Important Facts About the Military Postal System

Submitted by Webmaster on Fri, 2019-11-01 15:39
The military postal system is a branch of the US Postal Service that provides secure mail services to military personnel and their families stationed in remote locations. The Military Postal Service Agency (MPSA) oversees the system, which includes the use of military ZIP codes and addresses designed to ensure efficient and accurate delivery of mail and packages. The system also has strict regulations and procedures to ensure the safety and security of military mail. The process of delivering mail to a military address involves sorting, transportation, customs clearance, and delivery to the recipient's unit or ship. It is important to include the full address, pay attention to prohibited items and comply with customs regulations when mailing to military addresses.

Military Postal System

What is the military postal system?

The military postal system is a specialized branch of the postal service that caters to the unique needs of military personnel, their families, and authorized personnel stationed in remote locations. It is crucial to maintaining morale and connecting military personnel with their loved ones. As a part of the US Postal Service, it is administered by the Military Postal Service Agency (MPSA), which provides policy guidance, training, and oversight to military postal units worldwide. The military postal system provides various services, including the delivery of letters, packages, and other mail items, as well as customs clearance for international shipments, tracking services, and special handling for perishable goods, hazardous materials, and classified mail. The system also has strict regulations and procedures to ensure the safety and security of military mail, including inspections and screenings, and the prohibition of certain items like weapons, explosives, and drugs.

Overall, the military postal system is an essential component of the military logistics infrastructure, providing a secure and reliable means of communication with loved ones back home.


What is the military ZIP code?

Military ZIP codes, also known as APO/FPO/DPO (Army Post Office/Fleet Post Office/Diplomatic Post Office) codes, are a system of postal codes used by the United States military to efficiently and securely deliver mail and packages to personnel stationed overseas.

Military ZIP codes are structured like regular ZIP codes, with five digits indicating the general geographic area and an additional four digits providing a more specific location within that area.These codes are designed to provide a more specific and accurate address for military installations, which can often be difficult to locate or access.


What is the military address?

A military address is a specific format of address used by members of the United States military and their families who are stationed overseas.Military addresses typically include a name, rank, and unit or ship, followed by a specific address format that is designed to ensure efficient and accurate delivery of mail and packages to military personnel stationed overseas.

The format of a military address can vary depending on the location of the military installation and the type of mail being sent. However, most military addresses include the following elements:

  • Name: The name of the service member or their spouse.

  • Rank: The rank of the service member.

  • Unit or ship: The unit or ship on which the service member is serving.

  • APO/FPO/DPO: This stands for Army Post Office, Fleet Post Office, or Diplomatic Post Office, respectively, and indicates the military postal system used to deliver the mail.

  • State code: The two-letter code for the region in which the service member is stationed, such as AE (Armed Forces Europe), AP (Armed Forces Pacific), or AA (Armed Forces Americas).

  • ZIP code: A five-digit ZIP code specific to the military installation or unit.

For example, a typical military address might look like this:

John Doe

SGT, US Army

Unit 12345, Box 6789

APO AE 09123-4567

This address indicates that John Doe is a Sergeant in the US Army stationed at a military unit with the identification number 12345 and that his mail should be sent to the APO (Army Post Office) in the European region, with the ZIP code 09123-4567.

Format of U.S. Military Address


What is the APO/FPO/DPO?

APO/FPO/DPO stands for Army Post Office/Fleet Post Office/Diplomatic Post Office. These are special designations used by the United States Postal Service (USPS) to identify military post offices that handle mail and packages for US military personnel and their families stationed overseas.

  • APO (Army Post Office) is used for Army and Air Force installations.

  • FPO (Fleet Post Office) is used for Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard installations.

  • DPO (Diplomatic Post Office) is used for embassies and diplomatic missions.

When a sender addresses the mail to a military address overseas, they use the APO/FPO/DPO designation in place of a city. This helps ensure that the mail is routed through the military postal system and reaches the intended recipient at their overseas location.

Meaning of APO/FPO/DPO


What is the process when delivering to the military address?

  • Delivery to the military post office: When you drop your mail in the boxes or at the post office. Your mail will be taken to a post office or shipping carrier that offers military mail services.

  • Sorting: When mail arrives at a military post office, it is sorted according to the APO/FPO/DPO designation and the ZIP code of the military installation. This ensures that the mail is routed to the correct post office for delivery.

  • Transportation: Once the mail is sorted, it is transported to the military installation by military or commercial transportation. This may involve air, land, or sea transportation, depending on the location of the installation.

  • Customs clearance: If the mail is acrossing the countries, it may need to go through customs clearance before it can be delivered to the recipient. This involves inspections and clearance by customs officials to ensure that the contents of the mail comply with customs regulations.

  • Delivery to unit or ship: Once the mail arrives at the military installation, it is delivered to the recipient's unit or ship. This may involve additional sorting and delivery by military personnel to ensure that the mail is delivered to the correct person.

  • Delivery to the recipient: Finally, the mail is delivered to the intended recipient. This may involve delivery to a central mail room or distribution center, or delivery directly to the recipient's living quarters or workspace.


What do you need to pay attention to when mailing to the military address?

  • Include the full address: Include the recipient's full name, rank, and unit or ship on which they are serving, as well as the correct APO/FPO/DPO designation and the two-letter state code and nine-digit ZIP code for the region where the recipient is located.

  • Follow postal regulations: Make sure to follow all postal regulations for mailing, including using the correct postage, properly packaging and labeling the mail, and complying with any customs regulations if mailing internationally.

  • Avoid prohibited items: Do not include any prohibited items in the mail, such as firearms, explosives, drugs, or pornography. These items are strictly prohibited and can result in criminal charges.

  • Use a return address: Include a return address on the mail in case it is undeliverable or needs to be returned to the sender for any reason.

  • Be patient: Remember that mail delivery to military addresses can take longer than standard domestic or international mail delivery, especially if the recipient is stationed in a remote or combat zone location.

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