Custom Forms
Postal services form 2976-A (Customs Form) is required for all packages addressed to an APO or FPO regardless of weight. You will need to fill out one form for each package.

Custom forms are free and can be found at your local post office. If you will be shipping a large amount of packages, I suggest stopping by the post office and requesting the amount of forms you need before taking your packages in to be shipped. This will enable you to take the forms home and complete them there instead of standing in the post office; trying to fill out all of your forms. I offer step-by-step instructions on completing a customs form. Click here for the details.

Packing
Enclose hygiene items and anything that could leak, melt or has a scent in a zipper-style bag. If food is in the same box as something like soap, it can end up tasting like the soap.

Use a sturdy box and cover all previous labels and markings with heavy black marker or white adhesive labels. (Previous markings can confuse and slow down processing.) Fill all extra space with foam peanuts, newspaper, or bubble wrap. Loose candy also makes a nice filler. Cover all seams with strong packing tape.

Shipping
Care packages shipped to the military overseas must be mailed through the USPS. Packages must weigh less than 70 pounds and be smaller than 130 inches in total length and girth. You can figure this by multiplying the height by two, plus width times two, and adding the length (2 x height + 2 x width + length).

I suggest using the USPS Priority Mail APO/FPO Flat Rate Box. These boxes measure 12-1/4" x 12-1/4" x 6" and they only cost $10.95 to ship to military personnel serving overseas. Pick them up at your local Post Office or order the flat rate boxes on the USPS Website in packs of 10 or 25. There is no charge. Order boxes online by clicking here.

The U.S. Postal Service also has a Military Care Kit to make it easier for military families and friends to send packages to servicemen and women and stationed overseas. The kit includes two Priority Mail boxes, six Priority Mail Flat-Rate boxes, eight Priority Mail labels, one roll of Priority Mail tape and eight customs forms with envelopes. The kit may be ordered by calling 1-800-610-8734 and asking for the Care Kit.

Note that packages addressed to APO AE and FPO AE only go to New York and packages addressed to APO AP and FPO AP only go to San Francisco. Once mail reaches these stateside military installations, it is then taken over by the Armed Forces. You do not pay postage all the way to Iraq/Afghanistan.

APO = Army Post Office
FPO = Fleet Post Office
AE = Europe
AP = Pacific

You might consider picking service members close to your mailing area to help cut the cost of shipping if you do not use the Flat Rate boxes. If you live on the East Coast, pick "AE", West Coast, pick "AP", Midwest… you decide.

Address Your Package
Mail addressed to “Any Service Member” or similar wording such as “Any Soldier”, “Sailor”, “Airman”, and “Marine” or “Military Mail”, etc., is prohibited. Mail must be addressed to an individual.

I suggest typing your service member’s mailing address in large, bold letters, printing it and taping it on the package. Hand written addresses might cause confusion. I cover the entire address label with tape to keep it dry and help reduce smudging.

Be sure to include your complete return address on the package. Packages without return addresses might be discarded.