Photo By Spc. Brandon Robert | U.S. Army Soldiers assigned to the 101st Combat Aviation Brigade, 101st Airborne...... read more read more
ILLESHEIM, Germany – The U.S. Army’s 101st Combat Aviation Brigade “Wings of Destin,” 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), is committed to ensuring that their deployed Soldiers have a solid connection to their families back home by ensuring that they get letters and packages from their loved ones through the Army Post Office system.
Spc. Jazmine Reed, assigned to 5th Battalion, 101st CAB (also known as the Wings of Destiny), is a part of the system that ensures a reliable link back home for Soldiers deployed to Storck Barracks in Illesheim, Germany. Reed and her team receive, sort and issue mail to the Soldiers and Airmen at Storck Barracks Monday-Thursday.
As a processing clerk, Reed periodically checks inventory to keep an up-to-date record of all the parcels that have come in and gone out to keep everything organized and running smoothly in the post office.
Reed says there are two issues that plague her and her team: Amazon’s delivery status updates and nicknames.
“People will get a text with a delivery status saying their package is here even though we haven’t received it. When that happens, it is usually here the next day,” she said. “I also can’t issue mail to somebody unless their names match. So if your name is ‘Bernard’ but you have a letter addressed to ‘Jimmy’ because that’s what your family calls you, I can’t give you that letter.”
The Wings of Destiny mail room team is rounded out by Spc. Joshua Saenz, from the 96th Aviation Support Battalion, and Pvt. 1st Class Michael Hardwood, from 6th Battalion. While assisting Reed in her processing efforts, Saenz and Hardwood mainly work as mail sorters. They both agree that their work in the APO is a giant morale booster for the Joint Forces that receive packages from home
“Getting stuff from home keeps Soldiers going,” said Hardwood. “It helps to keep from staying bummed out all the time.”
The mail team said that while receiving gifts while in country is always something to look forward to, service members should be aware that some items get flagged by U.S. Customs.
“Coffee and tobacco products are probably the biggest things that get pulled,” said Hardwood. “A lot of people want cigars for promotion ceremonies the coffee they drink at home, but we can’t allow those items.”
Service members or family members with more questions about what is and is not allowed in international mail should reference the United States Postal Service website.
While COVID-19 is still causing restrictions and schedule changes in much of the world, the APO still operates just about the same as before the novel coronavirus changed daily life.
“We don’t leave before the mail truck is empty and all of the mail is sorted,” said Hardwood. “Mondays are our heaviest days. There could be anywhere from a few packages to over 350 packages.”
The 101st CAB assists in a multitude of missions throughout Europe, and with COVID-19 restricting personnel from exploring Europe during their personal time, the APO is doing all they can to ensure that Soldiers and Airmen alike get the mail with as little delay as possible.
Reed said that even though it’s a small part, she is glad that she can help bring a little light to her fellow Soldiers’ day while they are away from home.
“The best part of my job is to see people’s smiles when they have something in,” said Reed. “When they smile, I smile.”
| Date Taken: | 10.14.2020 |
| Date Posted: | 10.14.2020 09:46 |
| Story ID: | 380784 |
| Location: | ILLESHEIM, DE |
| Web Views: | 85 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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