The United States Postal System (USPS) has announced the
recommended mailing dates for packages and envelopes going to
APO/FPO/DPO addresses. Unlike years past, there are really only two
sets of dates.
For almost all APO/FPO/DPO addresses:
Priority Mail Express Military Service: December 17th First Class mail: December 10th
Priority mail: December 10th PAL mail: December 3rd SAM mail: November 26th Standard Post: November 12th
For APO/FPO/DPO addresses that begin with 093:
Priority Mail Express Military Service: not available First Class mail: December 3rd Priority mail: December 3rd PAL mail: December 3rd SAM mail: November 26th Standard Post: November 12th Please keep in mind that these are recommendations and not
guarantees. Earlier is always going to be cheaper and more likely to
arrive on time. I can’t believe we’re dealing with Christmas already.
CHRISTMAS MAILING GUIDELINES: Mail
intended for Christmas delivery to Canadian Armed Forces personnel
serving overseas and using the Belleville address must arrive at
Belleville by 15 November 2013.
Canada Post Free Mail Initiative
From 15 October 2013 until 11 January 2014, family and friends of
Canadian Armed Forces members deployed on overseas mission will be able
to send parcels for free at any Canada Post retail outlets. Letters up
to 500 grams to deployed troops can also be sent free of charge until 31
Dec 2014. The above is applicable to mail being sent to any of the PO BOX STN FORCES, Belleville, Ontario addresses and to any deployed Her Majesty's Canadian Ships.
It is important to note that parcels and letters must be addressed to
a specific soldier, and include rank and mission information. Senders
can purchase additional options for their parcels such as coverage for
loss or damage and signature. To ensure the proper custom declaration
forms and addressing information, parcels and letters should be
deposited at a Canada Post full-service retail outlet.
Mail deposited in street letter boxes will not be delivered. It is
strictly prohibited to use this service to send humanitarian aid or
charitable donations considering that neither can be forwarded overseas
via the Canadian Armed Forces Postal Service as per existing regulations
(CANFORGEN 02/09 SJS 002/09 081418Z JAN 09).
CAF family members and friends sending letters or packages to deployed CAF Members
Sending letters and packages can be a wonderful way to keep in touch
with loved ones and friends serving overseas. Here are some guidelines
to assist in properly preparing your letter or parcel.
Plan in advance for special occasions. Once an item is mailed, it
could take up to three weeks for the mail to be delivered to the
addressee in theatre. If an individual in theatre is consistently
experiencing more than three weeks for mail to arrive, it is recommended
that the indivdiual discuss the matter with their serving Canadian
Forces postal support personnel in theatre.
Clearly write the sender's address in the top left corner.
If mailing by Canada Post, any postal services costing $5 or more is GST exempt.
Ensure that the parcel is wrapped properly and securely and use packing tape. Do not use string to bind the parcel.
The following are specific guidelines for this service (Note: Oversize and overweight parcels will not be accepted):
Weight: Maximum 20 Kg (Approx 44 lb).
Size: Two conditions must be met regarding size:
maximum length is one meter (Approx 39");
the maximum length plus girth is two meters (Approx 79") The definition of girth =width + height + width + height.
In the following illustration, the
parcel has the following dimensions: length = 1.0 m (Approx 39"), width =
0.3 m (Approx 12"), and height = 0.15 m (Approx 6").
To calculate its maximum size simply add the length (1.0 m) + its girth (0.3 m + 0.15 m + 0.3 m + 0.15 m) = 1.9 m (Approx 75").
When mailing by Canada Post, a Canada Customs declaration form is
required with every parcel addressed to one of our Belleville PO BOX STN
Forces addresses or when sending mail to a deployed HMC Ship serviced
through either Halifax and or Victoria. The Customs form must be signed
by the sender of the parcel. Parcels sent to Canada through a Canadian
Forces Post Office must also bear a Customs declaration form. Customs
authorities of the destination country may examine all mail and may
confiscate any prohibited item. Note that sending illegal and prohibited
items may lead to criminal charges being laid against the sender. "
Batteries should be sent in the original packaging and not loose or in a device.
Mail Regulations
No article may be sent by mail if their nature or packaging may
expose postal employees to hazards, or damage other items of mail.
