ADDRESSING: All mail should contain complete return and destination mailing addresses to ensure the most expedient and proper delivery. For force protection purposes, a service member’s social security number, operation names, or geographic locations are not to be included in the mailing address.

CUSTOMS: Ensure personnel are aware of customs regulations to and from the area of deployment. All parcels sent to, from, or between FPO/APO addresses must have the proper customs form. All mail weighing 16 ounces or more, even when the mailer affixes their own stamps, must be presented to a postal clerk at a post office for mailing. The mailer is responsible for compliance with USPS and custom regulations regarding non-mailable and restricted items. Information from the customs form is retained at USPS and Military Post Offices (MPO’s) for 30 days.

A maximum of $200 per day per addressee for personal items, and $100 per day per addressee for gifts, may be mailed "duty free" by servicemembers. Parcels mailed with copies of "official PCS orders" attached or enclosed reflecting assignment overseas in excess of 120 days is exempt from customs charges. If orders are enclosed, the parcel must be endorsed by the accepting post office "free entry, claimed under public law 89-436, movement orders enclosed.” Returned U.S. Merchandise can be sent back to CONUS free of customs charges if properly noted on the customs form.

MAILING GUIDELINES: The following items are strictly prohibited:

Posters, pictures, paintings, books, catalogs, DVDs, videotapes, or magazines depicting nude or semi-nude people and pornographic or sexual items of any type (as determined by local area Customs).

Religious items including, but not limited to, crucifixes, instructional material, or any other items interpreted by customs as religious in nature. History has proven certain items relating to Christmas such as cards, trees, decorations, angels, etc. are subject to confiscation.

Pork or pork products.

Alcoholic beverages or any consumable item containing alcohol. This includes distillation equipment and brewing supplies.

Firearms or weapons of any type, including air guns and toy guns.

Ammunition clips/magazines

Spent or live ammunition

Fireworks

Government symbols including, but not limited to stickers and flags

Military clothing or equipment, other than for personal use

Radio and electronic items including, but not limited to, base stations, hand-held transmitters, cordless telephones, global positioning system receivers, etc

Candy cigarettes and cigarette advertisements

Chemicals, including alcohol

Any literature that is determined to be offensive to a host nation’s culture or people

Sand and/or soil are strictly prohibited from entering the United States

Mid-East Customs officials sometimes scrutinize the following items very heavily. If they contain prohibited content, the result can be fines, confiscation, and/or censorship:

Films,CDs, DVDs, Video Tapes

All printed matter, such as books, magazines, catalogs, newspapers, pictures, paintings, etc.

Weapons of any sort

Hazardous or restricted material: Hazardous material cannot be sent in the mail. Hazmat includes batteries, corrosive item aerosols, etc.

Any Service member (ASM) and Dear Abby mail programs: These programs have been discontinued until further notice, primarily due to Bio-Terrorism concerns. Deployed service members should not participate or encourage any mail from unknown sources. Any mail received from an unknown source should be treated as suspect mail and brought to the attention of postal personnel. Some organizations in CONUS recruit service members to receive Any Service member-type mailings for distribution to their unit personnel. Deployed personnel should not participate in these programs.