Mailroom In Iraq Preps For Holiday Rush
Mailroom In Iraq Preps For Holiday Rush
Dec 18, 2006
BY Sgt. Michael Tuttle
 FORWARD OPERATING BASE WARRIOR, Iraq (Army News Service, Dec. 18, 2006) - The Army post office here is no different from those in the U.S. - the pace drastically picks up during the holiday season.
While mail normally arrives at the base four times a week, it now receives mail twice a day.
Reservists with the 747th Adjutant General Company, from Helena, Mont., sort and distribute the mail to 23 units here and at surrounding FOBs.
"We normally receive about 40,000 pounds of mail per week," said 2nd Lt. Malise Hamper, postal officer in charge. "That's expected to increase by 50 percent over Christmas."
The Soldiers had no post office experience before taking over in September, but have created a new mail-bin system that improves mail sorting.
"There was a lot of wasted space in the old shelving structure," said Staff Sgt. Nathan Brasel, postal operations NCOIC and system designer. "The overflow mail ended up on the floor and had to be sorted again. That kept Soldiers from getting their mail."
Built by Soldiers from the 747th AG Co., the new system includes an additional 36 square feet for each bin, and sends each unit's mail to a single spot as it arrives.
"All mail is important," said Master Sgt. Brett Hardcastle, post office NCOIC. "But, there are official documents, pieces of mail that may affect a Soldier's career. It's important to get that out as quickly and efficiently as possible."
Volunteers from around the FOB often pitch in to sort the extra mail coming in during the holidays.
"We'd get the sorting done, but without the volunteers it would take four or five times as long," Hardcastle said.
In this age of instant electronic messaging, the Soldiers don't take mail for granted.
"E-mail is one thing. But a letter your spouse or family has touched is special," said Brasel. "You can't measure the morale boost and the contribution to the mission after Soldiers receive that mail."
(Sgt. Michael Tuttle serves with the 5th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment.)
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Other Opinions
I think that is great, because the men and women fighting for our freedom still should be in touch with thier family's so that everyone knows that they are ok!!!
I love this. My fiance is over seas and it is great knowing that what i do send him wont be miss placed and that it will be sent to him as quickly as possible...
that is great cause my cuzin is in the army jody bernard and i sent him some mail in not that lo
THANK YOU FOR THIS- ITS REASSURING TO KNOW THAT THE MAIL WILL NOT BE TREATED LIKE JUST ANOTHER PACKAGE, BUT SOMETHING THAT WILL MAKE THE DIFFERENCE IN OUR SOLDIERS LIVES,MY SON STEVEN(ARMY) HAS COMMENTED HOW FAST HIS MAIL IS COMING TO HIM-THANK YOU
All the army people really need to keep in touch with their relatives. We love all of them. My brother and two couzints where in Iraq. We send them letters. They wrote back. WE new that they where ok. People need to see their family memebers. They love them and so do we. GOD BLESS OF YOU GUYS AND WOMAN. And thanks for doing so much for our freedom.
I think it really is great that they can get their mail so fast. I know many people in the service and it's great being able to keep in touch with them all.
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