IMPORTANT INSTRUCTIONS & PERTINENT INFORMATION! :  

1.   Ideally, pack items for an individual soldier into a small package.  Make sure your box is strong and secure, and pad anything breakable. GLASS must be padded, and double baggied.  Best and simplest way to send is in the Post Office's PRIORITY MAIL FLAT RATE box.  Click for official USPS page:          
USPS FLAT RATE BOX INFO     

You can order free flat rate boxes in sets of 25 and priority address labels (with your return address pre-printed) in sets of 100, free from the post office.
FREE USPS MAILING SUPPLIES WITH FREE DELIVERY TO YOU   I just ordered 50 of each size box to keep me going for a while. 

2. It is best not mix boxed or cello-wrapped food items with scented things in a single package. Even factory sealed cookies taste awful when they have been in the same package with bath soap or bug repellent for a couple of weeks. If you double baggie each item, it might make it possible to keep smells from ruining food, but it is best to just box food items and anything with a fragrance of any kind, in separate packages.

3. ALL items which contain liquids and pastes, PLEASE put in a zip-lock bag, and then in a second one up-side-down from the first one. Packages are often off-loaded in a cargo net with a thud!                   If an item can leak, it will.

4. Soldiers particularly enjoy BEAUTIFUL POSTCARDS, so your personal note that you send with your package would be doubly nice, written on a pretty postcard. There is no guarantee you will get a reply from the Soldier that got your package, due to the fact that things are very hectic in the field and getting more so. However, if you would like to increase your chances of getting a reply, pre-address an envelope to yourself, and put a few pieces of paper & a pen in your package.

No need for a stamp on  the envelope. Ask if there is anything in particular you can send and request that they drop you a quick note.

5. Your postage cost is only from your address to the APO AE address, NOT clear to Afghanistan! Postage
to APO AE (A = Army), (E = Europe) is only to NY, where the connection to the APO is. (APO = Army Post Office) The Military pays for the transportation from NY port to the actual soldier's post. At the time of this writing, the new Priority Mail Large Flat-Rate Box (12" x 12" x 5 ½") costs $10.95 flat rate to send to APOs, regardless of how much it weighs, up to 70 lbs.     USPS FLAT RATE BOX INFO

 6.   It can take from 7-14 days for a package to go Priority to Afghanistan.  It takes longer during peak shipping times.  So if you want to get something to the soldiers for a particular holiday, keep that in mind. 

Peak mailing times can add 7 - 10 days to the usual delivery.                             

7.   PLEASE NOTE the "Things NOT to send" and the "Military Mail Restrictions" listed below. 

8.   CUSTOMS FORMS:  The complete delivery address must be typed or legibly written, with ink, in English using ALL UPPER CASE LETTERS and Arabic numerals — and should appear lengthwise on only one side of the package.  Complete USPS info is here:  

CUSTOMS FORMS INFO        ONLINE CUSTOMS FORMS                                                                                                                         

9.  Certify that this is a "gift, for personal use only".

10.   All mail is subject to X-ray so fill out the customs form accurately. Just stating that there are only a few bars of soap, and some goodies, but not mentioning you're also sending an electrical gadget, may cause an innocent package to be blown to smithereens because it looks like an explosive device.

US POST OFFICE SUPPORT OUR TROOPS MAILING INFO    

http://www.usps.com/supportingourtroops/welcome.htm                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Home sweet home

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THINGS NOT TO SEND:

1. Illegal copies of anything. No copied CDs or DVDs. These violate copyright and are illegal.

2. Dangerous Items - Flammables, corrosives, toxins and other dangerous goods are not permitted. Prohibited items include perfumes, colognes, hairspray, matches, butane, aerosol shaving cream, and other aerosols, some cleaning agents, paints, etc.

3. Flea Collars - Some soldiers in Iraq were using flea collars to control insects. These are toxic. Send pump spray or lotion insect repellent instead.

4. Home-cooked anything.  Factory packaged only. Sorry. The Soldiers are told to throw away anything that is not in a factory package, unless it was sent to them by someone they know. You might begin a correspondence with the soldiers that receive your packages. Then you can address homemade goodies directly to them.

5. VERY LARGE BOXES Especially during the holidays.    Send smaller boxes OFTEN!                                                                                     
6. ANYTHING THAT MELTS! If sending chocolate, best to send in Winter, or send M & Ms.         

MILITARY MAILING RESTRICTIONS

The following are prohibited in the region of OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM: (Afghanistan)
Obscene articles (prints, paintings, cards, films, videotapes, etc)  Any matter depicting nude or seminude persons, pornographic or sexual items
Non authorized political materials.
Bulk quantities of religious materials contrary to the Islamic faith. Items for the personal use of the addressee are permissible.
Anything alcoholic, or any ingredients used to MAKE beer, wine or spirits.
Pork or pork by-products.

OFFICIAL LIST OF MILITARY MAIL RESTRICTIONS                                  

PACKING TIPS FROM THE POST OFFICE FOR MILITARY PACKAGES                              
                                                  

Extreme Temperatures: Desert temperatures typically exceed 100 degrees.
The Box: Select a strong box with room for cushioning. On recycled boxes, cover all previous labels and markings with a heavy black marker or adhesive labels.
Cushioning: Cushion contents with Styrofoam or bubble wrap to keep items from shifting. We recommend fragile items be double boxed, with cushioning inside and between the boxes to absorb shock.
Batteries: Battery powered items will sometimes get turned on during shipment. Remove and wrap the batteries separately.
Sealing: Tape the opening of the box and reinforce all seams with 2 inch wide tape. Use clear or brown packaging tape, reinforced packing tape or paper tape.
Do not use cord, string or twine.
Include a card describing the contents: Improperly wrapped packages can fall apart during shipment. Including a card inside, listing the sender's and recipient's addresses plus a description of the contents, helps in collecting the items.