Unite States Postal Office
Customs Forms 2976-A
Here's the customs form needed when shipping your care package with one of the priority apo/fpo flat rate boxes to AF. I complete this just the way it is...fill in the blanks and click continue! Print up the forms and call for a pick up...from your home!
Link: USPS Customs Form 2976-A
Military Mail
Military Mail – Acronyms and Definitions
- MPO (Military Post Office™)
- Provides Postal services for military personnel
- APO (Army/Air Force Post Office)
- Military Post Office for Army/Air Force personnel
- FPO (Fleet Post Office)
- Military Post Office for Navy personnel
- DPO (Diplomat Post Office)
- Provides Postal services for U.S. Embassy, State Dept., and other diplomatic personnel
- PAL (Parcel Air Lift)
- An expedited service available for Package Services
- Additional fee (contact the local Post Office for specific fee amounts)
- Must be identified "PAL" on address side
- SAM (Space Available Mail)
- An expedited service available for Package Services.
- No additional fee
- Must be identified "SAM" on address side
- MOM (Military Ordinary Mail)
- Department of Defense mail (originating from the Department of Defense) sent Periodical, Standard Mail or Package Service.
- Must be identified "MOM" on the address side
The price of Military Mail postage is the same as domestic postage. A First-Class® Mail stamp will also deliver a letter to a U.S. military service member located halfway around the world.
The United States Postal Service® processes APO (Air/Army Post Office) and FPO (Fleet Post Office) mail similar to domestic mail, with all military locations, regardless of where they may be located around the globe, being assigned a ZIP Code™, referred to as an APO or FPO number.
The Postal Service places APO/FPO mail on international commercial passenger service and international cargo service aircraft from various cities. When the plane lands overseas, the mail is tendered to the Military. The mail is then handled by Military Postal Service representative and transported to the Military Post Office for distribution to the service member's unit for delivery to the recipient.
Packaging and Addressing Military Mail
- When addressing Military Mail to a Military Post Office (MPO), should I also use the city and country name? No. Always use the APO or FPO address, without the name of the city and country. This is to make sure the item is handled in the military mail system instead of the international mail system.
CORRECT ADDRESS
|
INCORRECT ADDRESS
|
| PFC John Doe | PFC John Doe |
| 123 ENG 2nd PLT – B CO | 123 ENG 2nd PLT – B CO |
| APO AE 09398-9998 | APO AE 09398-9998 |
| BAGDAD IRAQ |
- What is the difference between Parcel Post® and Priority Mail® items mailed to a MPO? In most cases Parcel Post articles weighing more than 15 pounds or measuring more than 60 inches (length and girth combined) will travel by ship from the U.S. gateway to the military address. Priority Mail articles receive air transportation from the U.S. gateway to the location of the military address.
- Are Extra Services such as Insured Mail, Registered Mail™, and Delivery Confirmation™ available for Military Mail?Yes. In general articles mailed to MPOs are eligible for extra services, but extra services may not be available to all MPOs. For more information consult a USPS™ retail associate or the USPS website at www.USPS.com.
- Can I track a package addressed to an APO/FPO location with the customs declaration form number?Yes, if you purchase at least one of the following extra services: Insurance, Registered Mail™, Certified Mail™, Delivery Confirmation™, or return Receipt for Merchandise.
- What special precautions should I use when packaging overseas military mail?Following these precautions will safeguard your package on the way to its final destination:
- Place the mailing address inside the parcel on a separate piece of paper.
- Use a box that is constructed to conform to the contents you are sending.
- Ensure the weight of the items in the box is evenly distributed.
- Add packing material on the inside if any portion of the box sags or is easily depressed.
- Use packaging tape for wrapping the outside of the box. Do not wrap with string.
- Cross out or cover excess markings or printing to prevent your box from being missent.
- Enclose all personal hygiene items, such as deodorant, lotion, or shampoo, in a sealable bag.
- Place all perishable items, such as cookies, chips, etc., in a plastic container.
- Do not mail liquids of any kind, especially carbonated drinks, which can explode during transit.
How long will it take for mail to reach a MPO?
Listed below are the Department of Defense (DoD) mail transit times for delivering mail to overseas APO / FPO locations (delivery time begins with the time of acceptance):
- DoD Mail Transit Times
| Military Mail Transit Times | ||
| Theater | Air Moved | Surface Moved |
| EUROPEAN | 7 DAYS | 30 DAYS (MPSA Goal) |
| SOUTHWEST ASIA | 10.5 to 13.4 DAYS LETTER 11.1 to 13.2 DAYS PRIORITY PARCEL | NO SURFACE |
| CENTRAL/SOUTH AMERICA | 7 DAYS | NO SURFACE |
| PACIFIC | 7 DAYS | |
| Mail posted at standard rate postage will move on surface (ships) from seaports in the US to overseas seaports and then moved by various means to the designated post office and the individual. | ||
- Express Mail® Military Service (EMMS)
- Designated Acceptance Sites EMMS is available at Post Offices™ for delivery to designated APO/FPO and DPO 5-digit ZIP Code™ locations. In addition, EMMS is available at designated APO/FPO and DPO Post Offices for delivery to the United States. Delivery time is typically 3-5 business days depending on origin and destination: however, the scheduled delivery date is determined at the time of mailing.
