DEPLOYMENT INFORMATION

There have been many calls to Fort Carson concerning deployment of troops.  As information can be released, it will be.  If you are a family member or friend of deploying Soldiers, please remember that if you can read this, so can a potential enemy.

Since March 31, 2003, over 14,000 Soldiers have shipped out through Fort Carson.  If you wish to write to a soldier you know, please use his or her unit address.  Units are supposed to coordinate with the Fort Carson Mail Room to forward all mail to their new address.  Mailing restrictions are posted at the end of this page.  Please note that all non-Islamic religious materials, like St. Christopher medals, may not be shipped, however, unit Chaplains are authorized to issue such things to deployed Soldiers.  

As of Nov. 3, 2003, the Emergency Family Assistance Center has been activated.  It is designed to assist family members of Fort Carson soldiers who have been killed or injured in the Central Command Area of Operations and will remain operational until determined by the 7th ID and Fort Carson commander that the Center has served it purpose.  Those requiring assistance can all (719) 526-4590/1/2 or the toll-free 1-866-804-8763 number 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  Counselors and benefits advisors are available to assist eligible family members. 

Friends of the Soldiers and the US Army have been very generous, however, the mail system is being overloaded, especially with unsolicited gifts, which cannot be delivered.  If you wish to express your appreciation to our soldiers, please take advantage of the US Army's "To Our Soldiers" email program.  Log on to the pages at the US Army HomePage at http://www.army.mil/tooursoldiers and send an email to an individual soldier or unit.

If you have not been able to reach a Soldier family member prior to their deployment, please call the Fort Carson Family Readiness Center at (719) 526-4590 or 1-866-804-8763 for non-emergencies only.  Emergency contact must be made through the American Red Cross in your area, which will in turn contact the Fort Carson branch of the American Red Cross.

Donations:  Many people have called and asked about making donations.  This is appreciated, but you need to coordinate this with the proper office.  On Fort Carson, all coordination with any donations (financial, services or supplies) is being done through the Directorate of Community Activities.  Please call (719) 526-0992, 526-6452 or 524-0707.  The personnel at these extensions can instruct you in the ways you can help our Soldiers.

Fort Carson soldier directs trucks that are preparing to load on to railcars in preparation for deployment.

For the security of our troops, departure times, methods of transportation and destinations will not be given out in advance.  If you hear the media use the terms "deployment orders" or something to the effect that a specific unit is going to be deployed, it does not mean that the unit has departed Fort Carson.  Many times orders are issued without specific departure dates.  Units may leave next week or next month, depending on how they will be used.  As information is permitted to be released, it will be in the Press Release section of the Public Affairs Office web pages or in the post newspaper, The Mountaineer.  The Mountaineer is available on-line, both as a .pdf file or text only (Adobe Acrobat Reader is available for free at http://www.adobe.com to read .pdf files).  If you wish to receive the Mountaineer on a continuing basis, you must contact the printer, Gowdy Printcraft, at (719) 634-1593 or 22 N. Sierra Madre, Colorado Springs, CO 80903.  The Public Affairs Office is not authorized to create subscriptions for individuals.

Various National Guard and Reserve units from Colorado, Utah, North and South Dakota and other states have or will process through Fort Carson.

National Guard soldiers qualify on weapons prior to deploying to Southwest Asia.

The 3rd Brigade Combat Team is part of the 4th Infantry Division, which is headquartered at Fort Hood, Texas.  The 4ID is publishing photos and a weekly newsletter about the 4ID deployment to Iraq at http://www.hood.army.mil/4ID/Iraqi/iraq_main.asp which may be of interest to family members and friends.

