Military Postal Service stopping for some US direct-hire NATO employees

WIESBADEN, Germany — U.S. direct-hire employees of NATO will no longer be able to use the Military Postal Service in Europe starting July 18.

In a memorandum from the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense signed April 13, the secretary of defense’s general counsel issued a ruling to extend a 2004 exception to policy that authorized MPS privileges to U.S. direct-hire employees of NATO.

According to the general counsel, “There is no statutory authority that authorizes the Department of Defense to provide and fund military mail services for direct-hire NATO personnel.”

Some U.S. direct-hire employees of NATO may, however, still be eligible for MPS, primarily those who are U.S. military retirees. Eligibility will be determined on a case-by-case basis when customers impacted by this decision discuss their status with personnel from their servicing installation post office.

U.S. citizens working directly for NATO are not considered U.S. government employees; can be hired from any location, including from within the continental United States; and need not be living in Europe before being hired. They are paid in euros and receive NATO’s package of overseas benefits and entitlements based on the organization’s eligibility determination. This package does not include an entitlement to receive personal mail through MPS.

U.S. direct-hire employees of NATO impacted by this decision are located primarily in the U.S. Army Garrison Benelux area. These individuals are encouraged to stop by their post office pickup or finance window to request guidance on changing their mailing addresses or to provide documentation showing they are U.S. military retirees and entitled to continued use of MPS.
Individuals impacted by this decision may also contact their installation postmaster for more information.