We started this year out shipping packages to our troops. Just a couple of months ago we received about 10 boxes back. Well tomorrow we are going to pack out more boxes however when we opened up the returned packages we discovered that

1)Chocolate melts.
2)Treehouse gummy treats do melt
3) Sweetheart candy makes poweder
4)If you send beef jerky make sure you have at least a year before it expires.

Thank God we received some of these back I would have felt horrible from what we saw. (now granted these were sitting in my garage for 2 months.) The beef jerky we bought had a year to expire but for some reason some of it went BAD. So here is my list please add if you like! The shipment we are sending priority so they get it asap. Also if you send a package out if you not sure your beloved will get it because some units move frequently (our bad here) There is a section on the declaration form where you can put leave with Chaplin if not availible. This way the Chaplin will be able to pass out what you send if you are ok with it!!

Take care and Thank you all who support our troops!!!

If you use the flat rate priority boxes any APO address is cheaper... Use the one that says APO on it. (or at least they use to).

The melted and spoiled items sound like you shipped to Arizona in the summer. Don't send anything with wax in it either because that melts to. Remember the temperature of the area you are sending to.

I've had good experience with the flat rate boxes. Even to Afghanistan, only about a week - two weeks. Chocolate is fine during the winter months because it is colder. Even hard candy melts during the spring/summer/fall. Be sure to only send beef products. Pork products will be confiscated and destroyed.

Yes, the weather where some of our troops are stationed is as hot as Arizona in the summertime (ANd I don't mean in the mountains at night!)
I like the idea of saying "leave it with Chaplain"!
Yes, flat rate to APO's are only $12.50.

After being in the receiving end of uncle sams mailing system It doesnt matter how fast you ship it to an apo or fpo the mail once it leaves there it can take months to arrive in its final destination. I would not waste the extra money on the priority mailings as they do you no good. I do know that the APO mail center is In Miami Florida and the FPO mail center is out of San Francisco California. YThe mail going overseas is always shipped on flights over seas as space is available. weapons and medical supplies are priority. Next comes food. after that is items that are required for maintenance ect. then comes the Mail. I hope this doesnt cause anyone dispare. but it is how they work it.

exellent advice and information.

Not at all makes sense better to save the $$ and just send it. We have been doing this for almost 2 years and this is the first time we receivd back items. We have moved on to more personal things like toilet paper books and such :)

I'd like to add that gum in paper also melts and sticks to the paper. We only send gum in the bubble packs. The kind that has foil on the back and you press on the top clear "bubble" to push it out the back.

Here's a list of things that are good to send

Hand Sanitizer packets
Hard Candy individually wrapped
small word search books
Crossword puzzle books
Instant soup packets
Individual packets to flavor bottles of water
Toiletries---shaving cream, razors, deodorant, toothpaste, toothbrushes, shampoo, even tampons.
lib balm
hand lotion

Just remember that these people are in a war zone, please don't send scented items.

Add shoelaces and socks to the list above. It's more practical than food items.

I always ship Priority to the APO. It takes five days to APO if I don't. I have a sterling track record of getting packages to destination in a week. And, I always ship to outside the wire folks. Since I make weekly care packages for multiple folks, time is important. I've never had packages back up and arrive all at once or sit in fuel or get smashed to smithereens. I've been doing this since the invasion of Iraq.

For me, Priority is unnecessary for FPO but it does make doing everything from home easier. I've never used stamps.com. The USPS is my mail from home agent of choice.

Now I've just jinxed myself to a massive mail failure on all levels.

Edit: If you send anything for local children, skip the candy. Send crayons and notebooks, small stuffed animals or soccer balls. All with the permission of your point of contact, of course. Also locals need socks in the winter.