I get tons of email about how Americans can write to our servicemembers or otherwise show their support.
Unfortunately, writing letters to "any servicemember" is no longer possible. In October of 2001, the Anthrax-infected letter threat resulted in the termination of two programs which have been used to increase the morale of deployed servicemembers for more than 17 years.
Because of the potential danger to our military servicemembers, at that time, the Military Postal Service Agency suspended two popular mail programs geared for servicemembers stationed overseas: The "Dear Any Servicemember" mail program and the "Operation Dear Abby" servicemember mail program.
Operation Dear Abby used to operate to support the troops during the holiday season from Nov. 15 to Jan. 15, while the Any Servicemember mail program operated year round.
Although these programs provided an excellent means of support to friends and loved ones stationed overseas, they also provide an avenue to introduce hazardous substances or materials into the mail system from unknown sources. Unsolicited mail, packages and donations from organizations and individuals also compete for limited airlift space used to transport supplies, war-fighting materiel and mail from family and loved ones.
Since the termination of the official programs, many organizations, web sites and individuals have developed programs and systems which continue to support some form of the "Any Servicemember" program by using the names and addresses of individual servicemembers and unit addresses. These programs are usually supported by well-intentioned, thoughtful and patriotic groups who are simply unaware of the new risks facing deployed military forces.
Some individuals and groups publicize the names and addresses of service members, ships or units on Web sites, with good intentions. The result, however, is a potential danger to the troops they wish to support. Some of these organizations match up people from the general public with military members who have "volunteered" to receive mail from people. Unfortunately, there is no way that the organizations can tell the motives of anyone who signs up for one of these programs. It is possible that a terrorist could participate in order to find means to sending dangerous mail to our deployed servicemembers.
Therefore, the Department of Defense has officially asked the American Public not to send unsolicited mail, care packages or donations to service members forward deployed unless you are a family member, loved one or personal friend. This includes a plea not to use any of the services provided by well-intentioned individuals and organizations which result in postal mail being sent to any military servicemember, if you do not personally know that servicemember.
Official statement from the U.S. Army: There are many well meaning Web sites, TV stations, and charity groups that are promoting donations to overseas Servicemembers. While well intentioned, you should not use them and you should discourage others from using them. These unsolicited letters of support or care packages to Servicemembers raise a force protection issue, since anonymous donors are different from legitimate family members and friends. DoD has cancelled mail programs which encouraged the American public in general to mail to Any Servicemember (versus a specific deployed person). These new programs attempt to do the same thing by gathering names of Servicemembers to send mail. While legitimate mail from family members and loved ones is always encouraged, these donor programs, which collect and pass out Servicemembers’ names and addresses, is discouraged.
