They Won't Be Home For The Holidays: A Quick Guide To Care Packages For Miltary Personnel

Preamble -- October 18 marks my first shipment of care packages to a Military service-person overseas
(specifically to Baghdad). I was going to do it since about summer, but hesitated...partly because I wasn't
sure how to proceed. Thus, I now present a (Very) Quick Guide to the sending of care packages.

Point #1: Timing IS EVERYTHING
Keep these DEADLINE dates in mind (from the US Navy website at this URL:
http://www.chinfo.navy.mil/navpalib/questions/holidaymail.html

The United States Navy

Holiday mailing — 2003

The Naval Supply Systems Command's Postal Policy Division, in cooperation with the U.S. Postal Service and military postal officials from all of the services, notes that it’s not too early to mail 2003 holiday cards, letters, and packages to and from military addresses overseas. In fact, everyone is encouraged to beat the last minute rush, and bring holiday mail and packages to the nearest U.S. Post Office or APO/FPO military post office by these suggested dates:

Point #2: Identify Your Target (Service Person)

You must have a specific service person's address for the mailing of letters or packages; the "any service man"
mailing is a thing of the past.

Even if you don't know a person serving oversears personally, you know someone who does.
Ask around, check with your faith community (church, temple, etc.), your city newspaper.
For example, my hometown newpaper even has a website with service- persons names and military
address. In my case, I contacted the employer of a U.S. Army chaplain; they had his APO (military)
address and e -mail address.

Point #3: If Sending A Package, Try To Contact The Service Person FIRST, if possible
Even though 99.999% of service personnel would love (and be happy with) a nice, supportive letter from
stateside, a package really sends the message.
Luckily, I was able to exchange e-mails with a Chaplin in Baghdad and thus he gave me a prioritized list
of school supplies his unit needs to help their adopted elementary school

Take-home message: prior contact gives the service person what they need, maximizing the benefit/cost
factor.

Point #4: Consult the USPS (United States Postal Service) for information
Talking to counter personnel is helpful, but time-consuming, so go to www.usps.gov
Consult: "Supporting Our Troops FAQs" at http://www.usps.supportingourtroops/supportingfaqs.htm
Military Addressing Tips at http://www.usps.supportingourtroops/addressingtips.htm
Military Packaging Tips at http://www.usps.supportingourtroops/packagingtips.htm
Other Ways To Support Our Troops at http://www.usps.supportingourtroops/otherways.htm

These will give you the basics and answers virtually all your questions.
For those who desire to send packages, the take-home is that you can box up goods in a "Domestic"
Priority Mail box, take it to the US Post Office, fill out a PS Form 2976-A Customs Declartion and
Dispatch Note" for each box you send.

Point #5: OBEY Restrictions on your mail! Don't tick off the host country!!
While at the "Supporting Our Troops FAQs" at http://www.usps.supportingourtroops/supportingfaqs.htm
click on the Overseas Military Mail link. Use the military "zip code" in your service person's military
address to determine which (of that huge list of) restrictions apply to your shipment.
Of course, the usual biggies are the prohibition on shipping pork and against shipping religional material'
for other than personal use by the service-person.
DON'T be intimidated by the restrictions list...take a few minutes to work through it in order to avoid
problems.

Point #6: Time to get the box and all the stuff to go in it!
Make out your shopping list
Go to the USPS office and pick up an appropriate shipping box.
In my case, I found I could load and send two "Domestic" Priority Mail boxes.
I took the box with me to the store, and noted if the items to ship would fit that box.
Load up box, leave one flap easy to open, in case the Post Office counter-person wants to
inspect the contents.
Also write out a "shipping manifest" to go into the box. This could help postal workers to
reassemble the shipment if the box should break. Xerox a copy for your records (or store
on computer)

Point #7: Time to mail!
Take your box(es) to your local post office.
Fill out a Form 2976 or Form 2976-A for customs purposes.
I used the Form 2976-A for each box. Here is the important part...put this verbatim phrase in the
box for description of the box contents:

"Certified to be a bona fide gift, personal effects, or items for personal use of
military personnel and their dependents."

Pay the shipping charges. In my case, it cost about $14 for me to send a TOTALLY packed
Priority Mail box, weighing about 10 pounds.
Priority Mail going the APO or FPO route should take 10-15 days to arrive; the less expensive
parcel route takes more like 24 days.

Point *8: Contact your service person, if possible
Because tracking is not available for even Priority Mail going through the APO/FPO
system, send an e-mail to your service-person to let them know the package is on the way;
include the "shipping manifest" in the e-mail for two reasons.
The shipping manifest lets the service-person know what material is "in the pipeline" and thus
they can customize/re-prioritize their wish-list for other donors.

If you don't have a name and address, here is an idea for ya!

SOS: Support Our Troops Operation Gratitude: Sending Care Packages To
U.S. Troops"
Toogood Reports via FR
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/991246/posts

: "When troops are out in remote places, they don't have access to
: news on a regular basis and rumors abound," says retired Army
: National Guard Brig. Gen. Michael R. S. Teilman, who now heads the
: Bob Hope Hollywood USO. "They hear about protest marches, the
: president getting lambasted, and they don't know if there is going
: to be a backlash when they get home, like there was after Vietnam."

