Military mail and diplomatic mail are vital communication links with members of our armed forces and diplomatic services. This mail includes letters and packages sent to an APO, CMR, DPO FPO, OMDC, PSC, RPO, or UMR address.
All military mail is treated as domestic mail, even when sent to a foreign country. Please use standard domestic mail rates for letters.
Customs Forms required for packages shipped to foreign countries
All packages must have completed Customs Forms attached if being sent to a foreign country. How to Fill Out US Customs Forms
To correctly address Military Mail, please include:
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Name of the recipient (rank/grade/rating is optional)
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Military mail designation type
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APO (Army Post Office)
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Include the APO and "state" designator (AA, AP, AE). Do not use the state that the distribution hub is in (FL, CA, NY). This may cause delays in package processing and delivery.
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CMR (Community Mail Room),
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DPO (Diplomatic Post Office)
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When mailing to a DPO address, do not include the street address of the embassy or the recipient's job title.
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FPO (Fleet Post Office)
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For FPO addresses aboard a United States Navy or United States Coast Guard vessel, use the ship's name and hull number.
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OMDC (Official Mail Distribution Center) number
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PSC (Postal Service Center),
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RPO (Regional Post Office),
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UMR (Unit Mail Room),
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The recipient's Military Post Office Box number.
It is not necessary to add specific military formations (for example "1/20 24th Infantry").
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The correct ZIP Code, preferably ZIP+4.
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Include completed customs forms for packages going to foreign countries.
Here are samples of correctly formatted Miltary Mail and Diplomatic Mail addresses:
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APO Address:
GEN Omar Bradley
PSC 1234, Box 12345
APO AE 09204-1234
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FPO Address:
CAPT John Paul Jones
USS Cochrane (DDG-21)
FPO AP 96543-1234
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DPO Address:
John Adams
Unit 8400, Box 0000
DPO, AE, 09498-0048
There are some restrictions when sending military mail:
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All packages must be 70 lbs. or less
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Packages cannot exceed 130 in. combined length and girth.
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You cannot send any item restricted by the United States Postal Service.
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You cannot send perishable foods.
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You cannot send any items that are restricted by the unit's host country. To see a full list of restricted items by military/embassy-specific ZIP code, visit the UPSPS page for APO/FPO/DPO Restrictions.
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Remove any batteries from battery-powered items. Wrap them securely and place them with the item.
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There are a small number of military destinations with further restrictions. To learn more, visit the USPS page about Overseas Military/Diplomatic Mail
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For additional information, you can also visit the USPS Military Mail FAQ page.