VICENZA, Italy -- Since 2012, the volume of mail has grown exponentially at Caserma Ederle, Del Din and Camp Darby, and community members are feeling the pinch in the way of long lines and delayed mail.
According to statistics compiled by the Directorate of Human Resources, mail volume at the postal service centers has gone from about 11,000 pieces per month in 2012 to 22,000 per month in 2016. That is the equivalent of each mailbox receiving an average of 663 packages per year. The reality is that although volume is going up, the size of the workforce is not increasing along with it.
Those in charge of getting mail into customers' hands want to assure everyone that they are aware of the problem and customer voices are being heard, whether through ICE comments, observation, verbal complaints or otherwise.
"We want customers to know we hear them and understand," said Christina Overstreet, DHR director, U.S. Army Garrison Italy.
However, one particular part of the process is out oftheir hands: the first few legs of the mail's journey. As division chief of administrative services at DHR, Richard B. Hendrickson oversees mail operations. It first makes sense to explain how the path of mail works, he said.
From anywhere in the United States, all mail sent to APO addresses here is sent by air or truck to the Joint Military Postal Activity in Chicago. This is a U.S. Postal Service hub wherein every piece of OCONUS Department of Defense mail must clear Customs before it can go any farther. In recent months, Hendrickson said, there have been several long delays at this stage of the process.
Once cleared, however, the mail moves via air or truck to the Military Postal Service Agency hub in New Jersey, where trucks then take the mail to JFK International Airport in New York. Understanding this path could save customers some money, by the way. Paying for express mail service from the States will get an item to New York faster, but no faster on the route from there
to Europe.
From JFK, the mail flies to London's Heathrow Airport, then to Malpensa Airport in Milan, and finally is brought by truck to Vicenza. Although the mail's journey is not something DHR can control, the organization is making some changes to improve the situation here.
Overstreet said efforts are under way to alleviate the backlog. A group of Department of the Army civilian employees spent two mornings a few weeks ago sorting and distributing mail, and some relief is also coming in the form of working teens who start the Summer Hire program this month. Nevertheless, the biggest and most recent endeavor is a new partnership with the PSCs and
the Army volunteer program. Community members are now able to volunteer at the centers and can register online at www.armyonesource.com. Anyone with questions should contact the volunteer program office at Army Community Service.
Leaders have also adjusted hours at PSCs, beginning June 20, so employees can focus more energy and attention on the highest volume mail times, Hendrickson said. Hours are as follows:
Caserma Ederle PSC
Official mail and in- and out-processing: Mon & Wed
only, 10 a.m.-noon and 2-5 p.m.
Finance and package pickup: Mon-Wed-Thur-Fri 10
a.m.-5:30 p.m., and Tues 11:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
Local National holidays -- Package pickup only
U.S. holidays - Closed
Del Din PSC
All services: Mon-Wed-Fri 11:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
LN holidays -- Package pickup only
U.S. holidays -- Closed
Darby PSC
All services: Monday through Friday 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
LN holidays -- Package pickup only
U.S. holidays -- Closed
Customers can help ease the burden on the postal system as well. They can opt out of "junk" mailings at www.dmachoice.org; retrieve packages promptly upon receipt of notification; choose to receive e-statements for bills and LESs; provide change of address notifications as soon as possible; and purchase items locally versus ordering online. In fact, AAFES has a price match policy that applies to all retail stores. To learn more, find the policy online at http://www.aafes.com/exchange-stores/price-match/, or visit the store customer relations department. AAFES and the Defense Commissary Agency also welcome suggestions and requests regarding products sold in the stores, as mentioned frequently at the monthly Info-X.
Two final tips: Use only the APO address as provided by the post office. Do not add "Italy" to the address because this can cause delays and may even subject the recipient to duty fees from Customs. Also, use the zip code +4. With the +4 numbers, mail comes from the USPS sorted in the thousands, and local mail employees have to sort this to the hundreds before distribution. Anyone who does not know his or her +4 should consult the chart accompanying this article.
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