I am just spitting mad. I have sent out a good 15 packages in the last 2 months with "Any Soldier" underneath the contact name. Today I took 3 packages to the same post office and the clerk said I couldn't send them because they are not allowed to ship packages with "Any Soldier" in the address. I pointed out that I am not sending it to any soldier, I have a contact name written above and that it is going to an actual person. Doesn't matter, she said. It cannot say "Any Soldier" anywhere on the package. I know this is an incorrect interpretation of the rules but she calls her supervisor over who backs her up. I can mail the packages if I cross out "Any Soldier" on the box and the custom form otherwise I cannot send it. I was not prepared to deal with this situation as I have never had this problem before. So how do I deal with it? Obviously talking to the supervisor won't work. I don't want to get caught flat in this situation.

Now, this makes me wonder what happened to my packages!!!  I have sent out 12 since Feb and have even put cards in for replies when my contacts recieved them.  I have not recieved a card back.  We live in a military city,4 military bases, so our P O's are acustomed to sending military packages.  Not once has my PO told me I can't send with "any soldier".  I am going to try and go there tomorrow and ask some questions. When I asked about the custom forms I believe he told me that it could be tracked to see if it got stopped by customs but that was all I could check.  My contacts have all fallen off the AS site for not responding.  I did get an email early on from one contact that thanked me for the "stuff"  when it was 13 boxes of girl scout cookies.  I wondered if that was what he had recieved for if it was a thank you for "stuff to come" as they were going to be away from the base or what.  I emailed him twice with no response. I have picked up new contact recently and sent them packages but no response at this time, however they did respond to the AS site, no mention of packages.  I am concerned with the info that you were told that my boxes are sitting at the PO or worse yet, thown out.  I'll check tomorrow and respond with what info they tell me.

HI!  Marty and his group covers this in the FAQ. 

"Isn't it illegal to send mail to "Any Soldier"?

 

It seems some of the words are getting cut off, but as I mentioned above this is from the FAQ.   

 

 

 

 

Thank goodness I haven't run into this problem at my PO, but like Christi said anysoldier says just draw a line through the words any soldier. I have never put the words any soldier on the customs form only on the box. I figured putting it on the form might throw some clerks since they seem to look at the form more than the box. This isn't suprising to hear though after all the confusion I read about on the forums over those new custom forms.

Drawing a line through the words was not good enough. The clerk had me cross it out completely with thick black marker. I also had to cross out the words "Any Local Chaplain" in the redirect box if undeliverable on the customs form. What's frustrating is that it wasn't just the clerk, it was also her supervisor. So now I am worried that this is going to be an ongoing issue. I guess I wanted to be able to march back down there with a copy of the rule in my righteous hand and proclaim that their interpretation is Wrong, Wrong, Wrong! (In a gentle and polite manner, of course.) Instead I will keep addressing my boxes the way I always have and if it continues to be a problem I will switch to writing Attn: A. Soldier or Attn: AS. And I will leave Any Soldier off the customs form completely.

Do you have another PO close to you that you could try and see if the same thing happens?

HI Again,

This is just my suggestions, and if they aren't  good suggestions someone please correct me. 

If you cannot get your PO to cooperate or go to a different PO, maybe you should address the Box to Attn:  AS.  The post office doesn't need to know who "AS" is.   Or maybe include Any Soldier Supporter under your name on the return address.  Either way, I'd include a note to the contact explaining so that the warrior who received your package will know its an Any Soldier care package. Marty or some of the more "seasoned" AS junkies may have better suggestions. 

Bobcat Jones

Any Soldier Supporter

123 XYZ Street

Anytown, USA 12345

 

                                                                                                                                                            

According to what I have read, the clerks are supposed to have regulations available to access on their computers.  If they insist on upholding their supposed regulations, can you ask them to double check the regulations, because thousands of people all over the country are being allowed to mail their packages addressed in that fashion, and that they are not supporting your ability to help the millions of military troops serving abroad.  That would just get my Irish up.

 Well, I have calmed down a bit and after thinking about it, it seems to me that the problem is in how this part of the DOD rule is interpreted:

a. Mail addressed to "Any Service Member," or similar wording such as "Any Soldier," "Sailor," "Airman," or "Marine"; "Military Mail", etc., is prohibited.

