B-143623, FEBRUARY 13, 1968, 47 COMP. GEN. 440

B-143623, FEBRUARY 13, 1968, 47 COMP. GEN. 440

TRAVEL EXPENSES - MILITARY PERSONNEL - TRANSFERS - REIMBURSEMENT BASIS WHEN MEMBERS OF THE UNIFORMED SERVICES AND THEIR DEPENDENTS INCIDENT TO A PERMANENT CHANGE OF STATION ARE AUTHORIZED TRAVEL BY OTHER THAN A DIRECT OR OFFICIAL ROUTE, ENTITLEMENT TO REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE TRAVEL AND TRANSPORTATION COSTS MAY NOT EXCEED THE COSTS THAT WOULD BE INVOLVED FOR TRAVEL BY THE DIRECT OR OFFICIAL ROUTE TO THE NEW STATION. THE GOVERNMENT'S OBLIGATION IS LIMITED TO FURNISHING TRANSPORTATION OR REIMBURSEMENT THEREFOR FROM THE OLD TO THE NEW DUTY STATION. THEREFORE, A MEMBER AUTHORIZED INDIRECT TRAVEL FOR HIMSELF AND DEPENDENTS FOR PERSONAL REASONS INCIDENT TO A CHANGE OF STATION FROM OVERSEAS TO THE UNITED STATES IS NOT ENTITLED TO REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE EXCESS COST INVOLVED IN THE CIRCUITOUS ROUTE TRAVEL TO THE EMBARKATION POINT FOR RETURN TO THE UNITED STATES. TRAVEL EXPENSES - MILITARY PERSONNEL - CIRCUITOUS ROUTES - PAYMENT BASIS AN AIR FORCE OFFICER WHO INCIDENT TO A PERMANENT CHANGE OF STATION FROM CLARK AIR FORCE BASE (PHILLIPPINES) TO WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE (OHIO) TRAVELS UNDER ORDERS WITH HIS DEPEDENTS BY GOVERNMENT AIR TO OTHER THAN THE SCHEDULED PORT OF EMBARKATION IN EUROPE FOR TRAVEL ON A SPACE AVAILABLE BASIS, THEN BY CIRCUITOUS ROUTE TO THE EMBARKATION POINT, DELAYING DEPARTURE FROM AN EAST COAST DEBARKATION PORT TO LOCATE LUGGAGE AND TRAVELING TO CALIFORNIA TO PICK UP POSSESSIONS STORED WITH FAMILY BEFORE REPORTING TO HIS NEW DUTY STATION, IS ONLY ENTITLED TO PER DIEM INCIDENT TO THE AIR TRAVEL TO PORT OF DEBARKATION PLUS MILEAGE TO HIS NEW STATION--- THE PER DIEM AND TOTAL COST NOT TO EXCEED THE COST OF NORMAL ROUTE TRAVEL--- AND TO A TRAVEL ALLOWANCE FOR DEPENDENTS FROM PORT OF DEBARKATION TO THE NEW STATION, ALSO LIMITED TO NORMAL ROUTE COSTS, NOTWITHSTANDING THE TRAVEL AS PERFORMED AND NONUSE OF GOVERNMENT STORAGE FACILITIES MAY HAVE RESULTED IN SAVINGS TO THE GOVERNMENT.

TO LIEUTENANT COLONEL T. A. WILSON, DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE, FEBRUARY 13, 1968:

REFERENCE IS MADE TO YOUR LETTER DATED OCTOBER 17, 1967, FORWARDED HERE BY THE PER DIEM, TRAVEL AND TRANSPORTATION ALLOWANCE COMMITTEE (PDTATAC CONTROL NO. 67-37), REQUESTING A DECISION AS TO THE PROPER BASIS FOR REIMBURSING MAJOR WILLIAM R. NEAL, UNITED STATES AIR FORCE, FOR TRAVEL EXPENSES INCIDENT TO PERMANENT CHANGE OF STATION ORDERS DATED APRIL 7, 1967, AS AMENDED.