The Third Armored Cavalry Regiment publishes a weekly newsletter, The Desert Rifles, which is available on their Web pages for the Desert Rifles at http://www.carson.army.mil/Desert%20Rifles/Desert%20Rifles%20Main.htm

Family members are also encouraged to contact the unit Family Readiness Group throughout the deployment time.  Many are listed with unit Web pages.  If you cannot find your Soldier's FSG, please contact the Fort Carson Army Community Service at (719) 526-4590.  Also, Family Support Groups are encouraged to post information or host secure chat sessions in the Communities sections of Army Knowledge On-Line (https://www.us.army.mil ) or create password-protected Web pages on the the Fort Carson Web site.  Family members may have Guest Accounts on AKO if they are not eligible for them on their own qualifications.  To get a guest account, you must have an email address (you can get a free email account from many sources like yahoo.com or hotmail.com) and the account name of your "sponsor."  Generally that is the persons first and last name @us.army.mil (for example, John.Smith@us.army.mil).  As there may be a Soldier or Department of Army civilian with the same name as your sponsor, please check with them before listing their name.  Once you have filled out the information, your sponsor will be sent an email to verify they will sponsor you.  Until they reply, your guest account will be on hold (once verification is made, the account is immediately approved).  As a guest, you will have access to this secure, password-protected site, but you cannot sponsor someone else.

Fort Carson provides the following other links which may provide helpful information:

Central Command is responsible for all operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.  Their site is responsible for all news releases from the area.  You can access their Web site at http://www.centcom.mil

Some other additional information is released via the US Army Web site.  Their web address is http://www.army.mil

Central Command has initiated an R&R program for some of the Soldiers deployed to their area of operations.  Details and other information on the program can be found at http://www.odcsper.army.mil/Directorates/wb/RRLeave/index.htm

Many different newspapers around the country cover the operations overseas and some have their own reporters with the troops.  Locally, the Colorado Springs Gazette, the Rocky Mountain News and the Denver Post will run stories on Soldiers from Fort Carson.  You can reach them at:

The Gazette's "War" pages are:  http://www.gazette.com/war

The Denver Post stories can be found at:  http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,1413,36%257E6439%257E,00.html

The Rocky Mountain News site is: http://www.rockymountainnews.com/

Third Brigade Combat Team Soldiers on patrol

 

Please refer to the following frequently asked questions from the US Army Web site for further information on deployments:

1. I haven’t heard from my son/daughter/husband/wife/etc. in awhile and am concerned -- how do I get in contact with them?

Answer: It is highly unlikely that you will be able to contact your Soldier directly while military operations are ongoing. However, rest assured that once things have quieted down, and if the mission allows it and facilities are available, Soldiers will be given the opportunity to contact their loved ones.

2. I have a family emergency and need to get in contact with my son/daughter/husband/wife/etc -- how do I get in contact with them?

Answer: The Rear Detachment is the single best official connection to your Soldier's unit while it is deployed. If you don’t know how to contact your Soldier’s Rear Detachment, you can contact the American Red Cross at http://www.redcross.org.

3. I have some family-related issues (non-emergency) I don’t know how to handle – where can I go for help?

Answer: Go to the Army Family Liaison Office web site at http://www.aflo.org or to the Army Community Service web site at http://www.goacs.org and you should be able to find the information/contacts you need.

Addtionally, The U.S. Army Community and Family Support Center, in conjunction with the Army Family Liaison Office, has established a toll-free Family Assistance hotline (800) 833-6622. The Army Family Assistance Hotline is for use only by family members of Soldiers on active duty and those in the Army National Guard and the Army Reserve called to active duty. The mission of the hotline is to provide Army families caring support in the form of accurate information, useful resources, and helpful referrals related to family issues. The hotline will not be able to answer questions about casualties or Soldiers wounded or missing in action, or any operational matters. For more information on the Hotline read the Army Press Release.

4. I want to enlist in the Army – who do I contact?

Answer: Go to http://www.goarmy.com. At this Army recruiting web site you can obtain your local recruiting station’s address and telephone number, send the recruiters an e-mail, or engage in an on-line chat with a recruiter.

5. I want to send a message of support to our troops – where do I send it? Can I send goodies/books/etc?

Answer: DoD officials ask citizens not to flood the military mail system with letters, cards, and gifts. Due to security concerns and transportation constraints, the Defense Department can't accept items mailed to "Any Servicemember”. However, there are numerous other ways in which you can show your support for our troops. The following are websites for several organizations sponsoring programs for members of the Armed Forces overseas. While it would be inappropriate for DoD to endorse any specifically, Service members do value and appreciate such expressions of support:

6. I see above how I can support the troops. Is there anything I should not do?

Answer: Yes there are things you should not do. There are many well meaning Web sites, TV stations, and charity groups that are promoting donations to overseas Servicemembers. While well intentioned, you should not use them and you should discourage others from using them. These unsolicited letters of support or care packages to Servicemembers raise a force protection issue, since anonymous donors are different from legitimate family members and friends. DoD has cancelled mail programs which encouraged the American public in general to mail to Any Servicemember (versus a specific deployed person). These new programs attempt to do the same thing by gathering names of Servicemembers to send mail. While legitimate mail from family members and loved ones is always encouraged, these donor programs, which collect and pass out Servicemembers’ names and addresses, is discouraged.

