Sen. Carper Highlights Deadlines for Holiday Mailing to U.S. Service Members

WASHINGTON – Today, Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.) reminded Delawareans of important and relevant postal deadlines when planning on sending packages, cards, and letters to military members around the world this holiday season.

“As a former Naval Flight Officer who served overseas, I know firsthand that, when stationed in faraway corners of the globe, nothing quite compares to receiving a special note or package from loved ones,” said Sen. Carper. “As the holiday season fast approaches, I encourage Delawareans to keep the Postal Service’s recommended mailing dates in mind to ensure that our friends and family serving abroad in the military get a bit of the warmth of home this holiday season.”

To ensure the delivery of holiday cards and packages by Dec. 25, 2013 to military APO/FPO addresses overseas, the Postal Service recommends that mail for service members be sent no later than the dates listed below:

1 PMEMS is available to selected military /diplomatic post offices. Check with your local Post Office to determine if this service is available to an APO/FPO/DPO address.

2 PAL is a service that provides air transportation for parcels on a space-available basis. PAL is available for Standard Post items not exceeding 30 pounds in weight or 60 inches in length and girth combined. The applicable PAL fee must be paid in addition to the regular surface price for each addressed piece sent by PAL service.

3 SAM parcels are paid at Standard Post prices with maximum weight and size limits of 15 pounds and 60 inches in length and girth combined. SAM parcels are first transported domestically by surface and then to overseas destinations by air on a space-available basis.

For more information on holiday mailing to service members around the globe, please click here.