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AFFIXING STAMPS
Military postal clerks are not permitted to affix
stamps to mail. The mailer of the article must affix the
stamps and should be so informed should the question
arise. Inform your patrons, when necessary, that the
stamps must be affixed firmly in the upper-right corner
of the address side of the article. Any stamp partially
concealed by an overlapping stamp may not be counted
as postage.
UNAUTHORIZED TRANSACTIONS
Learning Objective: Recognize unauthorized
uses of stamp stock funds.
It is unlawful for those of you entrusted with the
sale or custody of postage stamps to use the stamps in
payment of debts or expenses or for the purchase of any
salable articles. Stamps must be sold for cash, but not
for more or less than face value.
At post offices where automated records of all
daily financial transactions are not maintained, stamp
stock funds must be kept entirely separate from all
other funds in a clerk’s possession, and must not be
commingled with stamp stock funds in the custody of
anyone else. Postal clerks at large overseas post offices
that use Integrated Retail Terminals (IRTs) co-mingle
their funds. Clerks using IRTs print out a tape at the
end of the day that identifies the amount of funds
generated from stamp, meter, and money order sales.
This negates the requirement to separate funds for
different postal transactions.
Your personal property and funds must not be
stored in any container(s) assigned for the
safeguarding of postal effects. In fact, postal clerks are
not authorized to store any personal items in an MPO,
and must not accept deposits of money or other articles
for safekeeping from anyone.
Q8-11. List three types of postal stationery.
Q8-12. Explain the purpose of a stamp or cash
drawer.
Q8-13. What rule should you, a military postal clerk,
follow when you need to walk away from your
stamp stock for a short period of time?
Q8-14. When improper handling and storage
procedures cause the loss of postal funds,
what liability do military postal clerks hold?
Now turn to appendix 1 to check your answers.
FIXED CREDIT
Learning Objective:
Recall the steps in
establishing and maintaining a fixed credit.
Stamps and postal stationery are issued by the
Navy Postal Finance Office (NPFO) in San Diego, CA,
or through a designated postal finance office (PFO)
overseas to MPOs in the form of fixed credit.
The total amount of fixed credit carried by a Navy
MPO depends upon the number of crewmembers to be
served. As a general guide, this amount is calculated at
a minimum of $25 per person with a minimum amount
of $5,000 for a command. Normally the COPE only
retains enough of the fixed credit to conduct
day-to-day operations and the remainder is held by the
reserve custodian and receipted for on PS Form 3369,
Consigned Credit Receipt, in duplicate. The COPE
retains the original of the PS Form 3369 and the reserve
custodian is given the duplicate.
As stamps are sold, the cash from stamp sales
becomes part of the fixed credit. As the amount of stamps
on hand decreases, the amount of cash on hand increases,
but the total fixed credit remains constant. The funds are
remitted, by check, to the NPFO or PFO when new stock
is ordered, and upon receipt, the stamps become a part of
the fixed credit, and the cycle starts again.
When audited, the COPE must always be able to
produce the full amount of the fixed credit in stamp
stock, including in transit stamp requisitions and funds.
ESTABLISHING ORIGINAL STAMP
STOCK
The procedures for requesting establishment of an
MPO are contained in OPNAVINST 5112.6. These
procedures include establishing your original fixed
credit.
The amount of the original stamp stock desired by
the commanding officer is specified in the letter that
requested the Navy post office to be established. This
amount should be increased in proportion to the size of
the crew. For example, an aircraft carrier would carry
an approximate total fixed credit of $100,000, and a
DDG would carry approximately $5,000.
RECEIPT OF ORIGINAL STAMP STOCK
When a shipboard Navy post office is established,
the designated COPE receives the initial fixed credit
8-5
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