In our last blog, Shipping APO/FPO: Skip the Containment Point, we discussed the benefits of using the APO/FPO system for shipping supplies to overseas military posts. Before you ship, however, there are a few things to consider.
In order to mail items safely and securely through APO/FPO boxes, you’ll need to make sure that your package is properly labeled and packed. Improper labeling can cause the items to become frustrated. Those at military bases greatly depend on the items being delivered, and often wait many weeks or months for their arrival. Correct packing helps ensure that shipping will be more efficient and secure.
How APO/FPO Works
The APO/FPO system for shipping has three ports in major US cities. Its shipping routes connect these points to many bases.
There are three military states to which packages are shipped. These are AA, which stands for Armed Forces in the Americas, AE or Armed Forces Europe, and AP, or Armed Forces Pacific. These “states” send and receive to and from the main cities where ports are located. These Military State/City pairs are AA (Miami, FL), AE (New York, NY), and AP (San Francisco, CA).
From these ports, mail is shipped to three types of military “cities”: APO, FPO, and DPO. When labeling, indicate which of these cities the package is shipping to. This is followed by the abbreviation for the military state the package is also shipping to (AP, AA, and AE).
The ZIP code or zip+4 code is then added after these abbreviations.
Labeling
With these labeling structures in mind, a typical Overseas Military Mail address looks like this:
Name
Postal Service Center + Identifier
APO, AP ZIP
Name
Postal Service Center + Identifier
FPO, AE ZIP or ZIP+4
This example shows that APO/FPO/DPO identifiers are placed within the field on the label where you would normally place the city name. The AE/AP/AA abbreviation then fits in the “state” field, followed by the ZIP.
Be sure that your package’s label follows this format and is correctly addressed with these codes. Again, APO, FPO, MPO, and DPO all stand for the type of post office box you will be using when shipping your package, within these created military states and cities.
Packaging
Take the same care mailing to these destinations as you would when shipping domestically.
Place the mailing address inside the package.
Use a box ideal for the content. Distribute items’ weight.
Add packing material on the inside if any part of the box sags
Use packaging tape.
Cross out excess markings to protect your box from incorrect mailing.
When mailing liquids, use a leak-proof container. Wrap them in an absorbent material.
Please note: Carriers like FedEx and UPS offer delivery to countries where military personnel can be stationed, but the USPS is the only carrier that can deliver mail and packages to APO/FPO/DPO locations. Due to security restrictions, APOs, FPOs, and DPOs cannot accept mail or packages from any other carrier.
Deliver With Security
We understand how valuable time is when shipping important supplies overseas. It is possible to bypass long waits by using the military mailing system. Military boxes are a cheaper, quicker and more secure way to deliver your supplies to their destination.
Check out our next blog to find out what you can and cannot ship through the APO/FPO system. In that post, we’ll also go over some restrictions for shipping overseas through military mail. Our hope is that this series will make the system as simple as possible to utilize for the secure and efficient shipping of your supplies.
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