1. Manage Unit Postal Operations
AGBOLC
Manage Unit Postal Operations
A D J U T A N T G E N E R A L S C H O O L

2. “A successful postal service for the
armed forces is admittedly the greatest single factor affecting the morale of all troops...”
Learning Step / Activity 1. Define Strength Reporting Principles
Method of Instruction: Discussion (Small or Large Group)
Instructor to Student Ratio: 1:36
Time of Instruction: 20 mins
Media Type: PowerPoint Presentation/ Conference
COL S.G. Schwartz
Theater Postal Officer
European Theater of Operations
29 Aug 45

3. Terminal Learning Objective
A C T I O N
Manage Unit Postal Operations
C O N D I T I O N
S T A N D A R D

4. Terminal Learning Objective
A C T I O N
Classroom environment with access to:
- FM 1-0
- ATP 1-0.2
- AR
- DoD Manual M
- Student Reading Material + OE Awareness
- Variables + Actors
C O N D I T I O N
S T A N D A R D

5. Terminal Learning Objective
A C T I O N
Met when student:
- Determines the Postal Operations mission and any specific unit requirements.
- Administer Unit Mail Room Operations
- Ensure execution of postal operations actions and responsibilities during pre-deployment, deployment, and redeployment.
C O N D I T I O N
S T A N D A R D

6. HR Core Competencies Core Competencies Subordinate Key Functions
FM 1-0, CHP 1, FIG 1-1

7. Postal Operations
The Military Postal Service (MPS) operates as an extension of the USPS IAW USPS Publication 38. Postal services are provided to U. S. Military Services, DOD and DA Civilians, and some CAAF when USPS access is not available.
Postal operations consist of a network of military HR organizations. Efficient and effective postal operations require dedicated postal organizations with trained postal clerks and HR leaders knowledgeable of postal operations laws, regulations, and procedures needed in the execution of providing mail and postal services to OCONUS locations and deployed units and personnel.
There are two categories of postal operations: Postal operations and Unit Mailroom operations.
FM 1-0, CHP 4, PARA 4-48

8. Postal Responsibilities
Joint Military Postal Activity (JMPA)
Military Postal Service Agency (MPSA)
ASCC G-1 / AG
Department of the Army (DA) Postal
Corps and Division G-1/AG
HRSC Postal Operations Division (POD)
Brigade S-1
Military Mail Terminal (MMT) Team
Battalion S-1
Human Resources Operations Branch (HROB)
Unit Mail Clerk
Human Resources (HR) Company
Postal Platoon
FM 1-0, CHP 4, PARA 4-52 THRU 4-64

9. Manage Unit Postal Operations Practical Exercise 1
Open Practical Exercise 1 on Blackboard
Complete the exercise IAW the instructions provided.

10. HR Supporting Relationships
ATP 1-0.2, Fig. 1-1

11. Elements of Postal Services and Mail Classifications
Postal Finance Services
Personal Mail
Official Mail
Accountable Mail
Redirect Services
Contaminated/ Suspicious Mail
Casualty Mail
EPW Mail
Free Mail
International Mail
Host-Nation Postal Support
Civilian Contractor Support
SHOW SLIDE 28: PRINCIPLES OF POSTAL OPERATIONS & SUPPORT
Postal Finance Services. Postal platoons provide customer service for postal finance support consistent with the commander's mail policies. These services include money order and postage stamp sales, special services, and package mailing.
Personal Mail is mail addressed to individual Soldiers and civilians. Postal platoons receive, sort, and dispatch personal mail to appointed unit mail clerks/mail orderlies.
Official Mail is that mail addressed to or originating from military or other governmental organizations. Official mail is delivered from the postal platoon to the Official Mail Manager who then delivers to the addressee or agent through official mail distribution channels, a Signal Corps responsibility.
Accountable Mail is Registered, Insured, Certified, Return Receipt for Merchandise or Express Military Mail Service.
Redirect Services. The postal network provides personal, official, and accountable mail redirect services starting at the unit mail clerk level. There are two forms of redirect services: Soldier redirect and unit redirect.
Contaminated / Suspicious Mail. The postal network must develop and implement an SOP for handling and processing contaminated/suspicious mail IAW postal regulations. Contamination may consist of radiological, biological, or chemical agents. Suspicious mail may include conventional explosives or contraband.
Casualty Mail processing requires special attention. This is essential to prevent premature casualty information disclosure and mail return before notification of the NOK. IAW DoD M, unit mail clerks will return all undelivered casualty mail without any endorsements to the servicing postal platoon as soon as possible. The postal platoon(s) forwards casualty mail to the theater casualty mail section at the MMT for endorsement and final processing.
Free Mail. The combatant commander may request through MPSA to the Secretary of Defense free mail services during a specific operation. Free mail is limited to letter mail, sound or video-recorded communications having characteristics of personal correspondence and addressed to a location within the delivery limits of the USPS and MPS.
International Mail. HRSC POD will assess the need for international mail exchange within the theater of operation and identify the postal platoon to conduct that mission. All requests for pro-grade mail support for coalition forces will be submitted by the ASCC to the combatant command.
Host Nation Postal Support. If supported by the host nation, this support can be a critical element of the postal support structure. It frees the military/civilian postal personnel for more critical duties. Host nation personnel can be military or civilian, and they can handle all mail classes except registered mail (domestic or official).
Contractor Support. During military operations, it may become necessary to contract out selected postal services, to include operating entire APOs. The success of contracting postal operations when shifting from a “military operated and military supervised” postal operation to a “contractor operated” postal operations is ensuring the government maintains oversight of the service.
FM 1-0, CHP 4, PARA 4-65 THRU 4-83