The postal employees I spoke with believe that this means that the words "Any Soldier" cannot appear anywhere in the address while I think it means that there must be a specific name that the package is addressed to. 

I don't know if I am explaining it well, but the problem seems to be in how one defines the word addressed.  

It really is a shame because I came home and counted that I have sent 18 packages with Att: Any Soldier in the address line before encountering this problem.  But I have decided that the best course of action is to just put Att: AS or AFS underneath the individuals name.  And any new contacts I pick up will get a letter from me first explaining that packages from me will read this way because  of my post office's rules. 

There is another post office 13 blocks away from me but my post office is only 3 blocks away - which can make a huge difference when carrying several boxes.  Plus, until today, I have never had a problem with my post office and usually find them very efficient.  

I wanted to add that despite being ticked off about this, I did not get in an argument with the clerk or the supervisor.  I disagreed with their interpretation but when they held firm, I accepted it and blacked out the words Any Soldier.  As I told my husband, (well, ranted was more like it), having a hissy fit  would not have changed anything.

Maybe I'll call the post office's 800 number tomorrow and see if I can get further clarification.

Gran:

.  That would just get my Irish up.

Gran, I had to smile, I haven't heard that expression since my Nana was alive. She would always say to us" now don't go getting your Irish up" when we were angry or upset. I'd forgotten that expression. Thank you for bringing it back to my mind!

Lil,

Hope you have success with the USPS 800 number.  The 2-3 times I have called, I got a robot-like person who is only trained to find and read the regulations from their computer - not interpret anything.  When I asked for further explanation, they would ask what my zip code is and give me the phone number for our local post office, which we never use, anyway.  Obviously, the only skills that are needed for that job are the ability to read and use a computer - not the brain.

Ah......the USPS......I don't know what to say......but after 21 years of working there......NOTHING.......amazes me!!!! 

My best advice to give to anyone having problems with the AnySoldier line (and I have had some problems toooo) is put it in parenthesis and follow by .com    So.......it'll look like this   (Attn: AnySoldier.com)     That way...at least in my thought it will let them know it is a website with info.......and also might get someone curious to write down the address and go to the website and check it out.    Marty and staff.....I hope this suggestion is ok......I've written about this a few times.

Also.....Gran......couldn't agree with you more......I used to always sing the line from the Wizard of Oz ......"if I only had a brain....."   esp. when a supervisor would say something stupid.   And trust me after alllllll those years......I heard plenty of stupid.

Have a great day........and keep happy with the package mailing....

Love peace and blessings........Anne Marie

Lil,

I believe this ruling came into being, after people were addressing packages to anysoldier, etc and not a specific individual.

It was because of security and, obviously, how were they supposed to know where to send all the packages. 

I would copy the page off of the usps site with the header, etc. so that they can see the regulation and maybe you will be able to explain it to them so that they understand what it really means.  I believe the reason that we are putting the Attn: AnySoldier in the address line is so that the recipient knows where the sender obtained his/her address.  It isn't necessary to put it on the customs form.

If they won't buy that, I would put it as the second line of your return address as AnySoldier.com supporter.  

If you are sending your boxes priority mail, they would have been returned to you, if the address wasn't acceptable.

My opinion only and somewhat based on fact, I guess it is part fiction!!!

 

I agree with what everyone else is saying.  I haven't had any problems at my post office but the guy that usually waits on me is a vet.  He didn't even notice the AnySoldier part but for some reason I pointed it out for something or other and then explained the purpose behind it (according to my interpretation) being that this contact sees Any Soldier/Airmen, etc. and knows that the box is intended for someone in the troop who does not get mail or gets very little mail to help boost morale.  He thought it was great and smiles when he sees me come in with a few boxes now... ;)

 I decided not to call the post office but to send customer service an email.  This way I will have the reply to my query in writing.

What I was told by the clerk the other day, was that Any Soldier cannot appear in the address at all so I am going to assume that adding a .com to the end of it will not work.  Especially since the supervisor backed her up.  (I say supervisor but I have a feeling he was actually the station manager.  Next time I am in the PO, I will check the station manager's photo on the wall and see if it is the same guy.)

Hopefully, I'll hear back before my next trip to the PO and I will also post the response here for those who might be interested.