Options available to send packages to troops for the holidays

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Nicole Leidholm
  • 60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  With the holiday season upon us, many people are out buying presents for their loved ones, decorating their houses and spending time with their friends and family.
Holiday cheer and excitement is in the air as we observe holiday traditions. But, what about the families where their loved one is deployed?

This time of year is hard on the deployed family members and even harder on the deployed members themselves. Small acts of kindness, such as send a care package, goes a long way. There is some guidance for those wishing to send some cheer to our loved ones deployed.

Many agencies and non-Department of Defense agencies may start requesting shipment of non-DoD cargo, gifts and donation to be shipped out via DoD aircraft, said Barry Smithey, U.S. Transportation Command.

The DoD is prohibited by law from providing airlift to non-DoD activities unless the request is: Of an immediate emergency or lifesaving nature; is in direct support of the DoD mission; is specifically authorized by statutes; or is requested by the head of an executive agency of the Federal Government pursuant to the Economy Act, Title 31 USC, sections 1535 and 1536.

DoD policy is not to accept goods or offer DoD funded transportation unless there is a DoD Component sponsor that agrees to cover the cost of transportation, Smithey said. The DoD is not authorized to accept non-DoD cargo such as care packages, candy, and magazines for movement on DoD airlift, including contracted or military owned, for deployed personnel.

"Donors should be informed that their sentiment is appreciated; however, for the safety of our troops and compliance with DoD policy, gifts cannot be accepted or moved on DoD organic or commercially contracted aircraft," Smithey said. "The DoD receives countless requests to accept, transport and distribute donated items from a very generous and thoughtful public. Unfortunately, we don't have the resources to receive, screen, and accept these unsolicited and generous offers. To be fair to all such offerings, DoD's policy is not to accept goods or offer DoD-funded transportation. Rather, donors may be referred to various non-profit organizations for assistance."

A listing of other organizations that send care packages to the troops may be found at http://1.usa.gov/1Tzbgxk.

For more information contact Jeff Jones, USTRANSCOM, at 618-220-7529 or John Robinson and Wayne Lilly, Air Mobility Command Cargo and Traffic Management Policy Branch, at 618-229-4434.