1980
MPS formed
The Military Postal Service 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.
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 57 countries.
- The MPS operates 1,670 military postal operations comprised of 388 land- and sea-based military Post Offices, 327 land- and sea-based unit mailrooms, 311 mobile units, 644 official mail centers and 28 mail processing facilities worldwide.
- The U.S. Department of State Diplomatic Post Office serves 32,500 customers at 197 diplomatic missions across 113 countries around the world.
- Within the military and diplomatic services, 1,206 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.
- In 2024, the MPS oversaw 2,600 commercial air transportation lanes, movement of 80 million pounds of mail, at an annual cost of $111 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 $55 million in Postal Service revenue annually.
