Free Christmas post for overseas forces staff

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) yesterday announced a free Christmas postal service for families and friends to send presents to British servicemen and women based overseas.
John Reid, the Defence Secretary, said: “The MoD will fund the cost of the free packet service to personnel on eligible operations in the Gulf, Afghanistan, Kosovo, Bosnia and Cyprus for a month prior to the last posting date.”
A number of Royal Navy ships are also included.
Visiting soldiers and their families at Dreghorn Barracks in Edinburgh yesterday, Mr Reid said: “Those serving our country abroad on operations feel the strain of separation particularly keenly at Christmas time, as do their family and friends. That is why I am introducing a free packet service this Christmas and every Christmas as a permanent part of the Operational Welfare Package.”
“Hopefully this can ease the burden of separation for those whose service to their country has taken them away from their families.”
The Defence Logistics Organisation expects to transport over ten tonnes of post a day to the Gulf alone in the run-up to Christmas.
This year, the free service will be available from 10 November 2005 until the last posting date, 8December 2005.