7. Is there anything I should know about addressing mail to a Soldier?

Answer: To ensure that mail gets through from families and loved ones, the following information is given on addressing. Recommended address:
Soldier’s Name (note 1)
Organization to which assigned (note 2)
Unit # xxxx (note 3)
APO AE 09xxx-xxxx (notes 4 and note 5)

NOTES:
1) Use of rank is optional
2) Organization name should be included if you have it; however, it is not always used for
certain types of forces
3) Unit # is a four digit number assigned to some units, but not all. Where assigned, it should always be used. Soldiers will have notified friends and family if they have one assigned.
4) APOs served by New York have a 09 prefix (09xxx); APOs served by San Francisco have a 96 prefix (96xxx), and APOs served by Miami have a 34 prefix (34xxx)
5) The last four xxxx represent a ZIP 4 add-on to the normal five digit APO Zip Code, and have been assigned to some forces. Where assigned, correspondents should have been notified and the four digit add on should always be used to help in automatic sorting of mail

If your question doesn’t fit into any of the above categories, go to http://www.dtic.mil/armylink/faq/ which contains a more extensive listing of Frequently Asked Questions.

POSTAL BULLETIN 22073 ( 4-4-02 )

RESTRICTIONS

LEGEND

PS Form 2976, Customs -CN 22 (Old C 1) and Sender's Declaration (green

label)

PS Form 2976-A, Customs Declaration and Dispatch Note

AAFES = Army and Air Force Exchange Service

APO = Army/Air Force Post Office

Box R = Retired military personnel

FPO = Fleet Post Office

DMM = Domestic Mail Manual

MOM = Military Ordinary Mail

MPO = Military Post Office

PAL = Parcel Airlift

PSC = Postal Service Center

SAM = Space Available Mail

USDA = United States Department of Agriculture

Note: Mail order catalogs are prohibited as SAM or PAL mail.

A. Securities, currency, or precious metals in their raw, unmanufactured

state are prohibited. Official shipments are exempt from this restriction.

8. PS Form 2976-A is required for all mail weighing 16 ounces or more,

with exceptions noted below. In addition, mailers must property complete

required customs documentation when mailing any potentially dutiable mail

addressed to an APO or FPO regardless of weight. The following are

exceptions to the requirement for customs documentation on non-dutiable

mail that weighs 16 ounces or more:

.Known mailers are exempt from providing customs documentation

.on non-dutiable letters, and printed matter weighing 16 ounces or

more. (A known mailer is anyone who legally applies a permit imprint

to a mailpiece. Mail with meter postage is not considered to be from

a known mailer.)

.All federal, state, and local government agencies are exempt from

providing customs documentation on mail addressed to an APO or

FPO, except for those APOs/FPOs to which restriction 82 applies.

.Prepaid mail from military contractors is exempt, providing the

mail piece is endorsed "Contents for Official Use -Exempt from

Customs Requirements:

81. PS Form 2976 or 2976-A is required. Articles are liable for customs

duty and/or purchase tax unless they are bona fide gifts intended for use by

military personnel or their dependents.

When the contents of a parcel meet these requirements, the mailer must endorse

 the customs form, "Certified to be a bona fide gift, personal effects, or items for

 personal use of military personnel and dependents; under the heading, Description

 of Contents.

Exceptions: All other exceptions listed in restriction 8 above are applicable  

to this restriction.

82. All federal, state, and local government agencies must complete

customs documentation when sending mail addressed to or from this APO

or FPO weighing 16 ounces or more.

C. Cigarettes and other tobacco products are prohibited.

C1. Obscene articles, prints, paintings, cards, films, videotapes, etc.,

and horror comics and matrices are prohibited.

