Laughlin Mail Center: Get the message?

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Jimmie D. Pike
  • 47th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
LAUGHLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  In the morning, the 47th Communications Squadron Official Mail Center is opened by Zelieeth Braña, 47th CS OMC clerk, and the day is started with mail being dropped off by the U.S. Postal Service minutes later.

"The mail truck usually arrives right after we open," said Braña. "They'll drop off the mail for the enlisted dorms and different organizations on base."

Braña starts by sorting the mail into the respective bins for each organization and the enlisted dormitory. After the mail has been sorted any packages delivered are checked for hazards.

"One thing we do to keep Laughlin safe is inspect suspicious packages," said Braña. "We screen mail to ensure safety on base."

After packages are checked, they are then processed and annotated on the pickup log to be signed for. Then they are organized on a shelving system for easy retrieval.

"Any mail that hasn't been sorted because it doesn't belong is entered into the computer to be forwarded," said Braña. "I'll look up the forwarding address of airmen that have moved out of the dorms and print a label to send their mail out. We stamp the mail with a message reminding them to change their address with the sender."

The OMC will forward mail to airmen that moved from the dorms for up to a year, whereas a post office will only forward mail for a couple of months. This includes packages from UPS and FEDEX.

The UPS and FEDEX trucks usually come around noon, but can sometimes arrive later, explained Braña.

"If the trucks come late, I'll deal with the packages and get them ready for pick up," said Patrick Haire, 47th CS OMC courier. "Usually the first thing I'll do when I come in is deliver mail to the enlisted dorms, so the airmen will have their mail around lunch time. This way, they are also notified of any packages they may have at the OMC."

The mail center also receives and deals with packages requiring quick processing and mailing such as time sensitive tests from the medical clinic.

"After the mail has been picked up and dropped off, we open the window for airmen to pick up their packages," said Haire. "We'll also get traffic from organizations coming by to pick up their mail and drop off outgoing certified mail."

The mail center removes hassle of driving 8 miles one way into Del Rio for mail, saving time and money, explained Haire.

"We help the base out logistically by dealing with agencies mail," said Haire. "We also started printing electronic tracking labels. The labels make tracking packages easier, and it is cheaper than the cards needed from manual signatures."

Laughlin's mail center continues to be active in helping the base stay safe, save money, and stay informed.

"The OMC plays a big role in Laughlin's mission as it provides official and personal mail services to the base by processing administrative, official communications for on-base distribution and off-base transmission," said Tech. Sgt. Ivy Horlador, 47th CS OMC manager. "The mail center ensures incoming mail are scanned based on current force protection condition levels, and are safeguarded, based on their classifications. The three personnel assigned have done a great job in keeping the OMC operating smoothly."