CAMP TAJI, Iraq - With the approaching holiday season, soldiers with the 678th Human Resource Company Postal, 22nd Human Resource Company, 3rd Sustainment Brigade, 103rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), and civilian contractors with the post office, prepare for an abundance of mail Nov. 27 at Camp Taji, Iraq.
For Staff Sgt. Bobby Mathis, non-commissioned officer-in-charge at the post office, with the 22nd HRC, and a Norfolk, Va., native, this will be his third holiday season while deployed.
“The best part about working here is seeing the look on a soldier’s face when they receive a package or a letter,” he said.
During the holiday season, many service members are either rushing to mail out packages or looking forward to incoming mail. The time that a package or letter takes to reach a service member varies depending on both the size and where the destination might be, said Mathis.
Another important piece of information is what the package contains. “Non-mailable items,” or items that are prohibited to be sent through the mail, will stop a package instantaneously, or slow the mailing process at the post office. Even items that are not dangerous, but are in the shape of an illegal item when viewed through an X-ray, could deem the package non-mailable.
“If they are unsure about an item, they should get with a post office official,” said Mathis. It’s the job of these officials to check packages for non-mailables.
“Not even replicas or toy weapons can be sent through the mail, because they look like the real-thing under the X-ray,” said Adis Orellana, a postal clerk with the post office, and a Grafenhoer, Germany, native.
“After the packages have been checked, they can wrap their gifts,” said Russel Ibanez, lead finance official at the Camp Taji post office, and a Jacksonville, N.C., native.
The post office hours are even available to help support service members and civilians who work all parts of the day.
“I like that we are open till 6 p.m. because it gives everyone a chance to visit after work,” said Kathy Wobbe, an accountant and custodian of postal effects with the post office, and a Wharton, Texas, native.
That way, no one is forgotten during this holiday season at Camp Taji. But, to ensure that all packages, presents and letters are sent and received, items should be checked with the non-mailable lists located in the post office, said Mathis.
“We are all important, and you are loved at home,” she said. “And you are not forgotten.”
| Date Taken: |
11.27.2010 |
| Date Posted: |
12.12.2010 17:49 |
| Story ID: |
61818 |
| Location: |
CAMP TAJI, IQ |
| Web Views: |
138 |
| Downloads: |
2 |
PUBLIC DOMAIN
This work, Do you have any non-mailables in your package?, by MSG Matthew Keeler, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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