Postal officials announce holiday mailing dates

By USAG Schinnen Public AffairsNovember 3, 2009

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SCHINNEN, Netherlands Aca,!" Tri-Border postal services offer extended hours throughout the holiday season to help send a receive mail during their busiest time of the year, and the times provided are sure to accommodate your holiday mailing needs.

USAG Schinnen's Postal Operations offers extended hours through Dec. 19, and are open Mondays, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Tuesdays to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The Schinnen Post Office is also open Saturdays 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. during this busy season.

USAG Schinnen's Postal Operations on JFC Brunssum also offer extended services through Dec. 19 and are open Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

The Geilenkirchen Mail Room (finance window entrance) is open through Dec. 18, Monday to Thursday, 8 a.m. to noon, and Fridays, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The parcel pick-up window is Open through Dec. 23, Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and on Dec. 24, 8 a.m. to noon.

To ensure packages from Europe reach their stateside destinations in time for Christmas, postal operations officials say packages must be mailed by:

AcaEUR"A? The deadline for SAM parcels was Nov. 27

AcaEUR"A? Dec. 4 for parcel airlift (PAL) parcels

AcaEUR"A? Dec. 11 for priority mail and first class letters

AcaEUR"A? Dec. 18 for express mail military service (EMMS)

Local postal services have extended their normal operating hours to help get your special deliveries on their way.

To help you get your packages on their way, be advised that improper packaging is the biggest problem postal workers encounter during this season, officials said. Despite the extreme care given to your packages while in postal custody, they may be damaged if they are not packaged properly.

The maximum weight allowed for any package shipped through the military postal system is 70 pounds. In addition, the combined length and girth (the circumference of the item at its widest point) of the package must not be more than 130 inches. Each mail category, however, has its own limits.

Whether traveling by air or by land, packages are loaded into containers with other packages, some of which may weigh as much as 70 pounds. Postal patrons should pack items to withstand the pressure of this weight. In addition, all box seams should be sealed with tape to prevent water or moisture from entering and damaging your package. Put the address of the recipient directly on the box to ensure that if the exterior wrapping is damaged, the package will still be delivered without delay.

Some items may not be mailed, regardless of the season. Alcohol and controlled substances can not be mailed. Lithium batteries may not be mailed, which means customers need to check toys, laptop computers, and other electronic devices that might use them. Aerosol cans are also prohibited. Sharp objects, such as knives, must be sheathed or placed in some other type of protective covering to prevent them from damaging other packages or harming transporters or other postal workers. Anything that uses flammable materials, such as cigarette lighters, must be drained before being packaged for shipment.

Mailers must complete a U.S. customs form provided by the post office for each package. A complete, detailed list of the package contents must be included on this form. If mailers want to keep the contents of a package unknown to the recipient until it is opened, provisions are available for this option, said officials. For this and other postal matters, consult local Army garrison postal employees.

To ensure packages arrive by Christmas, mail them early, officials said. The longer you wait, the longer the lines will be at the post office, and the more expensive the postage will be to ensure the package arrives by Christmas. Shop early, mail early, and sit back and enjoy a wonderful holiday season.