: It's no wonder the troops are confused, with negative coverage in
: the media exceeding positive coverage ten to one, and the patriotic
: fervor of 9/11 quickly slipping into the apathetic languor that
: preceded that defining moment in history. Despite the negative media
: coverage and political bickering, Americans overwhelmingly support
: their individual troops and one woman in Encino, California is
: determined to make sure they receive that message loud and clear.
: Carolyn Blashek, ex-lawyer/teacher and proud mother, has personally
: sent almost 600 care packages to soldiers in the Middle East. Filled
: with toiletries, snacks, games, movies and personal letters of
: support, these packages have a huge impact on the lives of these
: soldiers. Although steadfast in their loyalty to their country, one
: soldier's uncertainty shows between the lines.

: "All the soldiers here are very happy to receive letters and
: anything that is a sign of support for our effort," writes the
: thankful SPC. "You at Operation Gratitude have made a difference in
: our lives and we are grateful as well. We are determined to
: accomplish our mission here even more, because we know America cares
: about us. God bless America."

: Boosting morale. That's what motivates this human dynamo, Carolyn
: Blashek, to keep sending packages and letters of support overseas. A
: product of the Vietnam Era, this 48 year old, two-mile-a-day-runner
: tried to join the Army Reserves after September 11, but was politely
: turned down for being about a decade over age. Undaunted, Carolyn
: signed on as a volunteer at the Bob Hope Hollywood USO where she
: lent a sympathetic ear to anxious troops headed overseas. Her
: encounter with one young man was soon to change the course of her
: life. About to return to Korea after attending his mother's funeral,
: an Army officer wished to speak to a chaplain. Unable to find one on
: short notice, the officer asked if he could talk to Carolyn instead.

: "His mother had just died, and his wife had left him years ago,"
: Carolyn said. "He said he didn't have any other relatives. Then he
: just broke down, started crying and said, 'I don't know if I will
: return alive, and it won't matter to anybody.' After he left, I
: wondered how many other servicemen and women feel that they have
: nobody. And if that's the case, where do they find the strength to
: survive the difficulties they face in battle?"

: Out of that void came the birth of Operation Gratitude (a 501(c)(3)
: non-profit corporation).

: Aided by donations from local businesses and other interested
: parties, Carolyn sent her first four packages to a predominately
: female Army unit based in the Kuwaiti desert, desperately in need of
: feminine hygiene products, toiletries and encouragement. From that
: initial four-box-a-month order, Operation Gratitude now sends
: 160-175 boxes a month to grateful troops. As with any successful
: endeavor, this one has changed over time. In the beginning, the
: front line troops needed basic things like shampoo, lotion and
: toothbrushes. Now that base camps with commissaries have been
: established in most areas, Carolyn is receiving more requests for
: entertaining items such as DVDs, books and the all important
: morale-boosting letters.

: Many of the soldiers are now asking for items to give to the Iraqi
: children and families who have befriended them in their distant
: outposts. They want candy, clothing and toys for the children and
: they want to share American foods with the Iraqi families who treat
: them to dinner in their own homes on a weekly basis. If there is
: anything that frustrates Carolyn about this business, it's the lack
: of media coverage for the positive things that are happening in
: Iraq. Without fail, she says, the soldiers have been welcomed with
: open arms and hailed as liberators rather than occupiers. They have
: become part of the lives of the citizens they are liberating, often
: attending community events and ground-breaking efforts such as
: democratic elections and the formation of schools. Unsure of their
: support at home, the soldiers find much solace in the appreciation
: of the Iraqi people.

: Despite it's inflated size, Carolyn still works out of her own
: living room, dining room and recently commandeered college-bound
: daughter's bedroom. This way, she says, she can still keep personal
: control of the project. An expert at procuring and packing the
: requested items, her most difficult challenge is meeting the cost of
: postage. At about $25 per package, the numbers add up pretty quickly
: and donations of any size are greatly appreciated. Carolyn finds
: the time to send a response to each and every donor and helper. It's
: this personal touch that really sets her apart from many other
: organizations. It's all spread by word of mouth, she explains. "Due
: to security issues, the military requires that I address each box to
: a specific service member in a specific location. I get these names
: from company commanders, chaplains, fellow soldiers, relatives and
: friends. I always welcome more names and can receive that
: information through my website,Operation Gratitude. Give me a name
: and a request and I'll see that they get a package."

: It's that simple. And it is the thought that counts.

: For more information contact: Operation Gratitude Carolyn Blashek
: 16444 Refugio Road Encino, California 91436 USA
: Telephone: 818-789-0123 Fax: 818-789-0563 E-Mail: cblashek@aol.com
: or opgratitude2003@aol.com

: Website:Operation Gratitude
: http://www.opgratitude.com

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For military mail addressed to APO and FPO addresses, the mailing dates are:	For military mail FROM APO and FPO addresses, the mailing dates are:
Parcel post — Nov. 13 Space available — Nov. 28 Parcel airlift — Dec. 4 Priority mail, first class cards and letters — Dec. 11	Space available — Nov. 20 Parcel airlift — Dec. 4 Priority mail, first class cards and letters — Dec. 11

The United States Navy

Holiday mailing &#8212; 2003

Holiday mailing — 2003