Operation USS Vinson Halloween Invasion

Count us in. My nephew was deployed to the Middle East for 400 days. We sent an eagerly anticipated box of cookies every week so I know how important something delicious and thoughtful from home can be.

How will this work? We bake and mail to the provided address? If so, count me in for a dozen or two, as well.

--Deb

I am a Navy Mom! My son spent 6 years, and served in Irak along with my daughter in the USAF. They were both in Irak at the same time. My oldest brother served on the Carl Vinson when it was brand new! He retired in Jacksonville, FL, sometime ago....

Now, can you post instructions on what's the best way to pack cookies to be sent this far. Whenever I sent cookies to both, I put them in containers, but some of them suffered damage. Can you help me with this one?

I want more information before I commit to doing it.

My Dad was a navy man. I think he'd be happy to know I was doing this. I would also like info on packaging...especially what type of box would be best.

When we sent cookies to my nephew, we got boxes from the post office that are specifically for the military. We then bought mailing tubes that are 4" in diameter (from Uline.com). We cut them to fit vertically in the box. We had, basically, 8 sturdy sleeves to fill with cookies. We put a little bubble wrap in the bottom and top of the tubes. We never had a broken cookie.

I have a question about the address. The second line says :

USS Carl Vinson CVN-70...

Is that how it is written (with the ellipsis after the 70--or is there something that needs to go there?) Military addresses are always weird to me.

My cookies are ready to be packaged and mailed tomorrow, but I just want to be sure they get where they need to go!

Thanks,

Deb

I have no idea - but you can direct message the member who posted this event by clicking on the name (Rabbott) at the very top and sending her a Dialog message. You might get a faster answer that way.

Thanks, Julia. Will do.

I just looked up the ship - http://www.cvn70.navy.mil/contact.html shows how the address is written.

USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70)
FPO AP 96629-2840

Thanks, Sugar Garden! I didn't even think to look up the ship...learned something new today.

Got mine shipped Oct 2 and found out that for military shipments, it depends upon where you live as far as saving the most money for postage. If the zip code on the APO address starts with 09, the package goes out of New York, and it may be cheaper to send just a regular package if you live close to NY than it is to send a flat rate military box. If the zip starts with 9 (as this one did,) it goes out of California. Since I live in New England, the military flat rate box was the cheaper way to send this one.

The point is, don't necessarily assume a military flat rate box is the only way to go every time...it could be cheaper to send regular mail depending upon where you are. You pay only to send the package to the exit point (New York or California, etc.), so it's worth figuring out which is the best for you.