In time for the holidays, Peterson post office reopens

  • Published
  • By Dave Smith, staff writer
  • 21st Space Wing Public Affairs
PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. --  Since Aug. 31, 2016, window service at the Peterson Air Force Base Post Office has been non-existent. That’s when the former Commercial Postal Unit contractor retired after a 22 year run, said Keith Hicks, 21st Communications Squadron mail clerk.

The post office reopened on Oct. 31, 2017, after a new contractor was awarded the contract in September. New contractors Ron Smits and wife Angel bring post office experience to the Airmen of Team Pete.

Smits said he heard about the need for a postal contractor from someone who works on the base. The Smits are not strangers to the postal business. The couple has operated a contract post office in the Rockrimmon area for about 12 years and a private post office in north Colorado Springs for two and a half years.

Smits attended the U.S. Air Force Academy and his father is an Air Force veteran, so connecting to Airmen intrigued him. Add to that his five years working for the U.S. Post Office on Fort Carson and he thought it a good fit.

“We understand working with the military,” Smits said. “My wife and I have the skill set.”

For now there is one window station in operation. Should business warrant it, another could be added.

Coming to a branch location is a boon around holiday times.

“My experience says it’s about one-third of the wait time of the usual post offices around Christmas,” said Smits.

The Peterson Post Office can handle mailing and most shipping needs, as well as having post office boxes available. Unlike some other post offices, they do not offer postal money orders nor passports. They do ship to APO and International addresses, so Smits said deployment packages can be mailed from right on base.

A grand opening will be held Dec. 1 with cake and refreshments to celebrate the event.

“We hope to have the Cimarron Hills station manager here,” Smits said.

“My wife will be here, so people will be able to meet all the owners.”
Operating hours at Peterson AFB are: Mon-Fri 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Saturday 8:30 a.m. – noon. The office is closed on postal holidays.