BY SPECIAL ORDER AA-1904, DATED APRIL 7, 1967, MAJOR NEAL WAS TRANSFERRED ON PERMANENT CHANGE OF STATION FROM 656 TACTICAL HOSPITAL, CLARK AIR BASE, REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES, TO USAF HOSPITAL, WRIGHT PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, OHIO. THE ORDER AUTHORIZED CIRCUITOUS TRAVEL, STATING THAT IT WOULD NOT INTERFERE WITH THE REPORTING DATE. CONCURRENT TRAVEL OF DEPENDENTS WAS AUTHORIZED. THE NORMAL ROUTE WAS STATED TO BE FROM CLARK AIR BASE, REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES, TO TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, CALIFORNIA. MAJOR NEAL WAS DIRECTED TO REPORT ON OR ABOUT JUNE 10, 1967, FOR SPACE AVAILABLE TRANSPORTATION AND AN AMENDMENT OF JUNE 5, 1967, TO HIS ORDERS DIRECTED HIM TO REPORT WITH HIS DEPENDENTS AT RHEIN MAIN AIR BASE, GERMANY, NOT LATER THAN 0800 JULY 29, 1967, FOR DEPARTURE BY AIR ON THAT DATE FOR THE UNITED STATES. DELAY CHARGEABLE AS LEAVE WAS AUTHORIZED.

THE EFFECTIVE DATE FOR STRENGTH ACCOUNTABILITY WAS SHOWN AS JULY 20, 1967, AND THE OFFICER WAS DIRECTED TO REPORT TO HIS NEW ASSIGNMENT NOT LATER THAN 22 DAYS AFTER DEPARTURE FROM THE CONTINENTAL UNITED STATES PORT OF ENTRY. TRAVEL BY PRIVATELY OWNED AUTOMOBILE WAS AUTHORIZED, WITH 8 DAYS' TRAVEL TIME ALLOWED. ALSO, TRAVEL BY MILITARY AIRCRAFT, GOVERNMENT AUTOMOBILE, AND MILITARY AND/OR WATER CARRIER WAS AUTHORIZED.

MAJOR NEAL EXPLAINED THAT HE AND HIS DEPENDENTS DEPARTED CLARK AIR BASE, REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES, ON JUNE 7, 1967, TRAVELING ON A SPACE AVAILABLE BASIS BY GOVERNMENT PLANE TO MADRID, SPAIN. FROM MADRID, THEY TRAVELED BY TRAIN AT OWN EXPENSE ARRIVING AT FRANKFURT, GERMANY, ON JUNE 19. FROM THERE, HE TRAVELED WITH HIS FAMILY BY AUTOMOBILE THROUGH PARTS OF EUROPE, ARRIVING AT RHEIN-MAIN, GERMANY, ON JUNE (JULY) 27, 1967, FOR AIR TRANSPORTATION TO THE UNITED STATES. HE AND HIS FAMILY DEPARTED RHEIN -MAIN BY GOVERNMENT AIR ON JULY 29, ARRIVING THAT DAY AT MCGUIRE AIR FORCE BASE, NEW JERSEY. THE OFFICER STATED THAT UPON ARRIVAL, HE WAS MISSING SOME BAGGAGE AND IT APPEARS THAT HE WAITED UNTIL AUGUST 1, AT WHICH TIME HE WAS ADVISED HIS BAGGAGE COULD NOT BE LOCATED. HE AND HIS DEPENDENTS THEN TRAVELED BY PRIVATELY OWNED AUTOMOBILE TO TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, CALIFORNIA. ON AUGUST 15, 1967, HE DEPARTED TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE WITH HIS FAMILY BY AUTOMOBILE, ARRIVING AT WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, OHIO, ON AUGUST 23, 1967.

MAJOR NEAL STATED THAT HE TRAVELED TO TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE TO CHECK ON THE LOST BAGGAGE AND TO GATHER TOGETHER THE HOUSEHOLD GOODS HE HAD DISTRIBUTED AMONG RELATIVES PRIOR TO HIS TOUR IN THE PHILIPPINES. STATED FURTHER THAT BY TRAVELING THE CIRCUITOUS ROUTE, HE SAVED THE GOVERNMENT TRAVEL EXPENSE PLUS THE SAVINGS ACCOMPLISHED IN NOT USING GOVERNMENT STORAGE FOR HIS HOUSEHOLD GOODS DURING THE TIME HE WAS STATIONED IN THE PHILIPPINES. HE STATED FURTHER THAT HE WAS IN A LEAVE STATUS FROM JUNE 7 THROUGH JULY 26 AND FROM AUGUST 1 THROUGH 14, 1967, AND WAS IN A DUTY STATUS FROM JULY 27 THROUGH AUGUST 1 AND FROM AUGUST 15 THROUGH 23, 1967.