D. Coffee is prohibited.  

E1. Medicines or vaccines not conforming to French laws are

prohibited.

E2. Any matter containing religious materials contrary to Islamic faith or

depicting nude or seminude persons, pornographic or sexual items, or

non-authorized political materials is prohibited.

E3. Radio transceivers, cordless telephones, global positioning

systems, scanners, base stations, and handheld transmitters are prohibited.  

F. Firearms of any type are prohibited in all classes of mail. See

definitions of firearms in DMM CO24.1.1 C. This restriction does not apply to

firearms mailed to or by official U.S. government agencies.

F1. Privately owned weapons addressed to an individual are prohibited

in any class of mail.

F2. Importation of firearms is restricted to one shotgun and one single  

shot .22 caliber rifle per individual.

G. Only First-Class Mail letters, Periodicals, and Standard Mail items

are authorized.

H. Meats, including preserved meats, whether hermetically sealed or

not, are prohibited.

H1. Pork or pork by-products are prohibited.

I. Mail of all classes must fit in a mail sack. Mail may not exceed the

following dimensions:  

Length

42" , 72" length and girth combined

over 42" to 44" 24"girth

over 44" to 46" 20"girth

over 46" to 48" 16" girth

Maximum length 48"

This restriction does not apply to registered mail and official government mail

marked MOM.

11. This restriction does not apply to registered mail.  

12. This restriction does not apply to official government mail marked

MOM.

J. Parcels may not exceed 108 inches in length and girth combined.

K. Mail that includes in the address the words, "Dependent Mail

Section," may consist only of letter mail, newspapers, magazines, and

books. No parcel of any class containing any other matter may be mailed to

the Dependent Mail section. This restriction does not apply if the address  

does not include the words "Dependent Mail Section:

L. All official mail is prohibited.

M. Fruits, animals, and living plants are prohibited.

N. Registered mail is prohibited.

0. Personal mail addressed to vessels using this number is limited to

unregistered First-Class Mail items and certified mail. Other classes of mail

are prohibited.

P. APO is used for the receipt and dispatch of official mail only.  

a. Mail may not exceed 66 pounds, and size is limited to 42 inches

maximum length and 72 inches maximum length and girth combined.

R. All alcoholic beverages, including those mailable under DMM C021 ,

are prohibited.

R1. Materials used in the production of alcoholic beverages (i.e.,

distilling material, hops, malts. yeast, etc.) are prohibited.

T. Mailings of case lots of food and supplemental household shipments  

must be approved by the sender's parent agency prior to mailing.

U. Parcels must weigh less than 16 ounces when addressed to Box R.

This restriction does not apply to mail endorsed "Free Matter for the Blind or

Handicapped:

U1. Mail is limited to First-Class Mail weighing 13 ounces or less when

addressed to Box R. This restriction does not apply to mail endorsed "Free

Matter for the Blind or Handicapped: Videotapes are prohibited when  

addressed to Box R, regardless of weight.

U2. Mail is limited to First-Class Mail letters only when addressed to

BoxR.

U3. Mail is limited to First-Class Mail correspondence (including voice

and video cassettes), newspapers, magazines. photographs. not exceeding

16 ounces, when addressed to Box R.

W. Meat products. such as dried beef. salami. and sausage, may be  

mailed, provided they remain in their original. hermetically sealed packages

and bear USDA certification. Other meats, bones, skin, hair. feathers, horns

or hoofs of hoofed animals. wool samples, tobacco leaves, including

chewing and pipe tobacco. snuff, cigars, and cigarettes, or obscene material,

including obscene drawings. photographs. films. and carvings, are

prohibited. Exception: 200 grams of tobacco per parcel are permitted duty

free.  

X. personal mail is limited to First-Class Mail items (to include audio

cassettes and voice tapes) weighing 13 ounces or less. This limitation does

not apply to official mail.

Y. Mail is limited to First-Class and Priority Mail items only. All

Periodicals, Standard Mail items. and Package Services items (including

SAM and PAL) are not authorized. This restriction also applies to official mail.  

Z. No outside pieces (OSPs).

Z1. The Anti-Pilferage Seal (Item No O818-A) is required on all pouches

and sacks.

-International Network Operations,

Network Operations Management, 4-4-02