[Request for Reconsideration of Claim for Student-Dependent Travel Reimbursement]

GAO was requested to reconsider a decision in which it held that a member of the uniformed services was not entitled to reimbursement for expenses incurred by his dependent, a college student, incident to travel for a brief visit to the member's new overseas duty station. In the request for reconsideration, it was contended that the residence of a student dependent of a military member should always be considered to be with the family. Further, it was pointed out that legislation was enacted to provide members of the uniformed services with benefits similar to those authorized for civilian employees overseas, whose student dependents are allowed delayed permanent change of station travel during a school break. GAO found that: (1) whether travel is authorized for a dependent incident to a member's change of station depends on the intent of the travel; (2) since the dependent's travel in this case was not accomplished for the purpose of establishing a residence, the government was not obligated to pay for it; and (3) civilian entitlements may differ in some circumstances from those of military members. Accordingly, the prior decision was affirmed.