Marines

MotoMail ends Sept. 30

11 Sep 2013 | Cpl. Charlie Clark Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune

The once popular MotoMail program is scheduled to cease Sept. 30, due to declining use of service and budgetary constraints.

MotoMail, implemented in December 2004, is a one-way electronic mail service that enables family and friends of deployed service members to send letters and photographs via the internet that are printed, sealed and delivered to deployed troops.

Letters sent from the MotoMail website, or the application on smart phones and tablets, are typically delivered within 48 hours.

Motomail has been utilized during Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom, as well as during Marine Expeditionary Unit operations.

“Infantry Marines don’t get email accounts, so MotoMail was a great program for them to get letters and photos,” said Sgt. Krista Jones, assistant postal finance officer and postal clerk with Combat Logistics Regiment 27, 2nd Marine Logistics Group. “With my experience on MEU’s, that was a blessing for the Marines.”

More than 5.8 million letters were delivered during the program’s activity.

The reduction of troops in OEF, availability of Marine Corps Community Services internet cafes and phone centers and social networking websites have contributed to the use of MotoMail to drop significantly since its creation.

According to a Headquarters Marine Corps Marine and Family Program statistic, the use of MotoMail has dropped from 761,640 letters during 2005 to 79,754 letters in 2013.

“MotoMail has been a very successful program throughout the years and made a tremendous positive effect on our forward deployed Marines’ morale and welfare,” said Staff Sgt. Kevin W. Butler, postal affairs administration chief at HQMC Family Readiness Division. “Special thanks to all the Postal Marines who have worked diligently to support the MotoMail Program and those who worked extremely hard to ensure each letter was printed and delivered daily.”

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