Update on shipping models and supplies
to Service Members overseas

We've been contacted by several members and chapters regarding what can be shipped to our service people stationed overseas.  Thanks again to all IPMS Members and Chapters that are actively supporting getting modeling stuff to our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.  You're making a difference in the lives of these young men and women. 

We've recently encountered some issues on the shipment of kits and supplies via the US Postal Service.  Larry Grapentine, a member of IPMS/Phoenix, ran into this issue when trying to send some large boxes via USPS to an APO address.  I'm quoting his letter below:

Anything larger than a 72" combined length and girth that gets through the local Post Office will more than likely be rejected and not make it to Iraq. Below is the message I received:

The only source that we have available to us for military restrictions is the Postal Bulletin magazine. According to this publication, the size restrictions do not apply to the specific APO ZIP Code you provided. The latest issue can be found at http://www.usps.com/cpim/ftp/bulletin/2006/pb22171.pdf. The restrictions for the ZIP Code are on page 40. The 72" size requirement appears to only apply to some of the APO/FPO locations. However, after further researching your question in other resources, the 72" requirement does apply to all classes of Military Mail.

Now, to add to the confusion, I visited my local Post Office here in Green, OH.  I was told there that the length/girth rule is 108", not 72".  So…my suggestion is that before you pack up whatever you're planning to send to our troops, contact the shipping agency you intend to use, and make sure that the box size you've selected meets their interpretation of the regulations.  Nothing more frustrating than showing up at the Post Office and being sent home to repack (except to have your shipped items refused at the APO and returned).  If we get further clarification on what the allowable box dimensions are, I will post an update here. 

John Noack 1st VP

January 2006