[Decision Concerning Marine Corps Officer's Claim for Reimbursement for Leave and Dependents' Travel]

The Marine Corps requested a decision regarding a member's claim for reimbursement for leave travel and dependents' travel. The claimant contended that he was entitled to reimbursement for: (1) his dependent's travel to two temporary duty stations where he received training; (2) his dependent's travel from the last temporary duty station to his new permanent duty station; and (3) his leave travel to his old duty station. The claimant also contended that he was entitled to retain the denied boarding compensation an airline paid him after forcing him and his dependents to relinquish their seats. GAO held that the claimant was entitled to reimbursement not exceeding the cost of transporting his dependents from his old to his new permanent duty station, since: (1) the brief training periods precluded travel authorization for his dependents to accompany him on his temporary duty; (2) the regulations allowed for reimbursement for his leave travel only if his old or new duty tour was restricted; and (3) his travel orders did not authorize leave travel. GAO also held that the claimant could retain the denied boarding compensation for his dependents, since their travel was not official business. Accordingly, the Marine Corps should reimburse the claimant for his dependents' travel between his old and new permanent duty stations, and the claimant should reimburse the government for the denied boarding compensation he received for relinquishing his seat.