IN YOUR LETTER OF OCTOBER 17, 1967, YOU STATE THAT VOUCHERS HAD BEEN ORIGINALLY PREPARED TO PAY THE OFFICER FOR THE TRAVEL REQUIRED BY HIM AND HIS DEPENDENTS BY PRIVATELY OWNED VEHICLE FROM MCGUIRE AIR FORCE BASE, NEW JERSEY, PORT OF DEBARKATION TO WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, OHIO. HOWEVER, MAJOR NEAL SUBSEQUENTLY SUBMITTED A CLAIM FOR REIMBURSEMENT FOR HIS TRAVEL AND THAT OF HIS DEPENDENTS FOR THE DISTANCE BY PRIVATELY OWNED VEHICLE FROM TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, CALIFORNIA, TO WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, CLAIMING THAT THE CIRCUITOUS ROUTE HE TRAVELED WAS AT A LOWER COST TO THE GOVERNMENT THAN THAT BY THE NORMAL ROUTE FROM CLARK AIR BASE TO HIS NEW STATION.

WITH RESPECT TO THE CLAIM, YOU ASK THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS: "A. IF A TRAVELER OBTAINS MILITARY TRANSPORTATION ON A SPACE AVAILABLE BASIS FOR HIS DEPENDENTS AND SELF FOR THE MAJORITY OF THE DISTANCE TRAVELED AND THE REMAINDER IS PAID FROM PERSONAL FUNDS TO HIS EMBARKATION POINT, IS EITHER ANY PART OR ARE ALL TRAVEL COSTS CONSIDERED IN THE RECONSTRUCTION OF TRAVEL FOR THE NORMAL ROUTE? "B. WHEN A TRAVELER'S BAGGAGE IS MISROUTED AND HE AWAITS SEVERAL DAYS AT THE DEBARKATION POINT (MCGUIRE AFB) FOR ITS ARRIVAL, IS HE CONSIDERED TO BE IN DUTY OR LEAVE STATUS PENDING ITS ARRIVAL AS NOTIFICATION OF LOSS? IF CONSIDERED TO BE IN DUTY STATUS, IS PER DIEM PAYABLE? "C. WHEN A MEMBER ARRIVES IN CONUS FROM A FOREIGN DUTY ASSIGNMENT AND USES CIRCUITOUS TRAVEL, WHAT IS CONSIDERED AS THE POINT OF DEBARKATION - THE NORMAL ROUTING POINT OR THE CIRCUITOUS ARRIVAL POINT? "D. IF IT IS DETERMINED THAT MAJOR NEAL SHOULD BE PAID FROM TRAVIS AFB TO WRIGHT PATTERSON AFB BASED ON HIS VOUCHER, WOULD HE OR A SIMILAR TRAVELER ALSO BE ENTITLED TO TRAVIS TO WRIGHT-PATTERSON, IF HE HAD, IN FACT, BEEN FURNISHED SPACE AVAILABLE AIR DIRECT FROM CLARK TO RHEIN MAIN? IS THE FACT THAT MAJOR NEAL PAID FOR HIS TRANSPORTATION FROM MADRID TO RHEIN-MAIN A DETERMINING FACTOR IN HIS PARTICULAR CASE?

UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF PARAGRAPH M4159-1, JOINT TRAVEL REGULATIONS, PROMULGATED PURSUANT TO THE PERTINENT STATUTE, 37 U.S.C. 404, A MEMBER TRAVELING UNDER PERMANENT CHANGE OF STATION ORDERS FROM A POINT OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES TO A STATION IN THE UNITED STATES, WHICH ORDERS DO NOT DIRECT TRAVEL BY A SPECIFIC MODE OF TRANSPORTATION, IS ENTITLED TO ALLOWANCES SPECIFIED THEREIN FOR THE OFFICIAL DISTANCE BETWEEN THE OLD PERMANENT STATION AND THE APPROPRIATE AERIAL OR WATER PORT OF EMBARKATION SERVING THAT STATION AND FROM THE AERIAL OR WATER PORT OF DEBARKATION TO THE NEW PERMANENT STATION. HE IS ALSO ENTITLED TO TRANSOCEANIC TRANSPORTATION BY GOVERNMENT AIRCRAFT OR VESSEL, IF AVAILABLE, OTHERWISE TO GOVERNMENT PROCURED TRANSPORTATION OR REIMBURSEMENT FOR TRANSPORTATION PROCURED AT PERSONAL EXPENSE IF NEITHER IS AVAILABLE.

