FORT BRAGG, N.C. (Oct. 13, 2015) -- It's that time of year again when cards, letters, and packages are delivered to homes and offices across the country and around the world.
Given the risk of potential terrorism against military members and their loved ones in recent months, it is a good idea to review how to identify suspicious letters and packages that may find their way to your mailbox or doorstep.
According to the U.S. Postal Service Inspection Service, in 2014, inspectors responded to more than 2,546 incidents involving suspicious items, substances, powders, or liquids in the mail or at postal facilities. Of those, 83 involved potential improvised explosive devices. No injuries or fatalities were reported.
Because of this persistent threat, Anthony Perry, the U.S. Army Reserve Command, or USARC, postal and official mail manager, has a few tips to use not only this holiday season but throughout the year.
Perry, who retired as a U.S. Army postal operations master sergeant, served as the U.S. Army Europe postal inspector and postal training specialist before coming to USARC in 2009.
He said that suspicious packages and letters have been common throughout American postal history well before the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the United States. He cited letter and parcel bomb attacks aimed at American personnel stationed in Europe during the 1980s primarily by the Red Army Faction.
"We all have to be vigilant and understand what the indicators are of suspicious letters and packages," Perry said. "Taking the risks involved, we need to know how to handle official military mail as well as personal mail at our homes."
Perry said that everyday in the United States, thousands of pounds of mail are processed and delivered.
"When you look at that, it's very easy to see how someone could place something inside the mail that shouldn't be there, with the main focus to cause bodily harm or property damage," Perry said.
He said Family members should be aware as well, especially with the holidays right around the corner.
"This is the time of year where the frequency of mail begins to pick up. So, the bad guys surely understand this is a high-peak season," he said.
Perry said that many times the postman or other delivery services leave packages on doorsteps and the neighbors will think nothing of it.
"So what is to stop someone placing a suspicious package on a doorstep," he asked.
Perry said if you were not expecting a package at home that should be your first warning sign. He advises visually inspecting the package without touching or picking it up.
Some suspicious package indicators include: no return address, excessive or no postage, improperly spelled name, signs of leaking liquids or powder, no official postal markings or delivery service markings, and lopsided or poor wrapping. Perry said excessive weight could also be an indicator that something is amiss. Most letters weigh 1-3 ounces, effective mail bombs will weigh more than 2 ounces and will usually be thick in size - 3/16 of an inch or larger.
"Mail bombs are rugged," Perry said. "They are designed to pass through the mail system without activation while being processed and transported."
Perry said if you suspect a suspicious letter or package at your home, call 911. He did caution that cell phones could trigger some bombs, so it may be best to move away from the home before making the call.
In a reserve center, unit official mail clerks and managers, Perry said, must be trained and have a working knowledge of handling suspicious mail.
"Senior leaders receive mail all the time," Perry said. "If you have been doing mail operations for awhile, you should know where mail normally comes from in your chain of command and who it would be addressed to. In addition to checking the letter or package as you would at your home, you need to check it for proper spelling, titles, and addresses. If something looks suspicious you need to contact your supervisor or physical security personnel in your facility."
For more information about postal security at your home, contact your local postmaster. For postal security in the workplace, contact your unit's official mail manager.
Additionally, Perry may be contacted at 910-570-8829 or by emailing anthony.perry.civ@mail.mil. Unit mail operation managers may contact Perry for handling suspicious mail training materials.
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