Holiday mail rush approaching

Published Oct. 9, 2007
By Staff Sgt. Mike Andriacco
455th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan -- With the holiday season fast approaching the Air Force post office here is preparing to help Airmen ensure easy shipment and receipt of their packages.

The Camp Cunningham post office handles mail for all Airmen in Afghanistan and each week processes more than 1,200 packages and 1,600 letters. That number is expected to triple during the holiday season, said Tech. Sgt. Patricia Findley, the NCO in charge of the Camp Cunningham post office.

More important, ensuring all those letters and packages get to their recipients is essential to the morale of the Airmen here and is very rewarding, she said.

"It's great to make someone's day when they get a package or letter from home," said Sergeant Findley. "E-mails are good, but an old fashioned letter is more personal and is something you can take with you anywhere no matter what your job is [in Afghanistan]."

The change in season brings not only the challenge of an increase in the volume of mail, but also the issues associated with changes in weather.

"The winter months are going to be challenging depending on how much snow we get, but just like home... neither rain nor sleet nor snow nor war will stop us from delivering mail to our customers," said Sergeant Findley.

While the post office shows each package the utmost care, the Airman sending their package is the first step to ensuring it arrives at its final destination in a timely manner.

Airmen should make sure their package has the proper address and return address on it, said Sergeant Findley. If the package is undeliverable it may never make it to its destination or even end up back with the sender. Many packages also arrived damaged because too much air space is left between the item and the inside of the box. Airmen should also ensure they securely tape both the bottom and top of their package.

Once shipped from a starting location in the United States, packages are usually taken to JFK International Airport, sorted, and then sent to Dover Air Force Base, Del., where they are loaded onto a military aircraft on a space-available basis to be sent overseas.

Timing is critical if family members want to ship care packages and have them arrive in time for the holidays, said Sergeant Findley.

"November 13th is probably the latest you should send first class to guarantee delivery by Christmas. Registered and insured mail should be sent no later than December 4th," said Sergeant Findley.

While the post office currently has volunteers that help unload mail from the delivery truck every day at 9 a.m., more volunteers will be needed for the holiday rush.

"I saw the two staff members of the post office unloading an entire truck of mail, so I stepped up and pitched in," said Tech Sgt. Jennifer Johnson, NCO in charge of the Manpower and Organization office here.

Volunteering at the post office has benefits that come with it as well, such as sharing in the feeling that comes from helping fellow Airmen.

"It's a nice change of pace [getting out of the office to help with the mail] and it feels good to do my part," said Sergeant Johnson. "Everyone is short on manpower. It's good to help where you can and it makes unloading the mail go a lot faster when there are more people to help."

Airmen looking to volunteer can stop by the Camp Cunningham Post Office, next to the Flight Medicine clinic any day at 9 a.m. Monday through Saturday and at 11 a.m. on Sunday to pitch in.

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