Care Package Guidelines

Support Our Troops & send a “Care Package” Today! Soldiers favorites include...               

Prayers Canned fruit Canned soups like chili and stew Small dry, microwave meals – like Taco Bell dinners Microwave cakes – especially molten chocolate cakes Wet facial wipes like baby wipes - ideally individually packaged Small bottles of shampoo, cream, lotion – hotel samples ideal Small tubes of toothpaste, mouthwash – think travel size samples Hard candies, licorice –not chocolate because it melts. Cookies –chocolate chips will melt, but lots of people send them anyway. Canned chips and dips that don’t need refrigeration Slim Jim’s – beef sticks Nuts and trail mix Messages of encouragement – always welcome More ideas at www.bootsonground.com

Mailing your package as easy as 1-2-3-4 1. 2. 3. 4.

Use a free flat-rate box from the post office. Fill it with as much as it will hold. It doesn’t matter how much it weighs. Complete custom form at post office Send it to any APO address for $9.95.

To make sure it arrives... 

Fill out the address correctly: You must address all mail to a specific soldier. You can no longer address mail to "Any Service member" or "Any Soldier" due to security concerns. Use the specific Army unit as the address, "APO" as the city and "AE" as the state. APO AE mail goes to New York first, where it is transferred to the Army Post Office system for air transport to Iraq.



Mail early: Letters and packages take anywhere from as little as 7 days up to 21 days to arrive in Iraq. Especially during the busy Christmas season, assume it will take 3 weeks to get there so plan accordingly. Same applies to important dates such as birthdays. Letters and cards less than 13 ounces are sent First Class Mail while everything more than 13 ounces is sent Priority Mail.



Use free USPS Flat Rate shipping materials The U.S. Postal Service will send you free Flat Rate shipping boxes, Customs forms, Priority Mail labels and tape for sending packages to Iraq. Call 1-800-610-8734, select option 1 (Express Mail, Priority Mail or Global Express) and ask the service agent for the Military Kit (or Mili-Kit). By using Flat Rate boxes, you can save substantially on postage. The local Post Office will also have these on hand if you want to pick them up locally.



List the soldier's address inside the package This will ensure your package gets to the soldier in the event that the address on the box is unreadable or the box has been opened or is damaged. You may also want to number your letters and packages to Iraq as they may not always be delivered in order, and to ensure that they all get to the soldier.



Check the size and weight Your package can't be more than 84 inches long or be more than 130 inches when you total up the length (the longest side) plus the girth (thickest portion), or weigh more than 70 lbs.



Use the proper Customs Form Letters and cards do not require a custom form. However, all parcel packages will need to have the proper Custom Form completed for shipping. All mail is x-ray scanned and accurately describing contents is essential when completing the Custom Form. The size of the package determines which customs form is used: Packages less than 16 ounces and less than $400 value - Form 2976 All mail greater than 16 ounces - Form 2976-A with 2976-E mailer envelope



Under-report the value on the Customs Form To discourage theft, which does happen occasionally in the APO mail system, underestimate the value of the merchandise listed on the Customs Form.



Always check "Gift" on the Customs Form Checking "Gift" instead of "Merchandise" or other, can avoid potential duty import taxes.

PROHIBITED ITEMS: WILL BE CONFISCATED The following items WILL BE CONFISCATED when package is scanned. DO NOT send!                

Alcohol and alcohol-production products and ingredients (R, R1) Fruits, live plants and animals (M) Pork and pork by-products (H1) Pornographic and sexual materials (including nudes and semi-nudes) (E2) Obscene materials and horror comics (C1) Non-authorized political materials (E2) Religious materials contrary to Islam in bulk quantities (E2) Firearms and ammunition (F) Cash, coins, securities or precious metals in their raw state (A) Hazardous, flammable, toxic and radioactive substances Items that may melt, leak, explode or turn on Batteries in summer Aerosols and other pressurized products Liquids in glass containers Perishable food products that can spoil Electronic devices with batteries installed

DO NOT use packing boxes that are labeled with a prohibited substance. DO use common sense and realize that packages can be subjected to high heat and bouncing around. DO use Ziploc bags and lots of padding where applicable