Mailing the following items is strictly prohibited:
alcohol, beer and wine
tobacco products, cigarette and cigar
weapons, including replicas
Knives
explosives, radioactive materials or ammunition
matches
flammable liquids or solids
compressed gas
propane cigarette lighters
corrosive fluids
obscene magazines or pictures
drugs
perishable items
Canadians sending letters for “Any Canadian Armed Forces member”
Canadian Forces members serving overseas appreciate receiving
correspondence from Canadians as well as groups, schools and
organizations from across Canada.
Post cards, greeting cards and letters may be sent as per the addressing instructions below.
The Canada Post free letter mail program is not extended to
letters/cards addressed to “Any Canadian Forces Member” and all such
items will require postage.
Only parcels as described in the “Bulk Mail” section below are
acceptable. Parcels addressed to “Any Canadian Forces member” containing
any items other than correspondence will be returned to sender and the
sender’s expense. For those wishing to send care packages or donations
please refer to this link: Donations.
Bulk mail
Schools, groups, businesses and associations may send cards and
letters bulked in a parcel. The parcel is not to contain any other item
other than correspondence. Parcels found to contain items other than
correspondence will be returned to the sender at the sender’s expense.
Addressing
All letters and parcels containing letters/cards are to be addressed to "Any Canadian Forces member". Please refer to our "Operational Addresses"
to obtain the address information. Note that the lines
"Rank/Initials/Name" and "Unit/Section" of the operational address are
to be replaced with "Any Canadian Forces member".
For example, if writing to Afghanistan, the address should be: Any Canadian Forces Member Op Attention Kabul PO Box 5140 Stn Forces Belleville ON K8N 5W6
There is lots of other important information on mail for Canadian Troops (including different addresses for the various bases...... Check HERE for details.
Public urged to show Christmas support through charities
5 November 2013
kind-hearted members of the public are reminded to show their support through service charities this Christmas.
In previous years, the British Forces Post Office (BFPO)
has received a high volume of gifts and parcels intended for personnel
on operations in Afghanistan and around the world, including Royal Navy
ships.
As this mail can cause delays to personnel getting post from loved
ones, members of the public are being urged to donate to existing
service charities instead.
Soldiers from the Royal Logistic Corps working through
the early hours of Christmas Day to sort mail bags (library image)
[Picture: Corporal Jamie Peters, Crown copyright]Head of the BFPO, Colonel Stephen Heron, said:
As we get closer to Christmas it’s important to remind people that,
though their generosity is appreciated, the most important thing for
our men and women on operations is to receive mail from their loved
ones.
With this in mind we are urging the public to
donate to recognised service charities, which can use their experience
to focus their efforts directly on what will be of most benefit to
deployed service personnel.
The public is also reminded that, due to the ongoing redeployment of
UK personnel and equipment as responsibility for security is handed over
to the Afghans, there will be significantly fewer UK troops in
Afghanistan this Christmas compared to previous years.
How to show your support
British soldiers serving at a forward operating base in
Helmand, southern Afghanistan, with their uk4u Thanks! Christmas boxes
(library image) [Picture: Corporal Dek Traylor, Crown copyright]The
best way to support personnel on operations abroad is to make donations
to approved charities such as uk4u Thanks! which works with BFPO to make use of any spare space in the existing supply chain.
The uk4u Thanks!
Christmas Box appeal, which has sent festive boxes to personnel for 7
years, ensures a present ‘on behalf of the nation’ is sent at Christmas
to every serviceman and servicewoman working overseas.
People can donate to this and other charities now to show their
support and appreciation, and are encouraged to do so rather than
sending their own gifts by post. Sally Little, uk4u Thanks! director and trustee, said:
Christmas is a difficult time for servicemen and servicewomen who
are serving away from their families on operations. uk4u sends them all a
Christmas box filled with useful and fun items.
This year over 18,000 boxes will be sent all over the world using
spare space in military transport; therefore we do not put additional
strain on BFPO at Christmas. We know from feedback received that this helps to raise the morale of our troops at Christmas.
uk4u would like to thank all our sponsors and
members of the public who donate, without whose support we would not be
able to send the boxes.
Military personnel work through the night to ensure
service personnel get their presents on Christmas morning (library
image) [Picture: Corporal Jamie Peters, Crown copyright]
In the following illustration, the parcel has the following dimensions: length = 1.0 m (Approx 39"), width = 0.3 m (Approx 12"), and height = 0.15 m (Approx 6").To calculate its maximum size simply add the length (1.0 m) + its girth (0.3 m + 0.15 m + 0.3 m + 0.15 m) = 1.9 m (Approx 75").
1 comment:
Thank you!! hadn't gotten around to checking yet this year, you have it all in one spot :)
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