12. Unit Mail Room Personnel
Postal Officer
Mail Clerk
Mail Orderly
Qualifications
Appointment
Training
SHOW SLIDE 28: PRINCIPLES OF POSTAL OPERATIONS & SUPPORT
Postal Finance Services. Postal platoons provide customer service for postal finance support consistent with the commander's mail policies. These services include money order and postage stamp sales, special services, and package mailing.
Personal Mail is mail addressed to individual Soldiers and civilians. Postal platoons receive, sort, and dispatch personal mail to appointed unit mail clerks/mail orderlies.
Official Mail is that mail addressed to or originating from military or other governmental organizations. Official mail is delivered from the postal platoon to the Official Mail Manager who then delivers to the addressee or agent through official mail distribution channels, a Signal Corps responsibility.
Accountable Mail is Registered, Insured, Certified, Return Receipt for Merchandise or Express Military Mail Service.
Redirect Services. The postal network provides personal, official, and accountable mail redirect services starting at the unit mail clerk level. There are two forms of redirect services: Soldier redirect and unit redirect.
Contaminated / Suspicious Mail. The postal network must develop and implement an SOP for handling and processing contaminated/suspicious mail IAW postal regulations. Contamination may consist of radiological, biological, or chemical agents. Suspicious mail may include conventional explosives or contraband.
Casualty Mail processing requires special attention. This is essential to prevent premature casualty information disclosure and mail return before notification of the NOK. IAW DoD M, unit mail clerks will return all undelivered casualty mail without any endorsements to the servicing postal platoon as soon as possible. The postal platoon(s) forwards casualty mail to the theater casualty mail section at the MMT for endorsement and final processing.
Free Mail. The combatant commander may request through MPSA to the Secretary of Defense free mail services during a specific operation. Free mail is limited to letter mail, sound or video-recorded communications having characteristics of personal correspondence and addressed to a location within the delivery limits of the USPS and MPS.
International Mail. HRSC POD will assess the need for international mail exchange within the theater of operation and identify the postal platoon to conduct that mission. All requests for pro-grade mail support for coalition forces will be submitted by the ASCC to the combatant command.
Host Nation Postal Support. If supported by the host nation, this support can be a critical element of the postal support structure. It frees the military/civilian postal personnel for more critical duties. Host nation personnel can be military or civilian, and they can handle all mail classes except registered mail (domestic or official).
Contractor Support. During military operations, it may become necessary to contract out selected postal services, to include operating entire APOs. The success of contracting postal operations when shifting from a “military operated and military supervised” postal operation to a “contractor operated” postal operations is ensuring the government maintains oversight of the service.
AR , CHP 2, PARA 2-3, 2-4, 2-7

13. DD Form 285 SHOW SLIDE 24: DD FORM 285 AR 600-8-3
2–11. Rules for control and maintenance of DD Form 285
a. All copies of the DD Form 285 will be validated by the servicing postal activity.
b. The DD Form 285 will be prepared in triplicate.
c. Additional guidance on the control, maintenance, and distribution of DD Form 285 can be found in DOD 4525.
6–M, paragraph C15.6.

