Yokota personnel asked to check mail at least once daily

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Katrina R. Menchaca
  • 374 Airlift Wing Public Affairs
YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan --  Every year around mid November millions of people use the United States Postal Service to send gifts and cards to loved ones around the world, including Airmen at Yokota Air Base.

As the yearly onslaught of boxes and letters arrives, numbering well into the thousands, the men and women of Yokota's Post Office take on the never-ending task of sorting, processing and retrieving it all.

Many of the boxes are beginning to stack to the ceiling.

Mr. Tracy Shelton, mail courier, said one of the biggest issues the post office faces during this season is getting people to check their mail boxes.

"Because we receive mail twice a day, we ask that people check their mail at least once a day," said Tech. Sgt. Mario Rangel, NCO in charge of postal operations. "We receive trucks every morning and every afternoon."

"Another issue we have is packages not being marked properly," said Mr. Shelton. "It takes a lot longer to process boxes when the box number is missing."

In light of all the work right now and still ahead, the Post Office is seeking volunteers to help sort, process and retrieve the mountains of mail.

They accept volunteers seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

To set up a time to volunteer please contact Tech. Sgt's John Davis or Mario Rangel at 225-8707.