A misunderstanding, which originated in a personal email from a service member in Iraq may be responsible for some Postal customers mistakenly thinking that the drawdown of troops in Iraq will cause an early cutoff of Dec. 1—for holiday mailing deadlines. Both the U. S. Postal Service and the Military Postal Service Agency agree: the drawdown of troops, which is set to begin next year will have no effect on holiday mailing deadlines for 2009.

“No such announcement has been made to the troops,” said CWO James Clark of the Military Postal Service Agency, “it sounds like a personal email may be being misinterpreted as applying to the public at large. All military mailing deadlines for the holidays that were recently announced still apply. Those who still have questions can check the Department of Defense website at www.defenselink.mil /news/newsarticle.aspx?id=43396 or the current issue of Postal Bulletin. The public should be aware that mail destined for Iraq takes an average of seven to 10 days transit time. In the case of individual troops who are preparing to return home, they can communicate their personal timetable to their loved ones.” For military service members stationed around the globe, holiday gifts are a big morale boost. To help the families and friends of U.S. military personnel, the Postal Service offers a discount on its largest Priority Mail Flat Rate box.

Mail sent to overseas military addresses is charged only domestic mail prices. The domestic mail price for the Priority Mail Large Flat Rate Box is $13.95, but for packages to APO/FPO addresses overseas the price is reduced to $11.95. Additional discounts are available for customers printing their Priority Mail postage labels online at Click-N-Ship.

Flat-Rate boxes are free at any Post Office, or can be ordered online at shop.usps.com. Postage, labels and customs forms can be printed online any time using Click-N-Ship.

The Postal Service continues to show support to those serving in the armed forces by offering free Military Care Kits, designed specifically for military families sending packages overseas. The mailing kits can be ordered by phone by calling 1-800-610-8734 and asking for the Care Kit. Each kit includes two “America Supports You” large Priority Mail Flat-Rate boxes, four medium-sized Priority Mail Flat-Rate boxes, six Priority Mail labels, one roll of Priority Mail tape and six customs forms with envelopes. For online ordering of the Large Priority Mail APO/FPO Flat Rate boxes featuring the “America Supports You” logo and APO/FPO addressing block, Click here. More information about mailing letters and packages to military destinations is available online at Supporting Our Troops.

“Mailing holiday gifts to service members early will help insure that a piece of home arrives in plenty of time to make the celebration complete,” said Pranab Shah, vice president and managing director, Global Business.

To ensure delivery of holiday cards and packages by Dec. 25 to military APO/FPO addresses overseas, the Postal Service recommends that mail for service members be entered no later than the mailing dates listed below. Mail addressed to military post offices overseas is subject to certain conditions or restrictions regarding content, preparation and handling. APO /FPO addresses generally require customs forms. Parcel Post® deadlines have passed for all zipcodes. Military Mailing Deadlines APO/FPO AE ZIPs 090-092

▪ Dec. 18 for Express Mail® Military Service (EMMS)1/

▪ Dec. 11 for First-Class Mail® letters and cards

▪ Dec. 11 for Priority Mail®

▪ Dec. 4 for Parcel Airlift Mail (PAL) 2/

▪ Nov. 28 for Space Available Mail (SAM)3/ APO/FPO AE ZIP 093

▪ N/A for Express Mail® Military Service (EMMS)1/

▪ Dec. 4 for First-Class Mail® letters and cards

▪ Dec. 4 for Priority Mail®

▪ Dec. 1 for Parcel Airlift Mail (PAL) 2/

▪ Nov. 21 for Space Available Mail (SAM)3/ APO/FPO AE

ZIPs 094-098

▪ Dec. 18 for Express Mail® Military Service (EMMS)1/

▪ Dec. 11 for First-Class Mail® letters and cards

▪ Dec. 11 for Priority Mail®

▪ Dec. 4 for Parcel Airlift Mail (PAL) 2/

▪ Nov. 28 for Space Available Mail (SAM)3/ APO/FPO AA ZIP 340

▪ Dec. 18 for Express Mail® Military Service (EMMS)1/

▪ Dec. 11 for First-Class Mail® letters and cards

▪ Dec. 11 for Priority Mail®

▪ Dec. 4 for Parcel Airlift Mail (PAL) 2/

▪ Nov. 28 for Space Available Mail (SAM)3/ APO/FPO AP ZIPs 962-966

▪ Dec. 18 for Express Mail® Military Service (EMMS)1/

▪ Dec. 11 for First-Class Mail® letters and cards

▪ Dec. 11 for Priority Mail®

▪ Dec. 4 for Parcel Airlift Mail (PAL) 2/

▪ Nov. 28 for Space Available Mail (SAM)3/