- Service Limitation EMMS may not be available at or between all Post Offices. An EMMS Directory, showing APO/FPO and DPO ZIP Code availability can be obtained athttps://ribbs.usps.gov/apo_fpo/documents/tech_guides/EMMSdirectory.pdf
- Post Office™ to Addressee Service
- TO APO/FPO and DPO Locations Under EMMS Post Office to service, items mailed to APO/FPO and DPO destinations (FROM the United States) are available for delivery at the destination APO/FPO or DPO Post Office by 3:00 p.m. on the designated delivery day unless the designated delivery day is a weekend or holiday; is such cases, the item is available for delivery on the next business day.
- FROM APO/LPO and DPO LocationsUnder EMMS Post Office to Addressee service, items mailed from APO/FPO and DPO locations (TO the United States) are delivered to the addressee within the delivery area of the destination Post Office by noon or 3:00 p.m. on the designated delivery day.
- Mailing Label For each EMMS item, the mailer must complete mailing Label 11-B or Label 11-F (for Post Office to Addressee Service). Mailers authorized to present EMMS items using an Express Mail Manifesting System are required to follow label preparation procedures in Publication 97, Express Mail Manifesting Guide.
- Delayed military mail piece contact informationTransit times will vary depending on operational conditions and the unit of the addressee. Those in established bases should continue to receive regular service, while those in forward areas or engaged in operations may experience longer arrival times due to logistical constraints. During Desert Storm we equated this with the military postal system having to forward mail to a population rivaling that of the city of Richmond, VA that was moving through an area the size of the U.S. east of the Mississippi river.
When it appears that the difficulty has occurred after the mail has left the jurisdiction of the United States Postal Service, the matter is referred to the Military Postal Service Agency (MPSA). The Department of Defense liaison agency with the Postal Service and has overall responsibility for Postal operations at military locations overseas.
For help with these situations you can write to:DEPUTY DIRECTORMILITARY POSTAL SERVICE AGENCY (MPSA)2461 EISENHOWER AVENUEALEXANDRIA, VA22331-0006If you have a specific problem that you would like to discuss with the Military Postal Service Agency officials in the future, you may contact their customer service at .
Restrictions and Prohibitions that apply to mail sent to a MPO
For restrictions and prohibitions to military APO / FPO addresses, consult the “Supporting Our
Troops” page on the USPS website at: https://www.usps.com/ship/apo-fpo-guidelines.htm
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Are there programs such as “Any Service Member or Any Wounded Warrior” that allow me to send items to any service member?
This practice is prohibited due to the risks facing deployed military forces. Previous programs that allowed people to send mail to service members unknown to them were discontinued following the terrorist attacks of 2001. This includes the “Any Service Member, Any Wounded Warrior, Any Soldier, Sailor, Airman or Marine” mail program for military personnel. Mail to “Any Service Member” will not be delivered. This restriction applies to all classes and types of mail.
- Mail without a valid addressee and address will be returned to sender.
- Mail without a return address will be opened in our Mail Recovery Center Network to determine the sender’s address.
- Mail with no means to determine the sender’s return address will be sent to local charities.
Military Care Package Mailing Kit
Since Priority Mail service supplies are the packaging of choice for families preparing care packages for service members overseas, the USPS has created a "Mili-kit" based on the items most frequently requested by the military.
The kit contains:
- Three (3) each of flat rate boxes O-FRB1 and O-FRB2
- Two (2) each of Cube boxes OBOX7
- Address labels - Label # 228 8 each
- Address labels - Label # 106-A 1 each
- Customs FORM 2976-A 8 EA.
- Customs FORM 2976-E 8 EA.
The kit may be requested by calling (Packing Supply) and:
- Choose your language (“1” is English, “2” is Spanish).
- Choose option 1 (it states it is for Express Mail service, Priority Mail or Global Express Guaranteed).
- When you reach a live agent, request “CAREKIT04.”
- Please allow 7-10 days for delivery.
Additionally, you can find guidelines for packing, addressing, and shipping items to U.S. troops at https://www.usps.com/ship/apo-fpo-guidelines.htm
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How do I file a Change of Address for a Military address?
If you have a Military (APO/FPO) address, you will need to fill out the same Change of Address (COA) form (PS Form 3575) that is filed for a domestic move at your local Post Office™.
If you forget to submit a COA prior to moving to a Military address, you can write a letter to the old and new Post Office facilities explaining the situation. Provide direction on how and where you need mail forwarded. The letter should also include as many details asked on the COA form as possible.
Military mail is forwarded according to the following guidelines:
- When mail is sent in bulk to a central military location, the military will be responsible for forwarding mail in accordance with Postal regulations
- When the United States Postal Service® provides service to individual military receptacles, the Postal Service™ is responsible for forwarding mail
- All Express Mail® service, First-Class Mail®, First-Class Package Service, Periodicals, and Package Services addressed to persons in the U.S. Armed Forces (including civilian employees) serving where U.S. Mail service operates is forwarded at no added charge when the change of address is caused by official orders
- If the official permanent change of station order is to an overseas APO/FPO address, military authorities forward mail between the United States and those addresses; forwarding is limited to 60 days
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Additional Information
For additional information and assistance, please contact:
- United States Postal Service at () or visit our website at www.USPS.com.
- Military Postal Service Agency at or visit their website at http://hqdainet.army.mil/mpsa
