MCRD/ERR PARRIS ISLAND, S.C. -- The Marines at the Depot Postal Office began implementing the final phase of their project to overhaul the Depot's mail delivery and retrieval process when they cut the ribbon on a new section of mailboxes inside the post office Tuesday.
The new boxes will be assigned to each Marine authorized to receive mail through his respective battalion throughout March.
The operation to improve mail service efficiency began in August 2003 when the Depot Postal Office standardized all unit addresses. The efforts are part of a mission to upgrade the Depot's mail service to make it more compatible with the U.S. Postal Service.
"As the USPS moves forward with technology, we want to stay with them," said Staff Sgt. Javier Calle, postal chief for the Depot Postal Office. "With the size of this installation, coupled with its units being non-deployable, there's no reason why this service can't be provided."
The new system was designed to make picking up mail for single Marines and geographical bachelors more convenient and hassle-free. Instead of one individual from each section being responsible for picking up that entire section's mail during a specific allotted time of the work day, each Marine can go pick up his own mail at any time of the day.
"I think it's great because you'll be able to keep track of your own mail,"said Lance Cpl. Daniel Schlund, support clerk, Depot Finance. "You won't have to rely on someone else picking it up for you."
The individual box system is expected to eradicate a number of unfavorable situations that are common under the old system.
"When someone picks up your mail and can't locate you, a lot of times the mail ends up just lying around," said Calle. "Sometimes, the mail may not even get to the recipient at all."
Woes will also be eased for those Marines who are concerned with privacy, according to Calle.
"A lot of Marines who receive mail through the battalion opt to pay for a box because they'd rather not have others see what mail they have," he said. "Now, they can receive this service free."
Another hassle Marines encounter when picking up mail is an excess of unwanted mail. This will be nonexistent with the new system.
"Now, we won't have to worry about getting mail that belongs to people in other sections or people who are not here," said Schlund, who is responsible for picking up his section's mail every day.
Not only will Marines no longer have to pick up an entire section's mail or rely on others to pick up their mail, they will no longer be restricted by time constraints.
"With the hours that Marines work, it's more convenient to have your own box," said Calle.
Current pickup hours are especially non-conducive to WFTBn. Marines can take comfort in knowing that they will be able to pick up mail without leaving the confines of their battalion, as 160 boxes are to be put in place there.
For the rest of the single Marines and geographical bachelors, 300 boxes have been added inside the Depot's Post Office.
The boxes will offset battalion's workload, as the H&SBn. mailroom will cease to exist, and recruit training battalions will only handle recruits' mail.
The military section of the Depot U.S. Post Office will begin assigning boxes Monday, restricting issuance to specific Depot sections each week of March. Marines must come to the office during their section's designated week to fill out an application, receive box keys and get an explanation of responsibilities.
For information about the new post office boxes, call 228-2494.