How to Ship Gifts to the Military
Military service can be lonely and frustrating, and it is also very dangerous. Sending gifts to people in the military is an excellent way to keep up their morale and make sure they feel loved. The package may be shipped long distances under rough and extreme climate conditions, but if you take the proper care and precautions, the gift should reach your serviceperson in safety.
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Things You'll Need
- Gift
- Bubble wrap
- 2-inch wide sealing tape
- APO or FPO address
- Black felt-tipped marker
- Card
- Customs form
Instructions
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If you are sending the gift to someone stationed in Iraq or Afghanistan, don't send anything that can melt easily or be damaged by heat, such as chocolate or caramel. Don't send any perishable items such as fresh produce.
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Don't send restricted materials to Iraq or to Afghanistan that might be considered offensive to a conservative Islamic sensibility. This means obscene items (nothing gruesome or horrific), any nude or partially nude imagery (still photographs, magazines or videos), bulk quantities of religious materials, and anything containing pork.
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Take batteries out of every battery-powered item and include them separately. Wrap them up securely as well. You don't want the device turning on (which sometimes happen during transit). The batteries will drain themselves, or the device itself may get damaged while running under the wrong conditions.
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Get free Flat Rate Shipping boxes at a USPS branch office. The box itself free, and a flat fee will cover shipping. This is great if your gift is especially heavy for its size. You can also use your own recycled box, but you won't get the flat fee. Make sure to use a sturdy box. Don't use flimsy or damaged boxes.
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Pack whatever you are sending very securely. Bubble wrap works great. Wrap it around everything that could bang around in the box. Tape the bubble wrap itself to be sure. Before sealing the box, shake it so you can hear if anything is too loose inside. It's normal to spend some extra time at this stage to make sure the gift will be secure.
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Write the name and military address of your serviceperson on a card, and itemize every item you are sending inside the box. Place the card inside the box. If anything is accidentally separated, this list will aid the return of the items to your serviceperson.
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Make sure you address the package correctly. Include the complete APO or FPO address. Use your serviceperson's full name (no nicknames). Indicate the military unit and the nine-digit zip code. Put down your return address. It helps make sure the package doesn't get lost. Also, your serviceperson will feel joy at seeing your name on the package. Use a black felt-tipped marker.
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Fill out a customs form at your post office. Give your and your serviceperson's address information. Itemize the contents of the package, indicating their value and individual weight. Use blue or black ink.
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Pay for shipping. Include insurance if the item is valuable. GIve your package to the clerk.
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Tips & Warnings
On the customs form, indicate that if delivery is impossible, then the military post office should give the package to a chaplain. This will ensure the package will reach someone who will really appreciate it.
Take the restricted items list seriously. You don't want your package to be held up for any reason.
References
- Photo Credit Ryan McVay/Stockbyte/Getty Images
