Send Your Soldier a Holiday Message

The Stars and Stripes newspaper is accepting holiday messages for it's Middle Eastern, European, and Pacific editions. You may create a free personlized message that will be printed in the Stars and Stripes December 18th issue. You will have the choice to send a message with a picture or a text only message. The deadline for submissions is November 29th. You may still submit messages after this date, however, they will appear on the Stars and Stripes website only.

To submit a message and for additional information visit the Stars and Stripes Holiday Messages website.

Military Spouse Career and Education Exploration Day

Military Spouse Career and Education Exploration Day
Your one-stop answer to your career and education questions!

November 19, 2010
8:00 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Mayborn Planetarium Bldg. 152

FREE LUNCH and FREE ACCESS to the ACT Discover career and interest inventory!

Including presentations on:

Choosing a career that's right for you.
Central Texas area employment tips & trends.
The "new" MyCAA (Career Advancement Account) Program.
GI Bill benefits and procedures.
Education and college resources.

Information also available on education and training leading to portable careers from Central Texas College, Temple College and Austin Community College.

RSVP for Military Spouse & Education Exploration Day online by November 10th at http://www.ctcd.edu/militaryspouses/index.htm to guarantee your spot and get a FREE login for the ACT Discover Career & Interest Inventory! For more information, please call (254) 526-1223.

If you are not in the local area or can't make the event on Nov 19th, join us for our Military Spouse Live Online Chat November 1st 10 am to 12 pm CST. For more information or to register for the chat visit http://www.ctcd.edu/militaryspouses/index.htm

Holiday Mailing Deadlines

The following is a portion of a news release from the US Postal Service regarding the holiday mailing deadlines for packages being sent to service members overseas. The deadline for our unit is November 12th. To view the full article and additional mailing deadlines you may visit the USPS website. There is a seperate mailing date for Priority Mail packages. Please keep in mind that these packages may not be received sooner that a parcel post package so you will want to follow the November 12the deadline for all packages.

Holiday Mailing Deadlines

Postal Service announces deadlines for mail going to service members overseas

Grand Rapids MI — While the first signs of autumn are just beginning to appear, it’s not too early to start thinking about holiday cards, letters and packages destined for service members and their families stationed in faraway lands. The first deadline for the 2010 holiday season is just around the corner.

Friday, November 12, is the deadline for sending holiday packages to troops stationed overseas using Parcel Post to all Air/Army Post Office (APO) or Fleet Post Office (FPO) ZIP Codes.

“The U.S. Postal Service is encouraging the use of these early deadlines to make sure that packages reach their destinations in time for the holidays,” said Sabrina Todd, a spokesperson for the Greater Michigan District Postal Service in Lansing.

The Postal Service places APO/FPO mail on special charter flights, commercial airlines and military service aircraft to reach armed services members overseas as quickly as possible.

All military mail, regardless of destination, is sent by domestic mail rate. International rates do not apply to military mail delivery.

The large Priority Mail Large Flat Rate Box (12” x 12” x 5 ½”) offers a $2 discount to APO/FPO destinations and ships for just $12.50. Customers can access shipping information by adding Delivery Confirmation, which is available for almost all military destinations outside the United States. Delivery Confirmation provides customers with the date, ZIP Code of delivery, and time the package was delivered. This information can be accessed online at www.usps.com.

The Postal Service’s popular Military Care Kits also help military families and friends keep free shipping supplies within reach. Each kit contains six Priority Mail Flat Rate boxes (two large and four medium-sized boxes), six customs forms and envelopes, six Priority address labels and one role of military tape. The kit may be ordered by calling the USPS Expedited Package Supply Center at 1-800-610-8734.

All packages and mail must be addressed to individual service members, as required by U.S. Department of Defense regulations.

“There may be no bigger morale booster than mail for our soldiers, sailors, Marines, airmen and Coast Guardsmen during the holidays.” said Todd. “Packages and letters bring them closer to family and to the comforts of home.”

Even creating customized postage and holiday cards can be as easy as baking and shipping the holiday cookies that those service members enjoy.

“With a little creativity, customers can always create their own personal touches and keepsakes,” Todd added. “It’s all available at www.usps.com.”