Post Office

Chief Master Sgt. Dirk McDowell, U.S. Air Forces in Europe Logistics and Installations Missions Support chief enlisted manager, looks for a package at the north side post office December 11, 2007, Ramstein Air Base, Germany. Many people volunteer to help the post office staff with the overflow of packages during the holiday season. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Amber Bressler)

Military mail records broken

Published Dec. 12, 2007
By Mail Terminal Services
2d Air Postal Squadron

RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany -- Military mail ready for processing and shipping at the Mail Terminal Services facility in Newark, N.J., records are made to be broken.

That's the U.S. Postal Service's philosophy when it comes to military mail.

A day's worth of military mail is ready for processing and shipping at the Mail Terminal Services facility in Newark.

With holiday mailing in full force, Dec. 5 was a record-setting day for mail destined to American military personnel in the Iraq and Afghanistan war zones. Mail Terminal Services, a USPS-contracted company that prepares and ships mail to the war zones, processed 96 semi-trailers of mail -- beating the 2006 record of 93.

"We know how important mail is for our service men and women overseas, and to their friends and families back home," said Mike Nappi, executive director of international operations. "We pull out all the stops to make sure that every card, letter and package is delivered for the holidays."

Wednesday's record of 686,000 pounds of mail was enough to fill four Boeing 747 aircraft. But the new record may not stand for long. Judging by the early volume totals Dec. 5, another record-breaking performance is likely on the way.