Rog Godskesen's Cheap-O Mailing Tips

I haven't actually kept track, but it must have been close to 1,000 boxes by now.

Here are some tips, cheats and short-cuts to make it cheaper and easier.

1. "Ask yourself - is priority really necessary?"

I don't always think it is. Sure, you want the stuff to get there fast as possible, but I have found that parcel post gets there pretty fast in most cases. And costs a FRACTION of the price. Do you really think some Army mail clerk is sorting through the boxes and thinks "why that cheap so-and-so. I'm going to hide his parcel post box under my desk, and leave it there for a week to punish him, thereby making twice as much work for myself??

Hell no, mail clerks are busy as heck. I know from my own Army days. They get a hundred thousand packages a week, and shovel them all onto the planes and fly it all over at once.

2. 'LEFFERPIBBLE LIES" The LFRPB'S (Large flat rate priority boxes or "Lefferpibbles") are pretty cool, and work well for small, heavy stuff. BUT... I found out that I can send most stuff by parcel post and it is MUCH CHEAPER.

for instance:

Donated Halloween candy - I mailed 2,500 lbs of it (yes, that is over a ton) over the past two years.

I loaded "printer paper boxes" and mailed them parcel post. Each held at least three times as much as a Lefferpibble, and weighed about 35 lbs. Cost - @ $22 Versus 3 X $12.95 for the Leffers. Savings = a bunch!!!



3. "PACK BIG, SHIP SMALL".

It is almost always cheaper to send one big package than X smaller packages.

For instance, I mailed a bunch-o oscillating fans to a CSH without A/C a couple of years ago. What I did was bundle three fans together with lots of tape, then mail the bundle as one package. Worked great, cheaper than 3 separate packages ....

(but keep the weight to about 30 lbs max so the medics can handle them easily. Lots of them are women, remember)

AND ONLY ONE OF THOSE PITASCFM'S - (Pain In The A-- Stupid Customs Forms)

4. Actual examples of size and shipping time

Ok here are some examples of huge boxes I mailed recently.
destination was Bagram Evac Hospital, in Afghanistan. APO 09352
Weight - 26 lbs
cost - $20.27 PARCEL POST
Time - mailed January 8, arrived January 17
9 Days to deliver from Illinois - not bad!!!

box size about 19 long X 13 wide X 11 high (free box from grocery store that held six gallon-jugs of water).

packed full of relatively heavy stuff (cookies, candy, nuts)

Weight - 26 lbs
cost - $20.27
Time - mailed January 8, arrived January 17

Military Abbreviations - Cheat Sheet

ASMC = Advanced Surgical Medical Center (front-line surgery, usually just has a few surgical bays to stabilize patients before transport to a CSH. Usually staffed by 10-20 people. These replaced the old MASH units of Korean war fame.
CASF = Contingency aeromedical staging facility, Air Force unit that evacuates patients from Afghanistan/Iraq back to Germany, and then to the US. They often have their own in-patient holding area, where the minor injured wait for their flights.
CAV = Cavalry
CMBT = Combat
CO = Company
COL = Colonel
COSCOM = Corps Support Command
CPL = Corporal
CPO = Chief Petty Officer
CPT = Captain
CSC = Combat Stress Clinic. In-patient clinic staffed with 2-4 counselors where a soldier can stay off the line for a few days to a week. These are a haven where troops can have a few days to rest and get counseling after battlefield or personal issues. Typically about 10 beds, then the troops can return to their units. These are new, and have been very successful - WE get lots of requests from these units for games, video-game systems, DVD's, comforts of home, etc.
CSH = Combat Support Hospital. Large full-scale hospitals, up to 200 staff. In patient beds up to about 50. Includes operating rooms, E/R, ICU, xray, mri, catscan - everything a hospital back home would have. Some are in tents, some in permanent buildings. Usually called "TF MED" in their addresses. (task force medical)
CSM = Command Sergeant Major
CSS = Combat Service Support [Bn/Grp]
CWO = Chief Warrant Officer (also CW2, CW3, etc.)
DEF = Defense
DIV = Division
ENG = Engineer, Engineering
EOD = Explosive Ordnance Disposal
ESB = Engineering Support Battalion
FLD = Field
FOB = Forward Operating Base
GRP = Group
GySgt = Gunnery Sergeant
HHC = Headquarters and Headquarters Company
HM = Hospitalman [ 2, 3 ]
HN = Hospitalman
HQ = Headquarters
HVY = Heavy
ID = Infantry Division
IED = Improvised Explosive Device
IN = Infantry
LCPL = Lance Corporal
LT = Lieutenant or Light
Lt Col = Lieutenant Colonel (also LTC)
MAJ = Major
MEF = Marine Expeditionary Force
MEU = Marine Expeditionary Unit
MND = Multi-National Division
MP = Military Police
MSGT = Master Sergeant (also MSG)
mTBI Center = (Traumatic Brain Injury) center where troops who have been in an IED explosion and suffered concussion go as in-patients for 1-2 weeks. They rest while swelling in their brains goes down, and can return to their units in 90% of cases. The patients often have spinal bruising and small shrapnel, but are not severe enough to be evacuated out of the country. CRCC is the Navy version. We get lots of requests for linens, bedding, comforts of home.
MTN = Mountain
N/A = not available
ORD = Ordnance
OS = Operations Specialist [ 1, 2, 3 ]
PO = Petty Officer [ 1, 2, 3 ]
PFC = Private 1st Class
PV2 = Private E2
PVT = Private
RCT = Regimental Combat Team
RECON = Reconnaissance
REG = Regiment
RPG = Rocket Propelled Grenade
SA = Seaman Apprentice
SBCT = Stryker Brigade Combat Team
SFC = Sergeant 1st Class
SGM = Sergeant Major (also Sgt. Maj.)
SGT = Sergeant
SN = Seaman
SPC = Specialist
SPT = Support (also Sprt.)
SQD = Squad
SQDRN = Squadron
SrA = Senior Airman
SSgt = Staff Sergeant
Svc = Service
TF = Task Force
TMC = Troop medical clinic. Usually small company sized clinic, 3-5 medics (possibly a nurse), treat everyday injuries, outpatients, illnesses.Battalion Aid Station is larger version, and will have Doctors and specialists.
TRP = Troop
TSgt = Technical Sergeant
WO = Warrant Officer (also WO1,WO2)