Free Christmas Parcels For Service Families

9 Nov 2006 11:15 AM

Service families are being urged to take advantage of a free parcels service this Christmas.

The festive season is traditionally a time for families to come together and celebrate. But for many of the UK's armed forces, Christmas will be spent on the front line of military operations.

And that is why the MoD is funding the service, which launches on Friday, that will allow families and friends to send gifts and parcels to their loved ones - and it won't cost them a penny.

Defence Secretary Des Browne said:

'Being separated from friends and family is always difficult for those serving our country abroad on operations, especially at Christmas. I am delighted that our free packet service for Christmas, which is part of our Operational Welfare Package, will once again help our service men and women and their friends and families to keep in contact.'

Service men and women on operations will also receive an extra 30 minute phone call to anywhere in the world over the Christmas and New Year period. This is in addition to their weekly 30 minute phone call.

Friends and family in the UK can also use the popular E-Bluey system to write a letter to their loved one from the comfort of their own home computer, including a photo if they want to, and send it electronically. It normally takes 24 hours to be delivered, with each letter printed confidentially and delivered to the individual in their unit. This is a popular way to keep in touch, with around 7,450 E-Blueys printed in Afghanistan each week.

Brigadier Mike Hickson, Chief Executive of the British Forces Post Office, spoke of the task of getting all Christmas post to the Forces overseas:

"We expect to dispatch between 6-8 tons of post a day to the Gulf and Afghanistan during the free post period, to allow us to get everyone's presents to them in time for Christmas; I would stress that this Free Service is only for family and friends sending packets to named individuals, not for commercial or other organisations."

NOTES TO EDITORS

1. The Free Christmas post to personnel eligible on operations starts on 10 November 2006 and will run until the last posting date for Christmas on 8 December. It is available to personnel deployed in:

* Iraq, Bahrain, Qatar and Oman on Operation TELIC.

* Afghanistan on Operation HERRICK

* Kosovo and Bosnia on Operation OCULUS

* Cyprus on UN duties in Operation TOSCA

* Falkland Island, Ascension Island and Diego Garcia in the Permanent Joint Operating Bases.

And on the following ships:

* HMS Blyth
* HMS Dumbarton Castle
* HMS Echo
* HMS Enterprise
* HMS Edinburgh
* HMS Endurance
* HMS Gloucester
* HMS Lancaster
* HMS Oakleaf
* HMS Ramsey
* HMS Scott
* HMS Sutherland
* RFA Wave Ruler
* RFA Bayleaf
* RFA Gold Rover

2. Relatives and friends in the UK and at British Forces Post Office (BFPO) addresses worldwide may send packets. Packets from commercial firms and those from support groups will not be accepted; this service is intended specifically for friends and relatives to send items to people on operational deployments over Christmas. For this reason, packets must be addressed to a named person using the appropriate BFPO number. The service does not cater for packets to be sent out from an operational theatre. There is no limit on the number of packets that a person may send.

3. The weight limit for packets is 2kg. This typically equates to a packet the size of a shoebox. Restrictions on what may be sent apply. They include aerosols and knives.

4. In addition to the telephone calls and free christmas post, the Operational Welfare Package also includes free Internet access, free aerogrammes letters and e-letters ('blueys' and 'e-blueys'), DVDs and televisions, British Forces Broadcasting radio and television services, newspapers and magazines, board and computer games, access to fitness equipment and a visit by a showbiz personality once during a 6-month tour.

5. The Free Christmas post to personnel eligible on operations was first announced by the Defence Secretary on 25 October 2005 as a permanent part of the Operational Welfare Package.

6. The MoD will again be working with the specially formed charity uk4you thanks! to ensure that everyone who is operationally deployed on 25th December receives a surprise Christmas Box. Organisations and individuals who feel they would like to contribute to the Christmas cheer for personnel deployed abroad on operations can contribute through their website: http://www/uk4u.org/home.htm. Further details will be issued before the end of November.

7. The MoD web-site can be found at http://www.mod.uk