Here is some basic info on shipping to Iraq. You ship to Iraq in the same manner as you would domestically. BUT - You will be shipping only to either Coast, i.e. New York or California. The Military picks them up from there to the final destination. Weight & distance will determine the cost of any shipment to either coast, except for the US Post Office supplied - & Free, Priority Mail - Flat Rate boxes. The “Flat Rate” is $8.95 and can be shipped anywhere in the US and can weigh up to 70lbs.
Flat Rate boxes are available at any Post Office along with the required Customs Declaration & Dispatch Note, PS form 2976A.
Order them on the Internet at: http://shop.usps.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductCategoryDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10001&catalogId=10152&categoryId=13359 ,
Order by phone this FREE Standard Military Kit. Call 1-800-610-8734, say yes for English, say yes for priority mail. For the standard Military kit, ask for CARE KIT 04 containing:
3 each - 11 x 8.5 X 5.5 - $8.95 Per box to ship - regardless of weight (<70 lbs ) similar to a shoe box
3 each - 11 x 13 x 3 - $8.95 Per box to ship - regardless of weight (<70 lbs ) similar to a large shirt/apparel box - Also a roll of shipping tape, Custom forms, Address labels, Plus 3 each - 12 x 12 x 8 boxes ( not a flat rate box. - shipping will go by weight & distance).
If what you want to ship won’t all fit into the Flat Rate Box but weighs less than 10 lbs, ship in a regular box by Parcel Post and it may go by Air to the FPO/APO address on a SAM Space Available mode. Note. - 2 Flat Rate Boxes may still be cheaper- Ref. - http://postcalc.usps.gov/
Be sure to securely tape all flaps.
Some tips on filling out the Customs Declaration & Dispatch Note, PS Form 2976A:
It is not necessary to list every item of like type. Simply say grocery store items &/or hygiene items, stationery items or whatever product is in the box. If you write grocery items, say that there is no pork.
Do not send alcohol, - there are not many restrictions, but check this web site if you have questions of acceptability to the Military and “Host” country. http://www.usps.com/cpim/ftp/bulletin/2007/html/pb22197/apo.html
The proper way to address your package & letters is as follows:
1st line is the Marines name. (Rank) (last name), (first name)
2nd line Organization (EXAMPLE): 3 BN 2 Mar Lima Co 2nd Plt
3rd line - > UIC/Unit: Unit WYYYY
4th line is the FPO/APO: FPO AE/AP XXXXX-YYYY
FPO stands for Fleet Post Office - APO stands for Army Post Office. AE is Armed Forces Europe, AP Armed Forces Pacific.For more info go to http://www.shipitapo.com/info/apo_fpo_guide.php
The Marines’ request letters, newspapers, magazines, snacks, hard candy, beef jerky, & comfort foods such as canned Spaghetti O’s, Ravioli’s etc. Black or white over the calf socks, hygiene items, - soap toothpaste, razors, antibacterial hand sanitizers, and wipes. Music CD’s and movie DVD’s are much requested items.
Some request things to keep them busy when they have time off. There are inexpensive chess/checkers, other board games, Suduko & crossword booklets..
Phone cards are another big request but be aware not all phone cards will be honored, not all Marines have phone service available to them. go to https://thor.aafes.com/scs/default.aspx
Some request items for the Iraqi children on the streets. Candy (individually wrapped), toys, such as soccer balls for the boys and dolls for the girls. We have sent sidewalk chalk, crayons, & hair bows for the girls.
We find some clever shopping will go a long way to keeping the costs within reason. For $10 or less, you can fill a box that you can ship to Iraq or Afghanistan for $8.95 Watching the supermarket and drug store Ad’s, shopping “Dollar” Stores & other discount stores. On sale buy 4 bars of bath soap for $1. Store brand “Bic Razors” - 12 for $1.99, a 6 oz tube of Pepsodent toothpaste $1. Find 4,- 6, toothbrushes for $1. Hand sanitizers are a big request.
It is easy difficult to spend less than $15 on hygiene items that will cost $8.95 to mail to Iraq.
Another thing we like to do is to go to one of the Office Supply chain stores and buy their least expensive ream (500 sheets) of copy paper, $3 - $5. Then take it to the copy center counter and ask them to cut it in half ($1 to $2) so that you have 1000 sheets in 2 stacks of papers 8’5’ x 5.5”. Divide these up into 10 stacks of 100 sheets each. Then buy the regular small letter envelopes at the local drug store, 100 for $0.99 a box.. I put 50 envelopes and 100 sheets in a sealable plastic bag along with an inexpensive ball point pens and a pencil or two. Back to school time is when you can find big sales and close outs on pens & pencils. This gives me 10 stationary sets for a lot less than buying fancy stationary sets. You can then send them all to one Marine to share with his/her “brother” in arms. Sgt’s & Cpl’s have people that they can share with in their command .
If you have a request for canned goods, such as “Ravioli” and other such comfort foods, try to find the “pop top” type of cans and 12 will fit nicely in the “Flat rate” shirt box. If necessary, include a small inexpensive can opener for the cans without a pop top.
If they have a Microwave available to them, as an extra send them popcorn and/or Ramen soups.
Christmas and other Holidays are great times to ship extra special packages. Before & after the holidays go around the grocery & drug stores and buy up the on sale candies. What says more than "here is home" than some peeps at Easter or Christmas hard tack - candy canes, Halloween candy corn etc. Individually wrapped hard candy mints & butterscotch pieces are a favorite of the troops. In the winter, we have shipped chocolates (Kisses, Miniatures) in a Styrofoam box.
We have Christmas cards that were bought last year on close out. We will wait for the next deployment for those that will be there for the Holiday and send them to a Sgt/Cpl to distribute to mail back home..
Here is an inexpensive way to get magazines and newspapers to the troops. Make it easy for doctors, dentist, car repairs places, anywhere they has a customer waiting room, to collect their old magazines & newspapers and have them ship them to Iraq & Afghanistan. They will most likely jump at the opportunity to support the troops. This is also feasible for school classes, boy & girl scout troops and other organizations that can collect them from family & neighbors.. Get a “Flat Rate Box” and a customs declaration from the Post Office. Fill out the custom declaration with the Marine’s address, leaving the senders section open for the Office manager to fill in. Include a self addressed envelope to be returned, that will inform their fellow Marines of the Ryan Rust Fan Club - Marine request program, so that we can add another Marine‘s requests. When you sign on we will email to you a copy of such letter that we wish you to include with all your shipments. you can copy & paste it into your word processor and print it. Also send the Marine a letter introducing yourself, tell him/her a little about you and how you found them through http://www.ryanrust.com . Send a self addressed envelop with paper/ pencil to write to you, with the request they acknowledge receiving your package. No stamp is needed as all their mail to the States is free. Be aware that they do not always reply and we have found that it is also a complaint of their immediate family. If you can imagine what it is to have your son or daughter deployed in this modern day war zone with phone & internet service available to the combatants and still can’t get your child to send much more than an occasional lettter. I suppose for some the time is too intense. But when we do get a response it is very thankful & appreciative of the support. I am certain your support will also be appreciated.