[caption id=“attachment_14448” align=“aligncenter” width=“800”]Pfc. Lucero Garcia, a native of Fort Worth, Texas, works hard and long hours as a frontline Soldier and still at the end of her shift is able to put on a smile. The mail Garcia has received today is spirit lifting and a welcomed sight from family members back home sending to their loved one. Garcia is deployed with Bravo Company, 949th Brigade Support Battalion, 10th Sustainment Brigade Troops Battalion, 10th Sustainment Brigade in support of Multi-National Division Ð Baghdad. Army file photo[/caption]

Thousands of troops will still be deployed when the holidays get here. And if you want to send them care packages or gifts, you need to know the deadlines.

The U.S. Postal Service (USPS)has issued delivery guidelines for when you should ship your package to make sure it gets to the recipient by Christmas.

According to a USPS release, the postal service will also offer discounts for packages sent to APO/FPO/DPO addresses. A special $15.90 rate will be applied to their largest Priority Mail Flat Rate box and $2 will be discounted off every other standard box shipment.

To ensure delivery by December 25, the postal service recommends the following:

  • Mail all Standard Post Packages by Nov. 7
  • Mail all PAL (Parcel Airlift Mail) by Dec. 3
  • Mail all SAM (Space Available Mail) by Nov. 25
  • Mail all PMEMS (Priority Mail Express Military Service) packages by Dec. 17
  • Mail First Class Letters, Cards and Priority Mail by Dec. 10 for all ZIPs except 093
  • For ZIP Codes 093, Mail First Class Letters, Cards and Priority Mail by Dec. 3