Holiday mail deadlines set
RAF MILDENHALL, England -- The Holiday Season is around the corner and RAF Mildenhall's post office has already begun to see a slight increase in customers.
The RAF Mildenhall postmaster recommends Team Mildenhall prepare early, to help alleviate the last-minute rushes and ensure packages arrive in time for the Holidays.
"When it comes to being stationed overseas, proper planning will go along way when it comes to mail," said Master Sgt. Michael Sinibaldi, 100th Communications Squadron postmaster. "Also, the Holidays are a prime time to step up and volunteer."
For Team Mildenhall sending mail home, the post office recommends the following deadlines:
- Space Available Mail - Friday, Nov. 25, 2011
- Priority Mail - Friday, Dec. 9, 2011
- First Class Letters and Cards - Friday, Dec. 9, 2011
- Express Mail - Friday, Dec. 16, 2011
"It would be good to call to your families or friends back in the states and also make them aware, as they'll have similar tranisit times when mailing packages here to RAF Mildenhall," said Sinibaldi.
Mail accepted at military post offices in Europe is generally flown to the U.S. on commercial aircraft. Once it arrives there, it's transported based on the service a member paid for.
"Command postal patrons should plan ahead and mail early to ensure letters, cards and packages arrive at time for the holidays," said Lionel Rivera, U.S. Air Forces in Europe postal public affairs representative. Customers can avoid the historical long lines at the post office when they mail early and can take advantage of using the cheaper, although slower, space available mail service military post offices offer in Europe."
To help alleviate long lines and assist in handling and processing, the RAF Mildenhall post office is looking for volunteers.
The post office provides the following tips to ensure packages arrive safely and undamaged:
- Print addresses clearly.
- Include all address elements (i.e. apartment numbers, suite numbers, directional information for streets, etc.).
- Select a box that is strong enough to protect the contents and leave space for cushioning inside.
- Package contents with shredded or rolled newspaper, bubble wrap, or foam peanuts. Plain air-popped popcorn is also good for cushioning; it's inexpensive and environmentally friendly. Pack tightly to avoid shifting.
- Always use tape that is designed for shipping, such as pressure-sensitive tape, nylon-reinforced tape, paper tape, or glass-reinforced pressure-sensitive tape.
- Stuff glass and fragile hollow items, like vases, with packing material to avoid damage due to shock. When mailing framed photographs, take the glass out of the frame and wrap it separately.
- Remove batteries from toys. Wrap and place them next to the toys in the mailing box.
- Do not use wrapping paper, string, masking tape, or cellophane tape.
- Put the delivery and return addresses on only one side of the package.
- Place an index card inside the package that contains the sender's address and the recipient's address along with a list of the contents. This will help postal employees to re-pack boxes that were improperly wrapped and came apart during transport, ensuring that the package is either sent to its destination or back to the sender.
- Use Express Mail and Priority Mail boxes, envelopes, and tubes your post office provides.
To volunteer or for more information, contact the post office at DSN 238-2151. Also, the post office has limited mailing by appointments for five or more packages, to schedule an appointment call DSN 238-5620.
(U.S. Air Forces in Europe Public Affairs contributed to this article.)