- Mail sent to the Army uses the APO designation.army image by Katrina Miller from Fotolia.com
The code "APO" on military addresses refers to the Army Post Office. This code is used when mail or packages are being sent from a domestic address to the armed forces. Military mail is sent to one of three military "States" in Miami, Florida; New York, New York; or San Francisco, California. The APO designation separates Army mail from fleet mail to the Navy prior to being delivered to the military post office. - All packages sent to an APO must conform to dimension specifications. A Priority Mail package must not be larger than 108 inches in combined length and distance around the box. This means that a box that measures 50 inches long and the distance around the largest part of the box is 59 inches, the package must be sent by Nonmachinable Parcel Post, up to 130 inches length and girth. The weight limit on packages sent to most APO's is 70 pounds. Some APO's require that packages weigh less than 70 pounds.
- All packages must be mailed using the United States Postal Service. No other delivery company is allowed to deliver to an APO address. All packages addressed to an APO must be hand delivered as required by the post office.
- Each APO ZIP code has its own set of restricted items, but a general list covers most items prohibited by the post office. Included in the restricted items list are firearms, ammunition, aerosol cans, flammable items, and liquids or powders. Alcohol and liquor are prohibited, as are drugs, poisons, fireworks and lottery tickets. A complete list of restrictions for a specific ZIP code can be found on the apobox website (see Resources).
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