Staying in contact through the Military Postal Service

The war in Ukraine has shown that the use of mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets endangers the lives of servicemen and women, since this type of electronic equipment is easy to reconnoitre. Once the users are located, they can be easily engaged. Based on these lessons learned, it is realistic to assume that Bundeswehr personnel may be prohibited from using private ITInformationstechnik equipment during operations if the threat situation so requires in order to avoid jeopardising the protection of friendly and allied forces. In light of the watershed caused by the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the Bundeswehr’s renewed focus on national and collective defence, it is all the more important that service personnel can rely on a functioning military postal service.

Wherever our servicemen and women are deployed, military mail is still the most important way of contacting friends and family at home, for hardly anything has more of a personal touch than a letter or a parcel. When being thousands of miles away from home, the feeling of holding your partner’s handwritten letter or postcard in your hands after waiting at the military post office is simply priceless. Opening mom’s parcel to discover a loaf of brown bread and eat a slice is like enjoying a piece of home. As part of the Bundeswehr Joint Support Command, the Military Postal Service ensures the smooth delivery of consignments to the country of deployment. Founded in 1992, it is based in Darmstadt, Hesse. The service members affectionately call the military postal workers their “link to home”.

Who handles military mail?

An average of 1.3 million consignments are shipped every year. In order to ensure delivery between Germany and the respective country of deployment, the Bundeswehr and the German postal service, Deutsche Post AGAktiengesellschaft, work hand in hand. Deutsche Post employees are specially trained as Bundeswehr reservists to fulfil reserve duties at home and abroad. They are trained and prepared for their specific location of deployment at the military postal concentration centre in Darmstadt. For the duration of their assignments, the military postal workers are assigned to a logistic battalion of the mobile logistic forces. Currently, the military postal staff comprises about 500 members. The servicemen and women of the Military Postal Service perform their in-theatre duties for six months if the respective operational scenario permits.

How does the mail get to the recipient?

Mailings can be posted at any post office. Postage is the same rate as for domestic mailings from the sender’s local post office to the military postal concentration centre in Darmstadt. There, the German postal service hands over letters, postcards, parcels and packages to the Bundeswehr Military Postal Service. This ensures that the consignment reaches the recipient in the theatre of operations undamaged and without delay.

What may be sent to the theatre?

Whether it’s gummy bears, one’s favourite shower gel, or a birthday cake – almost all articles are permitted. However, there are a few things that may not be shipped. The items vary depending on the country of deployment. Shipping alcoholic beverages in military mail is generally prohibited. This includes both private shipments and orders placed with commercial suppliers. As a general rule, the sender must comply with applicable customs regulations when posting packages and parcels. As a family member or friend, you can find further explanations and notes on postal services for our servicemen and women in the relevant Military Postal Service leaflets, which are available for all theatres of operations.