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Postal service Airmen recommended holiday mailing dates

By Staff Sgt. Eric Mann, 39th Air Base Wing Public Affairs / Published November 22, 2019

Photo of mail bin
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A United States Postal Service mail bin rests on a transfer table at the 39th Force Support Squadron Post Office, Nov. 20, 2019, at Incirlik Air Base, Turkey. Postal service Airmen encourage customers to check the suggested shipping dates to ensure packages reach their loved ones in time for the holidays. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Eric Mann)

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Bailey Hemphill, 39th Force Support Squadron postal clerk, processes a customer’s package for delivery, Nov. 20, 2019, at Incirlik Air Base, Turkey. With the holiday season approaching, the post office has experienced a high influx of mail being shipped and received. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Eric Mann)
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U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Bailey Hemphill, 39th Force Support Squadron postal clerk, processes a customer’s package for delivery, Nov. 20, 2019, at Incirlik Air Base, Turkey. With the holiday season approaching, the post office has experienced a high influx of mail being shipped and received. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Eric Mann)

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INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey --

The 2019 recommended holiday season mailing dates for postal customers assigned to Incirlik Air Base are:

First Class Mail – Dec. 4
Priority Mail – Dec. 4
Priority Mail Express Military Service (PMEMS) – Dec. 14

These dates are for mail originating from here and destined to a U.S. location. Customers in the U.S., who mail to European APO/FPO/DPO addresses are also encouraged to use the same recommended mailing dates.

“We send out and receive mail daily, but the deadlines are early because we receive a high influx of mail and packages around the holidays and we factor in the time it takes for the mail to go from here to the states,” said Staff Sgt. Stephen Peplinski, 39th Force Support Squadron outbound NCO in charge.

Customers mailing packages may want to consider all their mailing options. Priority mail and first class mail needs to be shipped sooner and priority mail express military service at a later date. With each shipping option, customers can expect an increase in expense but the items will still reach its destination in time.

According to Mr. Lionel Rivera, USAFE Air Postal Squadron Postal Operations Flight, most mail accepted at military post offices in Europe is flown to the United States on commercial aircraft. Once mail arrives stateside, it's transported based on the service selected and paid for.

“It is definitely important to get the mail out on time so your family, or whoever back home, can get them when you want,” said Peplinski.

Peplinski added that this is especially important because when we’re separated from our families, receiving mail is a huge morale booster.

Postal service Airmen encourage customers to keep in mind their packages are handled numerous times while transiting through the mail stream, and therefore proper packaging is very important.

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