USPS Flat Rate Boxes for Troop Packages

Snacks, socks and a letter are piled on the table, but there is nothing to ship them in. USPS free military care kit boxes fix that: the kit costs nothing, though overseas postage still does.

Quick answer: order the kit by phone (the USPS release lists 800-610-8734), wait for it to arrive at your door, pick the box that fits your contents snugly, pack by USPS rules, attach the customs form and label, then pay postage at the counter.

This guide walks through that sequence for families, churches and groups building troop care packages, starting with the simplest step and moving to the situations where more effort is needed.

What the free military care kit contains

The Priority Mail military care kit is a free supply bundle for mailing to APO/FPO/DPO addresses. Both Military.com and a retailer’s explainer describe it as free of charge, and the retailer adds that the free part covers the kit only, not the shipping of the packed box to a service member overseas.

The 2014 USPS release lists the contents as:

• Two Priority Mail APO/FPO Flat Rate Boxes. These are the boxes made for military addresses.
• Two Priority Mail Medium Flat Rate Boxes. A second size for lighter or smaller parcels.
• Priority Mail tape, labels and customs forms. Everything needed to close and address the box.

Later descriptions differ slightly. Military.com lists tape, six labels and six customs forms, and a retailer blog describes four medium flat rate boxes, split between top-loading and side-loading designs. Because the quantities have been described differently over time, count what arrives in your own kit before planning how many parcels to send.

Ordering the kit

The kit must be ordered, because a local post office will not have it on hand, according to the retailer blog. Ordering is the simplest step and the one to do first, since everything else waits on the boxes.

1. Call the order line. The USPS release gives 800-610-8734 as the number for ordering the kit.
2. Give a delivery address you can access. The kit is mailed to your home or office, not held at a counter.
3. Allow delivery time. Military.com says the kit arrives within two to five business days, depending on distance, at no cost. The retailer blog says it usually takes 7 to 10 business days. Plan for the longer window if a send-by date matters.
4. Pay only if you want speed. Military.com notes that expedited shipping of the kit is available for a fee.

If you are assembling packages for a whole unit or drive, ask on the call how many kits one order can include. A single kit holds only a few boxes, so larger drives may need repeat orders or standard flat rate boxes bought at the counter.

Choosing the right flat rate box size

Pick the box that matches what you are sending, not the biggest one available.

When the APO/FPO box suits

The APO/FPO flat rate box is the kit’s military-specific option and the natural choice for a mixed parcel of snacks, toiletries and notes. Check current prices before budgeting, and see the cost to ship care package to military overseas guide for how postage adds up.

When the medium box suits

The medium box fits a lighter parcel, such as a small bundle of toiletries and a card, or a second package to the same person sent separately. Sending two lighter boxes can also avoid cramming fragile items together. Choose by how well the contents fit, because flat rate pricing means a box that is not full costs the same as one that is.

Packing the box

What fits in each box size depends on how you pack, and USPS sets clear rules on how certain items must be enclosed and which cannot be sent at all.

• Perishables in plastic. Use a plastic container to enclose all perishable items, such as cookies and chips.
• Hygiene items in sealable bags. Deodorant, lotion and shampoo belong in a sealable bag so leaks do not reach the snacks.
• No carbonated drinks. They can explode during transit.
• No alcohol. Mailing of alcohol is prohibited.
• Packaging tape on the outside. Use packaging tape to wrap the box exterior, not string.

Fill gaps with soft items such as socks so nothing rattles. The kit’s tape is meant for this closing step.

Addressing, labels and the customs form

The kit includes labels and customs forms, so the box does not need separate paperwork from a printer. The forms still have to be completed by the sender.

1. Complete the customs form. Fill in PS Form 2976, Customs Declaration CN 22, as the sender’s declaration, and attach it to the outside of the package. Our customs form for APO package page covers it in more detail.
2. Add an inside address. Place the mailing address inside the parcel on a separate piece of paper in case the outer label is damaged.
3. Use a named recipient. Mail to “Any Service Member” will not be delivered, so confirm the full name and unit address with the service member first.

When to escalate: speed, tracking and limits

A standard Priority Mail parcel is enough for most care packages. Escalate only when timing or proof of delivery matters.

Faster service

gateway to the location of the military address. For a quicker option, it lists Priority Mail Express Military at 4–5 days for Europe and Atlantic APO/FPO destinations. Consider this for time-sensitive items, and remember that flat rate box pricing and Express pricing differ.

Tracking and extra services

Items mailed to a military post office are generally eligible for extra services, though these are not available at every military post office. To track an APO/FPO item, you must purchase an applicable extra service, so ask at the counter before sealing the parcel.

Stopping conditions

Do not mail the parcel if it holds alcohol or carbonated drinks, and do not send it without a named addressee. Fix those problems first, since a parcel in either situation will not be delivered as intended.

Frequently asked questions