I hate to create a new topic just for this- but before I went to the post office today I made sure my guys address was still the same. Perfect! It was. Came back from the post office... and IT CHANGED!

:( ugh. I'm really upset! Will it get forwarded? How long does it usually take... the same 7-10 days?

 I'm afraid this answer isn't going to help much... but...

I've had mail forwarded when a contact had changed addresses, but I've also had mail returned to me when a contact's address had changed. I think it depends on who is in the mail room on any given day... I've even had mail returned to me when addressed correctly, marked "addressee unknown." I e-mailed the intended recipient and asked if their address had changed, they assured me it had not, I put the letter in a new envelope and addressed it exactly as before, and they got it that time. So, go figure...

thank you, I was afraid of that!!! I was so annoyed when I saw it changed- haha- so frustrating. Here's to hoping, I guess!

 I did mark that it can be delivered to the chaplain if need be. To make matters worse, any soldier wasn't on the package (per my post office, I don't bother arguing anymore). Anyway, it'll be interesting to see where it goes :)

The only experience I have with an address change, was my Christmas Card (mailed 12/5/08) to a soldier in A-stan (large base, not rural mountains)... it came back to me in April with a forwarding address on it to his base in the US. LOL  It must have floated around for a loooong time, because I know he wasn't sent home in December.  From this experience, I would say, expect pretty much anything.

 Kristen,

Congratulations on the new junkie that's a brewing.  Hope you are feeling great and that all is well.

Vicki

 What happens when an address goes inactive? My contact has been inactive for almost 50 days....I have selected a new one but hate to stop sending to the first guy incase he is still there and just hasn't had time to check on the site or his email....

 Klar, I would go ahead and send a letter to the contact. Let them know you'd like to continue to support them, and remind them that once they are on the "inactive address" list, the rules say we can't send any more packages. I have done this with several "inactive" contacts, and they replied via either e-mail or snail mail. Once I hear from them, I continue to support with packages and letters, since I know their address is still valid. Some drop from the list because they're getting enough support and want to give other folks a chance to get "adopted," but that doesn't mean they don't want the continued support of those who are already sending them mail. If the letter is returned to sender, then you don't have to feel bad about dropping them.

 Thanks Tracy,

 I mailed a letter to my contact yesterday and also emailed him this morning...the email was returned...could it mean he is no longer there or could email just be down? 

klar:

 Thanks Tracy,

 I mailed a letter to my contact yesterday and also emailed him this morning...the email was returned...could it mean he is no longer there or could email just be down? 

 

 

Klar,

chances are if your e-mail was returned, he is no longer there (depending on what his address is. for example, if it was something like "iraq.milfor.af" rather than a simple "us.army.mil" or whatever, it would indicate that the unit he was serving with had moved on.) Did the returned e-mail contain any information as to why it was returned? (Mailbox full, user unknown, size of message exceeds limit allowed, etc.?)

 His email looked like it was just his general USMC email...and the returned email didn't say why...just was

This is an automatically generated Delivery Status Notification.
 
Delivery to the following recipients failed.

klar:

 His email looked like it was just his general USMC email...and the returned email didn't say why...just was

This is an automatically generated Delivery Status Notification.
 
Delivery to the following recipients failed.

I don't know, then. Generally after the "Delivery to the following recipients failed" portion of the notice, it will give a reason why it failed. The e-mail system could be down. It's hard to tell. Drats...I hate when that happens! Sorry I'm not much help with this.