When fall comes around, it can only mean one thing: winter, and the holiday season, will follow soon after. While the rest of America comes together to celebrate the holidays, some military families have to spend the holidays apart, as their loved ones continue to serve in deployments abroad.

In order to bridge the gap somewhat and ensure that deployed troops still get a taste of the holiday celebrations at home, the Naval Supply Systems Command’s (NAVSUP) Postal Policy Division has released mail-by dates for holiday cards, letters, and packages. This will ensure that all packages can be received by deployed loved ones before Christmas Day, December 25.

The dates are as follows:

Shore APO/FPO/DPO AE zips 090-098 (except 093); AA zips 340; AP zips 962-966
* Express Mail: Dec. 17
* First-Class Mail (letters/cards and priority mail): Dec. 10
* Parcel Airlift Mail: Dec. 3
* Space Available Mail: Nov 26
* Parcel Post: Nov. 12

Shore APO/FPO/DPO AE ZIP 093
* Express mail Military Service: N/A
* First-Class Letters/Cards/Priority Mail: Dec. 3
* Parcel Airlift Mail: Dec. 1
* Space Available Mail: Nov. 26
* Parcel Post: Nov. 12

For mail addressed from all shore FPOs (except 093):
* Express Mail Military Service: Dec. 17
* First-Class Mail (Letters/cards, priority mail): Dec. 10
* Parcel Airlift Mail: Dec. 3
* Space Available Mail: Nov. 26

Express Mail Military Service is available from selected military post offices, while Parcel Airlift Mail provides air transportation for packages on a space-available basis, for items weighing 30 pounds or less, or 60 inches in length and girth combined. Space Available Mail, on the other hand, are parcels mailed to APO/FPO addresses, by surface domestically, and then by air to destinations overseas, on a space available basis.