14. Unit Mail Room Processes
Establishing Mail Room
Daily Mail Processing
Inspections
SHOW SLIDE 28: PRINCIPLES OF POSTAL OPERATIONS & SUPPORT
Postal Finance Services. Postal platoons provide customer service for postal finance support consistent with the commander's mail policies. These services include money order and postage stamp sales, special services, and package mailing.
Personal Mail is mail addressed to individual Soldiers and civilians. Postal platoons receive, sort, and dispatch personal mail to appointed unit mail clerks/mail orderlies.
Official Mail is that mail addressed to or originating from military or other governmental organizations. Official mail is delivered from the postal platoon to the Official Mail Manager who then delivers to the addressee or agent through official mail distribution channels, a Signal Corps responsibility.
Accountable Mail is Registered, Insured, Certified, Return Receipt for Merchandise or Express Military Mail Service.
Redirect Services. The postal network provides personal, official, and accountable mail redirect services starting at the unit mail clerk level. There are two forms of redirect services: Soldier redirect and unit redirect.
Contaminated / Suspicious Mail. The postal network must develop and implement an SOP for handling and processing contaminated/suspicious mail IAW postal regulations. Contamination may consist of radiological, biological, or chemical agents. Suspicious mail may include conventional explosives or contraband.
Casualty Mail processing requires special attention. This is essential to prevent premature casualty information disclosure and mail return before notification of the NOK. IAW DoD M, unit mail clerks will return all undelivered casualty mail without any endorsements to the servicing postal platoon as soon as possible. The postal platoon(s) forwards casualty mail to the theater casualty mail section at the MMT for endorsement and final processing.
Free Mail. The combatant commander may request through MPSA to the Secretary of Defense free mail services during a specific operation. Free mail is limited to letter mail, sound or video-recorded communications having characteristics of personal correspondence and addressed to a location within the delivery limits of the USPS and MPS.
International Mail. HRSC POD will assess the need for international mail exchange within the theater of operation and identify the postal platoon to conduct that mission. All requests for pro-grade mail support for coalition forces will be submitted by the ASCC to the combatant command.
Host Nation Postal Support. If supported by the host nation, this support can be a critical element of the postal support structure. It frees the military/civilian postal personnel for more critical duties. Host nation personnel can be military or civilian, and they can handle all mail classes except registered mail (domestic or official).
Contractor Support. During military operations, it may become necessary to contract out selected postal services, to include operating entire APOs. The success of contracting postal operations when shifting from a “military operated and military supervised” postal operation to a “contractor operated” postal operations is ensuring the government maintains oversight of the service.
AR , CHP 2 & 3