WHEN HIS DEPENDENTS ACCOMPANY HIM, HE IS ALSO ENTITLED, UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF PARAGRAPH M7003-3 OF THE REGULATIONS TO SIMILAR GOVERNMENT TRANSPORTATION OR TO A MONETARY ALLOWANCE IN LIEU OF TRANSPORTATION FOR THE TRAVEL OF HIS DEPENDENTS TO THE PORT OF EMBARKATION AND FROM THE PORT OF DEBARKATION TO THE NEW DUTY STATION, PLUS TRANSOCEANIC TRANSPORTATION. HOWEVER, IF AN INDIRECT ROUTE IS USED FOR PERSONAL CONVENIENCE, THE AMOUNT PAYABLE FOR DEPENDENTS' TRAVEL MAY NOT EXCEED THAT PAYABLE FOR DIRECT TRAVEL BY THE MODE OF TRANSPORTATION ACTUALLY USED. PARAGRAPH M3050-1, JOINT TRAVEL REGULATIONS, PROVIDES THAT MEMBERS ARE ENTITLED TO ALLOWANCES FOR TRAVEL ONLY WHILE IN A "TRAVEL STATUS" AND THEY ARE DEEMED TO BE IN A TRAVEL STATUS ONLY WHEN PERFORMING TRAVEL AWAY FROM THEIR PERMANENT STATION, UPON PUBLIC BUSINESS, PURSUANT TO COMPETENT TRAVEL ORDERS, INCLUDING NECESSARY DELAYS EN ROUTE INCIDENT TO THE MODE OF TRAVEL AND PERIODS OF NECESSARY TEMPORARY OR TEMPORARY ADDITIONAL DUTY.

PARAGRAPH 3308, AIR FORCE MANUAL 75-40, SETS OUT THE POLICY OF THE AIR FORCE REGARDING CIRCUITOUS TRAVEL. SUBPARAGRAPH B (1) OF THAT PARAGRAPH PROVIDES THAT PERSONNEL RETURNING TO THE UNITED STATES MAY BE PROVIDED TRANSPORTATION VIA A CIRCUITOUS ROUTE, PROVIDED THE TOTAL COSTS OVER SUCH ROUTING DOES NOT EXCEED THE CHARGES THE AIR FORCE WOULD HAVE BEEN REQUIRED TO PAY IF THE TRAVEL HAD BEEN PERFORMED VIA THE NORMAL ROUTING. SUBPARAGRAPH B (3) PROVIDES IN PERTINENT PART THAT APPROVED ORDERS FOR CIRCUITOUS TRAVEL WILL INDICATE (A) THE NORMAL ROUTE (B) THE APPROVED CIRCUITOUS ROUTE AND MODE OF TRAVEL (C) THE POINTS BETWEEN WHICH TRANSPORTATION IS AUTHORIZED AT GOVERNMENT EXPENSE (D) THE CONSTRUCTIVE TRAVEL TIME BY THE NORMAL DIRECT ROUTE (E) THAT ALL TRAVEL TIME IN EXCESS OF THE NORMAL ROUTE TRAVEL TIME IS CHARGEABLE AS ORDINARY LEAVE (F) THAT SPACE AVAILABLE TRANSPORTATION VIA MATS (MAC) AND MSTS FACILITIES IS AUTHORIZED, WHEN AVAILABLE, BETWEEN OLD DUTY STATION AND POINT AT WHICH GOVERNMENT EXPENSE TRANSPORTATION IS FURNISHED AND (G) THAT NO EXCESS BAGGAGE IS AUTHORIZED WHILE TRAVELING IN A SPACE AVAILABLE STATUS.

THE GOVERNMENT'S OBLIGATION TO MEMBERS OF THE UNIFORMED SERVICES, TRAVELING WITH DEPENDENTS UPON PERMANENT CHANGE OF STATION, IS LIMITED TO FURNISHING THEM TRANSPORTATION OR REIMBURSEMENT THEREFOR FROM THE OLD TO THE NEW DUTY STATION. WHEN AUTHORIZED TRAVEL IS PERFORMED BY A ROUTE OTHER THAN THE DIRECT OR OFFICIAL ROUTE, THE MEMBER GENERALLY IS ENTITLED TO REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE TRAVEL AND TRANSPORTATION COSTS ACTUALLY INCURRED, NOT TO EXCEED THE COSTS THAT WOULD HAVE NECESSARILY BEEN INVOLVED FOR TRAVEL BY THE DIRECT OR OFFICIAL ROUTE TO HIS NEW DUTY STATION. 7 COMP. GEN. 840; 9 ID. 210; B-142270, OCTOBER 19, 1960, B- 155778, FEBRUARY 15, 1965, AND B-157848, DECEMBER 13, 1965. REIMBURSEMENT FOR COST OF INDIRECT TRAVEL FOR PERSONAL REASONS WHILE IN A LEAVE STATUS IS LIMITED, HOWEVER, TO THE COST FOR THE NECESSARY TRAVEL REQUIRED TO THE PORT OF EMBARKATION OR FROM THE PORT OF DEBARKATION USED. THE EXCESS COST FOR CIRCUITOUS TRAVEL PERFORMED WHILE IN A LEAVE STATUS MUST BE BORNE BY THE MEMBER. B-140819, OCTOBER 19, 1960.

