What's the difference between APO and FPO?

[IheartMickey]

When I went to the post office to get the box for my care package they asked me whether he was APO or FPO. Luckily I remembered it was APO but I still don't know the difference. I'm just curious.

 

[Minnesota!]

FPO is floating post office - used for Navy and Marines, I believe..

 

[TwinMom7]

Actually, the FPO stands for Fleet Post Office. I only know this because our neighbor is a retired Naval Officer and he came over a few days ago asking for Bobby's address.

I believe the previous poster is correct in that the FPO address is for Navy and Marine personnel.

You can also tell by the zip code following the FPO as to whether or not your mail is going out of the east coast or west coast. For our son, who left out of Camp Pendleton, his FPO zip is 96426, so we know that all of his mail and packages are going out of California.

 

[nativetxn]

I learn something new everyday. Thanks for asking this question, Jen. I didn't know the difference, either

 

[MJames41]

If I remember correctly when I was shipping things for the Marine Corps, APO stands for Atlantic Post Office, but it was a long time ago, and I may be wrong.

 

[tiggerlover]

FPO most definitely stands for Fleet Post Office, they mostly service Navy and Marine personnel, however there are times when FPO's service Air Force and Army.

APO stands for Army or Air Force Post Office. The same is true as above, however they ocassionally service Navy and Marine personnel.

Now a little more information for those who are curious....
The two letter "state" code has a regional meaning. For instance, AA = Americas (other than Canada); AE = Europe, Middle East, Africa, and Canada; and AP = Pacific Region.

 

[LuvN~Travel]

And the 090 zips leave out of NY, the 340 zips leave out of Miami, and the 90000 zips leave out of San Francisco. Sorry, couldn't resist.
Kim

 

[TinkHappy]

You know...I have been wondering about that. Would you believe I found the answer here? Man, I love this place!! Thanks

 

[Pugdog007]

I have a questions kind of related to this thread

I am on a business trip in Toronto and wrote a letter last night to my adopted soldier. I gave it to the front desk to mail and asked them if I needed to write USA or something beneath the

FPO AP 96426-2335

She said... "no, not necessary." I'm afraid the Canadians may lose my mail. But I wasn't sure about putting USA either since it's going out of the country. Does anyone know for sure?

 

[tiggerlover]

Originally posted by Pugdog007
I have a questions kind of related to this thread

I am on a business trip in Toronto and wrote a letter last night to my adopted soldier. I gave it to the front desk to mail and asked them if I needed to write USA or something beneath the

FPO AP 96426-2335

She said... "no, not necessary." I'm afraid the Canadians may lose my mail. But I wasn't sure about putting USA either since it's going out of the country. Does anyone know for sure?

Pugdog, I don't think it matters because the most important thing is the zip code. Some people when they send mail to my APO they put USA, but most do not as it is not necessary.

 

[Olaf]

Hmmm, I didn't know this, and I used to have an APO address. I know for us AF folks, it always seemed to me that those stationed on the Pacific side had FPOs and those on the European side, APOs. Of course, I'm probably wrong.