15. Mail Flow ATP 1.02, Figure 4-1 Video
SHOW SLIDE 9: BATTLEFIELD MAIL FLOW
NOTE: Refer the students to ATP 1.02, Figure 4-1.
4-7. Mail addressed to Soldiers transports via USPS to the nearest United States gateway where it enters the MPS. The MMT, augmented by the HR company and postal platoons, receives the mail and sorts it by APO number for transportation to the local servicing APO. The planning, coordination, and availability of transportation assets is critical in this effort.
4-8. The APO processes the mail and validates the Soldier’s location by using the Theater Unit Locator List to further sort by unit or task organization for pickup by the battalion S-1 mail clerks. Analysis of operational and mission variables, theater constraints, and resources determine mail distribution, and may require centralization for distribution. To determine the unit’s physical location within theater, close coordination with the HRSC, servicing APO, and HROB is required for providing updated geographic unit locations. Properly maintain the Soldier’s status within accountability systems for correct mail delivery. Mail for Soldiers who are not serviced by that unit mail room or APO are directorized. Figure 4-1 depicts the postal flow from CONUS to unit.
NOTE: Tell the students the following slide breaks down the mail flow in a more simplistic manner. To give students an idea of the timelines in this process, here are a few statistics: In 2006, the average amount of time it takes a letter or package to get to the deployed location from CONUS is between 7 – 10 days; several even make it there in as few as 5 days. The BIAP MMT processes approximately 23 million pounds of mail per year.
4-9. Postal operations require detailed planning and extensive coordinating prior to the actual arrival of mail. Some coordination can be accomplished prior to deployment, but often extensive coordination is required during theater opening. To support the establishment of postal operations, it is critical selected members of the MMT, HROB, and HRSC deploy as part of the theater opening element. Functions of the MMT theater opening element include:
Assessing adequacy of postal facilities in order to establish an MMT. Facilities must have sufficient space to sort and stage mail, as well as meet the basic facility design requirements identified in the DOD M, Department of Defense Postal Manual and AR , Postal Operations.
Establishing, verifying, and coordinating mail routing schemes.
Coordinating the activation of contingency MPOs.
Identifying, appointing, and properly placing postal inspectors.
Coordinating with task organization points of contact for mail movement with commercial carriers and Air Mobility Command.
Establishing initial postal directory and casualty mail operations.
Assisting the ASCC G-1/AG and HRSC in establishing theater postal policies adhering to joint postal policies. (Note: The ASCC G-1/AG establish policies, and the HRSC and MMT execute them).
Coordinating MPSA, JMPA, and DA postal requirements with the HRSC.
Assisting the ASCC G-1/AG, HRSC, HROB, and ESC in ensuring postal operations are included as part of all OPORDs.
4-10. Postal communication requirements are voice and data connectivity. Postal elements must be capable of communicating and interfacing with USPS equipment (analog and commercial) and must be able to transmit and scan daily to AMPS. The AMPS facilitates work within the MPS and centralizes data into a single database which is universally accessed through the Internet. Determined by a user role and corresponding set of privileges, military mail transportation, finance, and MPO records and forms are immediately available to AMPS users regardless of location. Essential mail transportation forms and financial documents (for example, Postal Service (PS) Form 1412 (Daily Financial Report)) are automated so data is easily entered, edited, stored, and then transferred automatically to the USPS on a periodic basis. Ordering postal supplies, tracking postal offenses, and maintaining equipment inventories using PS Form 1590 (Supplies and Equipment Receipt) are also available through AMPS.
4-11. Communication is also required with the HR company, HROB, HRSC, MMT, and the supporting SUST BDE. Additionally, database access to HR systems is required in order to establish and operate the postal directory, identify casualties for casualty mail operations, and to receive postal updates and alerts.
The standard mail delivery time from CONUS to the JOA (joint operations area) MMT is 14 days
Video
ATP 1.02, Figure 4-1

16. Considerations Pre-Deployment Actions Execution During Deployment
SHOW SLIDE 29: PRE-DEPLOYMENT CONSIDERATIONS
Learning Step / Activity 3. Ensure pre-deployment actions are accomplished in support of unit postal operations.
Method of Instruction: Conference / Discussion
Instructor to Student Ratio: 1:36
Time of Instruction: 20 mins
Media: Large Group Instruction
NOTE: Briefly state the pre-deployment considerations.

17. C H E C K O N L E A R N I N G
What are the two categories of postal operations?
What type of mail is registered, insured, certified, delivery confirmation, return receipt for merchandise or express military mail service?
How is a Unit Mail Clerk appointed?

18. “Few things impact a unit’s morale more than mail
“Few things impact a unit’s morale more than mail. Letters are not left behind on a nightstand or on a cot when Soldiers go into battle. They are taken along and read over and over. A small piece of correspondence from home means the world to these brave young men and women who fight for freedom.”
SHOW SLIDE 37: QUOTE BG BYRNE
NOTE: Emphasize the impact that mail has on a unit’s morale.
Brigadier General Sean J. Byrne
Commander, 3rd PERSCOM (2003)

19. Manage Unit Postal Operations Practical Exercise 2
Open Practical Exercise 2 on Blackboard
Complete the exercise IAW the instructions provided.

20. Manage Unit Postal Operations Practical Exercise 3
Open Practical Exercise 3 on Blackboard
Complete the exercise IAW the instructions provided.

21. Terminal Learning Objective
A C T I O N
Manage Unit Postal Operations
C O N D I T I O N
S T A N D A R D

22. Terminal Learning Objective
A C T I O N
Classroom environment with access to:
- FM 1-0
- ATP 1-0.2
- AR
- DoD Manual M
- Student Reading Material + OE Awareness
- Variables + Actors
C O N D I T I O N
S T A N D A R D

23. Terminal Learning Objective
A C T I O N
Met when student:
- Determines the Postal Operations mission and any specific unit requirements.
- Administer Unit Mail Room Operations
- Ensure execution of postal operations actions and responsibilities during pre-deployment, deployment, and redeployment.
C O N D I T I O N
S T A N D A R D