Military and diplomatic mail

USPS
56

countries

The Military Postal Service (MPS) provides service in 56 countries. The MPS operates 1,624 military postal operations comprised of 386 land- and sea-based military Post Offices, 328 land- and sea-based unit mailrooms, 291 mobile units, 591 official mail centers and 28 mail processing facilities worldwide.

* | Tags: People USPS Fact #296 | April 22, 2024

Military and Diplomatic Mail in brief

  • The Military Postal Service (MPS) was formed in 1980, consolidating the postal operations of the Army, Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps. The Department of Defense designated the secretary of the Army as the single military mail manager.
  • The MPS provides service in 56 countries.
  • The U.S. Department of State Diplomatic Post Office serves 32,500 customers at 184 diplomatic missions across 103 countries around the world.
  • Within the military and diplomatic services, 1,170 ZIP Codes are served around the world.
  • Members of the military and diplomatic corps receive virtually the same level of service as they would if they were at home in the United States. Differences are based on the country where they’re stationed, and the types of missions involved.
  • Military and diplomatic mail moves within the United States via the Postal Service transportation network to major mail processing facilities.
  • The MPS oversees 3,300 commercial air transportation lanes, movement of 135 million pounds of mail, at an annual cost of $165 million.
  • USPS Ground Advantage, Priority Mail or Priority Mail Express packages move from major airport gateways in the United States to overseas airport gateways on commercial aircraft. It then moves by various methods to designated military or diplomatic postal facilities for delivery to individual members. Mail also moves by military aircraft when necessary.
  • The MPS contributes more than $65 million in Postal Service revenue annually.