KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan — For those who serve overseas, receiving a package from family, or even from a stranger, can feel a lot like Christmas.
For those serving in Regional Command - South, the Kandahar Airfield Post Office is to thank for that feeling.
To ensure that feeling is felt by all who are to receive mail this season, service members and civilian employees began working extended holiday hours Sunday night to make sure the office stays manned 24 hours a day, 7 days a week until the holidays are over.
"The mission is to get all of this mail out to all our fellow Soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines," said Chief Petty Officer Michael Nisbet, non-commissioned officer in charge of KAF Post Office.
Due to the tons and tons of mail expected by the KAF office this season, volunteers are being enlisted to assist in keeping the office from being buried under holiday parcels.
"Overall we're expecting 1,800,000 pounds of mail within the next 30 days and right now we need approximately 25 to 30 volunteers per day to make this process run smoothly and efficiently," said Nisbet.
To deliver mail to outlying forward operating bases, the mail is sorted and stacked in containers that can hold up to 500 pounds of mail. The mail is then flown by military helicopter or contract civilian helicopters to be delivered to the addressee.
The typical mail-handling day (without the holiday load) can be stressful and fast-paced for the staff at the KAF office. That is why they are always accepting volunteer help, and why it is especially appreciated during the holiday season.
"I volunteered for my fellow Soldiers because it's always good to get Christmas gifts as soon as possible" said Army Staff Sgt. Timothy Hieman, Forward Support Company, 19th Engineer Battalion, "I'll stay here as long as it takes. I'm here for the Soldiers. It's all about the holidays and helping others."
In processing the nearly 2 million pounds of mail expected in December, the KAF post office is expected to receive up to three flights of mail a day, which can amount to 30 pallets or more in a 24-hour period.
Spc. Story Leduc, 912th Postal Platoon, Human Resources Command, is glad for the effort of those lending a hand.
"The volunteers are really helpful. This holiday season we are getting double, if not triple the pallets we usually get. We appreciate all the help," said Leduc.
Though the mail-handlers certainly appreciate the extra holiday assistance, it is all those at KAF and the surrounding forward operating bases who will benefit from the effort of the staff and volunteers.
Spc. Joshua Moncrief, 106th Finance Management Company, has received 9 packages through the KAF post office since he arrived here 9 months ago.
"Mail makes the day go better. Everyone wants to get their Christmas presents, right? It is important. If mail couldn't be delivered, I imagine there would be a lot of low morale in units, a lot of sad people, and a lot of distractions from the mission.
"I think the volunteer effort is a great thing if you've got the time. We should put some work behind it and help out our battle-buddies," said Moncrief.
| Date Taken: |
12.10.2009 |
| Date Posted: |
12.10.2009 01:30 |
| Story ID: |
42526 |
| Location: |
KANDAHAR, AF |
| Web Views: |
391 |
| Downloads: |
364 |
PUBLIC DOMAIN
This work, Volunteers spread holiday cheer, one parcel at a time, by SGT Casey Collier, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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