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Want to show your support
with gifts for troops overseas?
Let's review the rules!
Please Note: After you become familiar with some important rules & guidelines, we invite you to visit Gifts for Troops for gift suggestions!
 The information provided here is largely specific to the US, and information for Canada is shown below. For our friends from other countries, we suggest that you consult your nation's armed forces and/or postal service websites. These sites may also list government-sponsored or private non-profit organizations through which you can send gifts for troops overseas.
From the US, only letters and packages addressed to specific individuals may be sent directly to troops overseas. Packages addressed to "any service member" or similar designations are rejected by the Military Postal Service (APO and FPO addresses).
Understandably, the primary reason is security. But another reason, especially important during the holiday season, is the need to control the volume of military mail so that troops deployed abroad can receive timely delivery of letters and packages from family members.
Gifts for troops overseas and other mail are subject to inspection by customs officials of the destination country. Each country has restrictions that may prohibit certain food, entertainment, or religious items. The USPS advises that in general, parcels should NOT contain:
- nude, semi-nude, sexual or obscene pictures/items of any sort
- non-authorized political materials
- pork or pork by-products
bulk quantities of religious materials contrary to the Islamic faith. Items for the personal use of the recipient are permissible (e.g. a Bible or individual religious item)
For restrictions to a specific APO/FPO location, call 1-800-275-8777 or consult your local Post Office. The Military Postal Service toll free number, 1-800-810-6098, is available Monday-Friday, 7:30am – 4:30pm (EST).
Other considerations if you are sending a parcel direct to a specific service member:
- Remove batteries and wrap separately to prevent your gift turning on in transit. It's best not to send batteries at all, says one official, as a ticking or vibrating parcel on a military plane "immediately puts us in bomb mode."
- Destination temperatures may be extreme: the desert typically reaches over 100 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Enclose a card listing sender and recipient info and contents. Should the package break open, an inventory will assist in retrieving the contents.
- Select a strong box large enough for plenty of cushioning. Seal opening and reinforce seams with 2" wide packing or paper tape. No cord, string or twine. Shipping a Gift has more tips on packing.
- Address parcel on one side only, with recipient's info in the lower right. To avoid routing through the host country's mail system, do not include the country or base camp's city in the address.
- Visit the USPS FAQ page for further information.
If you wish to send gifts for troops but don't know a specific service person, the US Department of Defense website "America Supports You" offers a listing of approved organizations through which you can support our troops overseas.
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In Canada, the rules and guidelines are similar to those in the US, with the following exception:
The Canadian Forces website states (October 2006): "Post cards, letters, and parcels containing bundled letters addressed to 'Any CF Member' will be accepted.... Note that parcels cannot contain any other enclosures.
The National Defence / Canadian Forces website offers detailed information about sending gifts for troops overseas, addressed to specific individuals. The following items should be strictly avoided:- alcohol, beer and wine
- explosives, radioactive materials or ammunition
- matches
- flammable liquids or solids
- compressed gas
- propane cigarette lighters
- corrosive fluids
- obscene magazines or pictures
- drugs
- perishable items
Note that all mail is subject to inspection by the customs officials of the destination country. Avoid sending gifts for troops overseas that might be offensive to any ethnic, cultural, or religious group in the host country.
Detailed shipping information is presented at the Canadian Forces Mail section of the Canada Post website.
For Canadians wishing to support "any CF member" deployed abroad, gift donations are accepted through the CFPSA donation program.
Gifts for troops overseas are
a much-appreciated taste of home.
Follow the guidelines for safe and sure delivery!
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©Copyright 2006, well-chosen-gift.com, all rights reserved.
Logo photo by Jane M. Sawyer; soldier photo by R. Beaty;
helicpoter photo by Kenn Kisen, all courtesy of morguefile.com.
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