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Military Outreach Program

NFPA Legalmen Project
Tip Sheet

Revised:  June 13, 2008


Great web site to check the restrictions by Zip Code:  http://www.operationmilitarypride.org/packages.html

Phone Cards:

The Army and Air Force Exchange prepaid 550-minute card charges no extra fees and offers 143 minutes of calls from the Iraq or Afghanistan theaters to the U.S., for 19 cents a minute. (The card would provide 550 minutes if used in the U.S., at a much lower per-minute rate.)

Even people without military exchange shopping privileges can buy the cards at http://www.aafes.com through the “Help Our Troops call Home” campaign. More than 249,000 cards have been sent since the campaign started in 2004.

And these cards never expire.

Mailing and Packaging

1.    Use packing peanuts or bubble wrap (bottom/sides/top)

2.    Every mailed to Iraq MUST have a Customs form attached:  PS form 2976-A (Customs Declaration and Dispatch Note – CP 72)

3.    Military Care Package Kit

Since Priority Mail 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:

1.    Three (3) each of flat rate boxes O-FRB1 and O-FRB2
2.    Two each of Cube boxes OBOX4 and OBOX7
3.    Address labels - Label # 228  10 each
4.    One roll of Priority Mail tape
5.    15 customs forms with envelopes.

The kit may be requested by calling 1-800-610-8734 (Packing Supply) and:

Choose your language (1 is English, 2 is Spanish).
Choose option 1 (it states it is for Express Mail®, Priority Mail or Global Express Guaranteed® products).
When you reach a live agent, request CAREKIT04.
Please allow 7-10 days for delivery.
Note: These are free supplies, postage must be affixed.
 
4.    Before Mailing Items To Soldiers Overseas...

 


5.    Tips for Sending Mail to US Troops in War Zone: http://usgovinfo.about.com/library/weekly/aatroopmail.htm

Suggested Items

  • Hygiene

Antibiotic Ointment
Chapstick/lip balm/Carmex
Sunscreen (Bull Frog is good)
Bug Repellent (with deet)
Face cleaner
Eye drops/Saline
Liquid hand sanitizer/Baby wipes
Foot/body powder (Gold Bond)
Deodorant
Shampoo/Conditioner
Tooth Brush/Toothpaste
Nose spray/nose drops
Hand/Body Lotion
Band-aids, Mole Skin
Soap
Mouth Wash (no alcohol can be in this)
Nail Clippers
Dental Floss
Tums/Rolaids
Tylenol/Aspirin
Q-Tips

  • Food

Single serving pasta
Ready to heat soups
Lunchables
Ramon Noodles
Powdered Power-aide/Gator-aide or sweetened Kool-aide/Tang
Granola bars/Cereal Bars
Fruit Roll-ups
Raisins
Beef Jerky (no pork)
Applesauce
Fruit/Pudding Cups
Hot or Dry Cereal (individual servings)
Chex Mix
Tuna Kits
Coffee; Tea Bags; Hot Chocolate
Sugar/Creamer
Dried Fruit
Instant Soup

  • Snacks

Hard Candy (no chocolate-it melts)
Trail/Snack Mix
Chips/Cookies/Crackers/Microwave Popcorn/Pretzels
Pop Tarts
Licorice
Sunflower seeds
Aqua drops
Gum
Peanuts in a shell
Rice Kristy Treats
Snack Cakes
Jelly Beans

  • Misc.

Condiments (salt/pepper/sugar/coffee supplies)
Lemonade mix/Ice Tea mix (individual packets)
Cough drops
Stationery/envelopes/stamps/pens
Dice/travel games
Individual instant coffee bags
Books/magazines
Tylenol, Ibuprofen & Allergy medicine
Zipper Ziploc bags - small & large
Instant cameras
RainX
Small sewing kits
Mini Flashlight
Travel Games
Puzzle Books
Stress Balls
Paperback Books (novels)

Sending Shampoo, and other spillable items:  Place anything that could spill (shampoo, cologne) inside a Zip Lock bag, just in case it decides to open up on the trip there.

  • Just for Fun

Stress Balls; Squirt Guns; Yo-Yo's
Disposable Cameras
Small Stuffed Animals
Frisbees; Dart Board; Lego's
Puzzles; Comics
Play Doh; Balloons; Slinky
Sidewalk Chalk; Foam Footballs (miniature size)
Postcards from your area

 


Miscellaneous Information:

Brighten Up a Military Christmas: http://usmilitary.about.com/library/weekly/aa112900a.htm

How to Support the Troops:  http://usmilitary.about.com/od/deploymentsconflicts/a/militarysupport.htm

Other Ways to Support the Troops: http://usgovinfo.about.com/library/weekly/bltroopsupport.htm

Military Mail Restrictions:
 
Each country has customs regulations that apply to all incoming mail. These may include prohibitions on certain kinds of food or entertainment products. Military units may also have additional restrictions imposed by the unit commanders, such as those on size and weight, to ensure logistics support can handle the mail along with other necessities. The maximum length of a package in any category is 72 inches. In addition, Military ZIP Code™ restrictions may be revised as military units move to different locations. While there are specific restrictions for each five-digit military (APO/FPO) Post Office™ area, generally speaking, it is prohibited to mail the following:

1.    obscene articles (pictures, paintings, cards, films, videotapes, etc.)

2.    any matter depicting nude or seminude persons, pornographic or sexual items, or non-authorized political materials

3.    bulk quantities of religious materials contrary to the Islamic faith. Items for the personal use of the recipient are permissible

4.    pork or pork by-products

 

 

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