74
STAT.]
PUBLIC LAW 86-682-SEPT. 2, 1960
§ 712. Armed Forces postal clerks (a) Upon selection by the Secretaries of the Departments concerned, the Postmaster General may designate Armed Forces postal clerks, and assistant Armed Forces postal clerks from enlisted personnel of the— (1) Army of the United States; (2) United States Navy; (3) Air Force of the United States; (4) United States Marine Corps; and (5) United States Coast Guard, including their reserve components. (b) Armed Forces postal clerks and assistant Armed Forces postal clerks designated under authority of subsection (a) of this section shall— (1) receive and open all pouches and sacks of mail addressed to the post offices, stations, vessels and installations of the organizations listed in subsection (a) of this section; (2) make delivery of the mail; ( 3) receive matter for transmission in the mail; (4) receipt for registered mail; (5) sell postage stamps; (6) make up and dispatch mail; and (7) perform any other postal duties that may be authorized by the Postmaster General in accordance with such regulations as may be prescribed by the appropriate authority of the organizations listed in subsection (a) of this section. (c) Each clerk or assistant clerk appointed under authority of this section shall— (1) take the oath of office prescribed for members of the field postal service; (2) be covered by a bond in such penal sum as the Postmaster General deems sufficient for the faithful performance of his duties as postal clerk or assistant postal clerk, unless bonding is waived by the Secretary of the Department concerned; ana (3) be amenable in all respects to the discipline of their respective services, except as provided in subsection (d) of this section. (d) The commanding officer having jurisdiction over a post office, station, vessel, or installation where Armed Forces postal clerks or assistant Armed Forces postal clerks are stationed shall require them to be governed by the postal laws and the postal regulations. Whenever he deems it necessary a commanding officer may require any assistant Armed Forces postal clerk to perform the duties of an Armed Forces postal clerk. (e) The Secretary of the Department concerned may terminate any bond covering any Armed Forces postal clerk or assistant Armed Forces postal clerk without affecting the liability of any person or surety thereunder for losses or shortages occurring prior to such termination. (f) The Departments of the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Treasury shall reimburse the Post Office Department annually in an amount of money equal to— (1) funds and the value of other accountable postal stock embezzled by, or lost through the negligence, errors, or defalcations on the part of— (A) unbonded Armed Forces postal clerks or assistant Armed Forces postal clerks or persons acting in that capacity; or
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