MyPage, FaceBook) and email lists (listservs) that keep everyone informed. Some companies have found themselves quickly sold out of an item, days after a soldier or marine found that, "hey, this works." A lot of those popular gadgets are lifesavers, all because the Internet and the military postal system gets the stuff to the troops quickly and cheaply.
Good for the soldiers they deserve the fruits of this bountiful country just as any of us, too bad the postal system is “stressed”.
I thought it was gonna be an article about Teddy’s beloved Boston district. Drats!
I don’t find this to be true at all.
We’ve shipped military care packages in a medium box. Cost is almost $100.
Check out the US Postal Service.
Priority Mail, $10.00, up to 14 pounds.
Takes about a week to get to the Soldier.
They even provide the boxes, and will deliver them to your house.
Even more important: My boy's mother can find out by Instant Messenger that he's alive and unharmed while he's serving in Afghanistan. It's rough over there.
Much better than the snail mail or the MARS system (if you could get to it) that we had to rely upon in my day.
We just shipped our first package to our son who is now stationed in Italy. He has an APO address, which is the key to reasonably-priced shipping by the USPS. As the other poster mentioned, it’s inexpensive and quite fast. I never dreamed that he would receive our package in a mere few days!
Score one for the beat-up and often-abused USPS!
Hey, Folks, all you Troop Support Guys & Dolls might be interested in reading this one!
B/1/520
Coming home in a few weeks!
Maybe slightly off topic, but the USPS has been complementing the internet extremely well.
I've been getting Priority Mail packages from California to New Hampster in 48 hrs. That's 12 lbs of coffee beans shipped for $10. Hard to beat.
I've bought camera accessories from mainland China and Japan recently and repeatedly via eBay and direct from manufacturer. They've arrived with tracking info in 4-5 business days. Pretty remarkable really to get such service from the other side of the planet and a true boon to commerce.
My organization sends thousands of care packages overseas annually. Actually, this is the first year that's a true statement!
The USPS Priority Flat-Rate box is a God-send for us. We teamed with a large retailer this January and shipped over 2000 Care Packages at a cost of about $20,000. I'd hate to think what it would have cost using any other method.
Please give us more details on your retailer and what was in the 2000 care packages and where they went. Pretty please?
My wonderful DH loves to shop at Amazon — and get stuff shipped directly to him. Still, the vast majority of his mail is caused by MY shopping then shipping, LOL!
Mail Call! (He loves mail!)
Thank you for that!
We send out a couple of 'care packages'/week. If we keep the weight to <20lbs, we're in good shape.
Logistics aren't really keeping up with things, that's something that the 101st Airborne has always had to deal with at least since the deployment to Vietnam. My boy had problems getting gun oil and cleaning solvent for his weapons. We got some to him, and some of the sporting goods stores in this area took up the slack, as well as the local Outdoor Army Surplus store.
Now that he's a fire team leader in his platoon's weapons squad, it's even more important.
Mostly we send food stuff. Canned goods that they can eat without heating or using water (rationed in his part of Afghanistan). The people that came up with the nutritional content of the MRE's didn't reckon that the troops would be carrying almost their own weight in 120oF days, at altitudes of 7,000 to 10,000ft. The boys get hungry, and there's a food shortage (for civilians) in Afghanistan because of all the opium being grown.It's a mess over there. From my son's platoon COP he can see Pakistan. It's just a few hundred yards away.
They went to men and women of all armed services in Iraq, Afghanistan, and the Horn of Africa. The recipients were folks who have visited our web site and asked for support.
Let me see if I can't find a couple of pictures to post; or a link to the Pentagon Channel newscast featuring the event...
Yes, the 502nd.
They’re just finishing up month number 13 in NW Baghdad.
The mid-tour leave was the hardest, ‘cause you know what they’re going back to.
Hang in there!
You’re talking APO AE, right? Can you point me to a calculator as to shipping costs? I have a feeling the lady we’ve had pack our boxes is jipping us.
You need to fill out the Customs Forms, so get a pack of those, either from the PO or the USPS website.
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