APO - ARMY POST OFFICE
The Military Post Offices (APOs) operate as an extension of the United States Postal Service (USPS), consistent with public law and Federal regulations. APOs provide efficient and responsive postal services to authorized personnel and activities overseas during both normal and contingency operations.
Mail is processed, dispatched and collected from collection boxes a minimum of five days a week. Inbound mail flows into the theater seven days per week. There are 52 Army Postal Facilities located throughout Germany, The Netherlands, Belgium and Italy that are available to all authorized postal patrons with a Military ID Card.
Authorized Patrons are service members, DoD civilian employees and DoD contractor employees assigned to overseas posts. The service is not available to personnel visiting Europe. Mail is processed, dispatched and collected from collection boxes, a minimum of five days a week. Inbound mail flows into the theater seven days per week.
Postage stamps are available at more than just your local post office. AAFES PXs and shoppettes also sell them. Consolidated Mail Rooms (CMR) and Unit Mail Rooms (UMR) provide mail collection boxes (identifiable by their brown color) for articles with the correct postage applied.
Mail to a German Address
Letters mailed to a local German address can use US postage stamps at the same rate as mail to the Continental United States (CONUS). However, the letters must 1) have a military APO return address, and 2) be mailed from an APO in Germany (not authorized from APOs in other countries). NOTE: Parcels may also be sent at the U.S. domestic postage rate, but a customs declaration is required.
Customs forms are required for all packages entered into the MPS and must be itemized. Mailing packages stateside from abroad involves many prohibitions, restrictions and import duty rules. Avoid the pitfalls by getting the "International Mail Imports" pamphlet from a military customs office. Many people do not know that the Department of Agriculture could fine you anywhere from $100 to $500 and sometimes even more if you mail any meat or meat by-products to CONUS. A customs declaration has to be on every parcel going to the States and falsifying it is a federal offense.
Prohibited Items
Some things cannot be mailed through the Military Postal System or are prohibited entry into the United States. They include, but are not limited to: alcoholic beverages (beer, wine, liquor-filled candies), flammable materials (cigarette lighter fluid, matches, oil), explosives (fireworks, ammunition), compressed gases (aerosol containers, butane, propane), most weapons (handguns, switchblade knives, spent ammunition, shells or similar "war trophies"), foreign meat products (fresh or dried meat, canned meat, meat in soups or sauces), fresh fruits, plants and Cuban cigars.
Individuals who deliberately use the Military Postal Service to send or attempt to send non-mailable or prohibited items may be subject to prosecution and hefty fines.
Mail Pick-up
If your sponsor is deployed, ensure that you check for and take delivery of mail from your supporting Consolidated Mail Room or Unit Mail Room as often as possible. Due to limited mailroom facility space, some mailrooms are becoming overburdened with mail that is ready and available for delivery and this creates staging area problems for new mail that arrives daily.
Planning on taking an extended vacation? It is advisable to stop by your mail room and let them know you are going to be away for awhile. You can fill out temporary mail instructions to hold mail, forward it or have someone pick it up for you.
Do you have some free time? APOs, Consolidated Mail Rooms and Unit Mail Rooms have volunteer opportunities available. Please check with the local Installation Volunteer Coordinator for further information. No special skills, education or certification are necessary.