Opinion ID: 288717
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: appellant's induction order was valid and proper

Text: 47 Appellant's third argument upon appeal is that the board's letter of May 16, 1969 which ordered him to report for induction on June 11, 1969 did not constitute a valid order to report for induction as provided for in 32 C.F.R. § 1632.1 (1969). There is no dispute that the letter of May 16, 1969 was not an SSS Form 252, Order to Report for Induction. Rather, the letter of May 16, 1969 informed appellant of the new time and place he was to report for induction pursuant to a previously issued, valid and outstanding induction order. 48 Pursuant to a valid order of induction issued on February 26, 1969, appellant reported for induction on March 26, 1969. At that time he was not inducted, however. Because of uncertainty as to whether he was medically acceptable, pursuant to Army Regulation 601-270, Ch. 2, Sec. 3, Para. 40(b)(6) (superseded June 1969), appellant's induction was delayed by the officials at the induction center. He was asked to submit statements from his doctor as to his medical condition. He did so, and he was subsequently found to be medically acceptable and was so notified by the board. By letter of May 16, 1969, appellant was notified to report for induction on June 11, 1969. 49 Appellant argues that the only way the date of his induction could have been postponed, as that term is used in 32 C.F.R. § 1632.14(a) (1969), was in the manner specified in 32 C.F.R. § 1632.2 (a)-(c) (1969), which requires the board to issue him SSS Form 264, Postponement of Induction. Since the board did not issue him SSS Form 264, his induction was not postponed. Thus, the only way he could have been validly inducted, he concludes, was for the board to have issued him a new Order to Report for Induction, SSS Form 252. Therefore, according to appellant, its letter of May 16, 1969 was an ineffectual and invalid induction order. 50 Appellant's argument is defective in several respects. First, even if, arguendo, appellant should have been sent SSS Form 264, Postponement of Induction, as required by 32 C.F.R. § 1632.2 (b) (1969), such an error by the local board did not affect or abridge any of the appellant's substantial rights, nor did it prejudice him in any way. See United States v. Manns, 232 F.2d 709 (7th Cir. 1956). Cf. United States v. Isenring, 419 F.2d 975 (7th Cir. 1969). Appellant was completely informed on why his induction was being delayed. He does not suggest, nor does it appear, how in any way he was or could have been prejudiced by the board's not sending him SSS Form 264. Even if the board had sent him the Postponement of Induction form, the date therein specified for his subsequent induction could have been moved up in the discretion of the board. 32 C.F.R. § 1632.3(c) (1969). 51 Second, 32 C.F.R. § 1632.2(a)(c) does not specify the only manner in which the time for induction may be postponed, as that term is used in 32 C.F.R. § 1632.14(a). See United States v. Sandbank, 403 F.2d 38 (2d Cir. 1968), cert. denied, 394 U.S. 961, 89 S.Ct. 1301, 22 L.Ed.2d 562 (1969). Cf. United States v. Wagner, 292 F.Supp. 1 (W.D. Wash.1967), aff'd. 403 F.2d 1 (9th Cir. 1968) (reh. denied). Regulation 1632.2 Postponement of induction; general refers to a postponement due to specified circumstances such as death or other extreme emergency beyond registrant's control. This type of formal postponement ordinarily would result from a request initiated by the registrant himself. 52 The type of delay in the date of induction which occurred in this case was authorized by Army Regulation 601-270, Ch. 2, Sec. 3, Para. 40(b)(6) (superseded June 1969) and comes within the terms of 32 C.F.R. § 1632.14(a) (1969) which provides that 53 If the time when the registrant is ordered to report for induction is postponed, it shall be the continuing duty of the registrant to report for induction upon the termination of such postponement and he shall report for induction at such time and place as may be fixed by the local board. 54 Appellant does not contend that his induction order issued February 26, 1969 was canceled or in any way invalid or invalidated. Therefore, the board's letter of May 16, 1969 was a notification, referred to in 32 C.F.R. § 1632.14(a), of the new date for his induction, which had been postponed but never canceled. 55 Third, appellant's argument overlooks Subdivision (d) of the very regulation upon which he relies. Regulation 1632.2 (d) (1969) provides that 56 A postponement of induction shall not render invalid the Order to Report for Induction (SSS Form No. 252) which has been issued to the registrant but shall operate only to postpone the reporting date and the registrant shall report on the new date without having issued to him a new Order to Report for Induction (SSS Form No. 252). 32 C.F.R. § 1632.2(d) (1969). 57 Thus, a postponement under the circumstances of this case does not invalidate an induction order but, rather, operates only to defer the reporting date. Where there has been a postponement, the registrant is required to report without being issued a new order. Davis v. United States, 410 F.2d 89, 93 (8th Cir. 1969); United States v. Wagner, supra. 58 The order of the district court is affirmed.