MATZ,
I work for one of the US mail carriers and would like to correct you. Outbound mail from the US is not free. I thought it would be as they tend to give a lot to their troops. But, when helping the mechanics get to the on-board spares pack ups it is necessary to remove the bulk loaded parcels and it amazed me how much the postage cost. Perhaps it is free to the troops sending items home, but certainly not from Yankeeland.
There is at least one mail Boeing 747 per day from the US and in the run up to Christmas it could be six. I know there is a lot more US mil but from reading the foregoing it appears the Min of Uncaring doesn't support the folks in the field.
Could say more but don't want one of those 'special flights' to an unknown holiday destination.