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Military

Sending Holiday Gifts To Your Sailor? Here Are The Navy's Mail Deadlines

Logistics Specialist 2nd Class Casaundra Montgomery, left, assigned to the future amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6), helps a customer seal a package for mailing from the ship's post office, Aug. 21, 2014.
U.S. Navy
Logistics Specialist 2nd Class Casaundra Montgomery, left, assigned to the future amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6), helps a customer seal a package for mailing from the ship's post office, Aug. 21, 2014.

Planning to send a Christmas gift or holiday card to someone you love aboard a Navy ship or on shore duty? The Navy has announced its mail-by dates to ensure presents and letters get to your sailor before Dec. 25:

For mail addressed to/from:

APO/FPO/DPO AE zips 090-098 (except 093); AA zips 340; AP zips 962-966
  • Priority Express Mail Military Service: Dec. 17

  • First-Class and Priority Mail (letters/cards and packages): Dec. 10

  • Space Available Mail: Nov. 26

  • Standard Post Mail: Nov. 8

APO/FPO/DPO AE ZIP 093
  • Priority Express Mail Military Service: N/A

  • First-Class and Priority Mail (letters/cards and packages): Dec. 3

  • Space Available Mail: Nov. 26

  • Standard Post Mail: Nov. 8

Domestic Mail (For Ships in Port and Personnel on Shore Duty in the U.S. mailing to U.S. destinations-not including APO/FPO)
  • First-Class Mail: Dec. 20

  • Priority Mail: Dec. 20

  • Priority Express Mail: Dec. 23

For a complete list of all deadlines and mail restrictions, click here.

The Navy also wants to remind you to use a nine-digit zip code to ensure your mail gets delivered to any Navy Mobile Unit.

A nine-digit zip code is simply a five-digit code and a four-digit code separated by a dash, like 12345-1234.

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Any mail that doesn't have the nine-digit zip code will be returned to the sender as undeliverable.