Adopt A U.S. Soldier

To honor active US military personnel, Adopt A US Soldier is a volunteer-based program that connects supportive Americans with deployed soldiers and offers a channel by which to communicate encouragement and express gratitude to the brave men and women serving our nation.

How to Send

Prior to sending a letter or package to your soldier, please review the following mailing regulations on this page as per the United States Postal Service (USPS). It is important to note that there are some things that CANNOT to be sent due to customs regulations regarding incoming mail.

Also, please note that the information detailed on this page was obtained in large part from the USPS web site. While we try to provide comprehensive and accurate information, it is subject to change and/or individual Post Master discretion.

Prohibited Items

Although there are specific restrictions for each five-digit Military Post Office ZIP Code (APO/FPO), generally, the following are prohibited in the region of Operation Iraqi Freedom:

• Obscene articles (prints, paintings, cards, films, videotapes, etc).




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




• Any alcohol




• Bulk quantities of religious materials contrary to the Islamic faith. Items for the personal use of the addressee are permissible.




• Pork or pork by-products.




• American Flags (we are not the occupiers).

Military mail postage rates are the same as domestic rates. A 39-cent First-Class stamp will deliver a letter to a U.S. military soldier located halfway around the world.

The Postal Service places APO (Air/Army Post Office) and FPO (Fleet Post Office) 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 representatives and transported to the military post office for distribution to the soldier’s unit for delivery to the addressee.
Anticipated Delivery Duration
Mail delivery time varies, but typically military mail letters take between seven and 10 days for delivery depending on country of destination. Packages can take between 10 to 24 days for delivery depending on destination.

Transit times will vary depending on operational conditions and the unit of the addressee. Soldiers 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.

Proper Way to Address a Letter or Package

To properly address your letter or package, use the soldier’s full name (with or without grade, rank, or rating, or a specific title), include the unit designation, the APO/FPO address with the nine-digit ZIP Code (if one is assigned), and a return address. For packages, mailers are asked to print on one side only with the recipient’s address in the lower right portion. Please note: do not include the country or the base camp’s city, as it might be routed through the host country’s mail system.

If you have questions about addressing your letter or package, please consult your local Post Office.

Package Size Restrictions

At times, military units may 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. A box cannot be larger than 108 inches when summing the measurement across the longest side and the measurement of its circumference. It cannot weigh more than 70 pounds.

In addition, Military ZIP Code restrictions may change as military units move to different locations. All applicable restrictions for about 3,000 overseas military ZIP Codes are entered into the U.S. Postal Service computer terminals and published in the Postal Bulletin.

Please consult your Post Office for answers to any package/letter size and weight questions.

Letter or Package Inspections

Typically, letters are not opened unless they appear unusually bulky. Letters found to be unusually bulky may be examined to see if they contain contraband such as drugs. Parcel mail is examined on a spot-check basis to determine conformity with the host country’s customs regulations and for terrorist-type mailings.

Mailing Inquiries

For specific restrictions and mailing rates to an APO/FPO address, visit the Rate Calculator on www.usps.com, call 1-800-ASK-USPS, consult your local Post Office, or phone the Military Postal Service Agency at 1-800-810-6098.

Our soldiers greatly appreciate hearing from supportive Americans like you! Whether it’s a letter of encouragement or a care package of goodies, please know that any effort you make to support our troops is greatly appreciated.

If you would like to send a care package, we have compiled a list of items the soldiers have requested and/or greatly appreciated. Please keep in mind that this list is intended to be a reference for you; you may send items that are not listed (but please remember to visit the “How to Send” page for mailing regulations). We also suggest you include a self-addressed envelope (no stamp is needed) and a note saying “Please let me know when you receive this package.”

Drinks:

• Capri Sun

• Sweetened Kool-Aid packets

• Country Time lemonade

• Gatorade

• Lipton Tea Mixes

Food:

• Beef Jerky

• Beef sausage (these are very popular according to Paul and Evan)

• Candy of all kinds

• Canned meats

• Canned cheese

• Canned chips

• Canned salsa, dips

• Canned tuna, chicken

• Chocolate anything (they don’t care if it’s melted)

• Cookies (all kinds)

• Crackers

• Dried fruits

• Graham Crackers

• Hickory Farms stuff (no need for refrigeration)

• Nuts

• Pretzels

Fun Stuff:

• Books (new or used)

• Board games

• Card games

• Comic books

• Electronic Games

• Magazines (Newsweek, People, Maxum, Cosmo, Sports anything, etc.)

• Tabloids newspapers (they are fun to read)

• Playing cards

• Poker chips

• Puzzles

• Word Puzzles

• Footballs

• Nerf Balls

• Soccer Balls

Health and Hygiene:

• Aspirin

• Antacids

• Band-Aids

• Chapstick

• Cough Drops

• Dental floss

• Disposable razors

• Foot powder

• Hand sanitizer

• Hair brush/comb

• Kleenex

• Mouthwash

• Neosporin

• Q-tips

• Soap (bar)

• Shampoo/conditioner

• Thera-Flu

• Toilet paper

• Toothbrushes

• Toothpaste

• Wet wipes

Miscellaneous:

• Batteries

• Can opener

• Boot socks (gray, green, black only w/ thick soles) Wal-Mart has them

• Envelopes

• Gloves

• Gum

• Journal

• Pens

• Plastic utensils

• Stationary

Share who and where you are:

• Your local newspapers/comics

• Photos of you/your family/your city, town or state

• Jokes you know

• Our soldiers love any news from the outside world

For more information about Adopt A US Soldier, please visit their website at www.adoptaussoldier.org.