Patent ID: 7949613

Claim:
A method for distributing military mail, comprising: (a) compiling military unit and associated delivery code information into a computer searchable military address management system database which associates a military unit zip code with a current geographic location for that unit; (b) obtaining military unit personnel change of address information from sources including a national change of address database maintained by a federal postal service and input from a military unit to which a military mail recipient belongs, which information is compiled into a computer searchable military change of address database, which information includes change of address information more recent than change of address information reflected in a federal national change of address database; and (c) using information from the military address management system database and the military change of address database to redirect incorrectly addressed mail pieces to a military mail recipient's current address, which mail pieces include mail that must be redirected due to a change in geographic location of a military unit, wherein step (c) is carried out while sorting mail addressed to military recipients into batches based on military zip codes, whereby incorrectly addressed mail pieces can be redirected without first being delivered to the incorrect address.