OFFICIAL AND PERSONAL MAIL

The procedures outlined here do not apply to matter mailed from the CTUS to military post offices outside the CTUS, or from one overseas military post office to another overseas military post office. Procedures for the prevention of the trafficking of contraband in these channels are covered in appropriate Navy, unified command, and U.S. Postal Service regulations.

Official Mail

Heads of DOD component activities are responsible for ensuring that official mail is free of contraband.

Commanders at all levels must review their procedures to ensure that stringent controls are implemented to prevent the use of official mail for the mailing of contraband.

Official mail is accepted at military post offices only from individuals recognized as authorized agents or unit mail clerks. Mail other than ordinary letters entered into a military post office, will be returned to the origin activity or organization for verification of its authenticity.

Official mail transmitted between military post offices and the CTUS requires no customs declaration forms or additional endorsements. Official matter mailed with postage affixed will not bear customs declaration forms but will be endorsed "Contents for Official Use- Exempt from Customs Requirement. " Personal property entered as official mail will be documented as outlined in the personal property section of this chapter.

All official mail entered into the military postal system by authorized non-DOD agencies suspected of containing contraband is forwarded under an indicia label to the appropriate U.S. Customs Service activity in the CTUS for examimtion, provided it is addressed to a point in the CTUS.

Personal Mail

Commanders normally establish continuing information programs to discourage and deter mailing of narcotics, drugs, and other contraband. They also review current procedures to ensure that effective controls are in effect to prevent such use of personal mail.

All parcel mail addressed to the CTUS is routed to U.S. Customs facilities at ports of entry as mail liable to customs inspection or duty.

Customs Declaration Procedures

Parcels containing merchandise mailed as personal mail from overseas military post offices to points within the CTUS are subject to customs examination. Customs duty and/or revenue tax (hereafter referred to simply as duty) may be imposed unless duty-free entry is provided by law.

Letter mail containing merchandise, parcels containing merchandise subject to duty, all film mailers, all voice tape cassettes, and all gift parcels mailed at military post offices outside the CTUS and addressed to points within the CTUS must be accompanied by an authorized customs declaration form. Declaration forms will be legibly completed in ink or by typewriter. The mailer assumes all responsibility for accuracy of the information entered on the form.

Letters containing merchandise, and parcels mailed as first-class should bear a properl y completed Customs Declaration to Open International Mail Label, PS Form

Figure 13-4.-Customs Declaration to Open International Mail, PS Form 2976.

2976 (fig. 13-4) on the address side of the article. Should the sender prefer not to show the nature of the contents  on the outside of the first-class article, only the upper  part of the form need be affixed on the outside. Customs  _{Declaration, PS Form 2976-A (fig. 13-5) may be  enclosed in the letter or parcel.}

^{Parcel post (surface or airmail) and third-class surface parcels should have a properly completed Customs Declaration (Parcel Post) Tag, PS Form 2966 (fig. 13-6) or Parcel Post Customs Declara}tion Form, PS Form 2966A (fig. 13-7) affixed to the address side of the parcel so that the declaration lies

Figure 13-5.-Customs Declaration, PS Form 2976-A.

Figure 13-6.-Customs Declaration (Parcel Post), PS Form 2966.

Figure 13-7.-Parcel Post Customs Declaration, PS Form 2966-A.

flat on the parcel with the "List of Contents" side face up.

Customs declaration forms should be completed in detail with contents descriptively listed and valued by the mailer.

Bona Fide Gifts

Any person in the CTUS may receive, duty-free, unsolicited gifts through the mails from persons in foreign countries in accordance with the limitations outlined in DOD 5030.49-R.

Personal Property

Personal property acquired overseas while on extended duty may be imported into the CTUS duty-free and may be mailed. The address side of parcels containing such items is endorsed "Free Entry Claimed Under Public Law 89-436, Movement Order Enclosed," or similar wording. A copy of appropriate PCS orders should be enclosed in the parcel or in an envelope marked "Orders Enclosed" attached thereto.

Former Government Property

Parcels containing legally acquired items of former Government property, with properly completed customs forms attached, should be mailed with a copy of a sales slip or other evidence of personal ownership. his is necessary to preclude confiscation and return of the items to Government control.