MAJOR NEAL AND HIS DEPENDENTS WERE FURNISHED SPACE AVAILABLE TRANSPORTATION BY GOVERNMENT AIR FROM CLARK AIR BASE, REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES TO MADRID, SPAIN. SINCE HE WAS IN A LEAVE STATUS UNTIL HE ARRIVED AT RHEIN-MAIN, GERMANY, AND HE WAS NOT REQUIRED TO REPORT AT MADRID INCIDENT TO HIS ORDERS, THE TRAVEL HE PERFORMED FROM MADRID TO RHEIN-MAIN, GERMANY, MUST BE REGARDED AS INCIDENT TO HIS LEAVE, AND IN THE ABSENCE OF EVIDENCE THAT GOVERNMENT TRANSPORTATION WAS NOT AVAILABLE FROM HIS OLD PERMANENT STATION TO RHEIN-MAIN, GERMANY, PORT OF EMBARKATION BY THE CIRCUITOUS ROUTE, THE COST OF THE TRAVEL BETWEEN MADRID AND RHEIN-MAIN MAY NOT BE INCLUDED IN COMPUTING THE ACTUAL COST OF THE TRAVEL. QUESTION A IS ANSWERED ACCORDINGLY INSOFAR AS MAJOR NEAL IS CONCERNED AND A FURTHER ANSWER TO THE GENERAL QUESTION PRESENTED DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE REQUIRED.

AS TO THE TIME SPENT BY MAJOR NEAL AND HIS DEPENDENTS AT MCGUIRE AIR FORCE BASE, NEW JERSEY, AWAITING THE ARRIVAL OF HIS BAGGAGE, AS FAR AS THE RECORD SHOWS THE TIME SPENT THERE WAS FOR HIS PERSONAL CONVENIENCE ONLY, THERE BEING NO REQUIREMENT FOR HIM TO PERFORM TEMPORARY DUTY UNDER HIS ORDERS WHILE AT THAT STATION. THEREFORE, HE WAS NOT IN A TRAVEL OR TEMPORARY DUTY STATUS AT THAT TIME AND WAS NOT ENTITLED TO PER DIEM FOR THAT PERIOD. B-130254, MARCH 4, 1957; B 150771, FEBRUARY 25, 1963, AND B- 154951, NOVEMBER 13, 1964. QUESTION B IS THEREFORE ANSWERED IN THE NEGATIVE.

THE COST TO THE GOVERNMENT FOR TRANSPORTATION FURNISHED TO MAJOR NEAL AND HIS DEPENDENTS TO THE NEW DUTY STATION OVER THE CIRCUITOUS ROUTE USED, IS LIMITED NOT ONLY TO WHAT IT WOULD HAVE COST BY THE NORMAL ROUTE FROM CLARK AIR BASE, REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES, THROUGH TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, CALIFORNIA, TO HIS NEW DUTY STATION, BUT ALSO MAY NOT EXCEED THE COST BY THE NORMAL DIRECT ROUTE REQUIRED TO THE PORT OF EMBARKATION DIRECTED IN THE ORDERS FOR THE CIRCUITOUS TRAVEL TO THE UNITED STATES, PLUS TRANSOCEANIC TRANSPORTATION AND ALLOWANCES FOR THE HIGHWAY DISTANCE FOR THE TRAVEL REQUIRED BY PRIVATELY OWNED VEHICLE TO THE NEW DUTY STATION FROM THE PORT OF DEBARKATION ACTUALLY USED. IF CIRCUITOUS TRAVEL IS PERFORMED FROM THE PORT OF DEBARKATION ACTUALLY USED TO THE NEW DUTY STATION, THE TRAVEL ALLOWANCES FOR SUCH TRAVEL MAY NOT EXCEED THE AMOUNT AUTHORIZED FOR DIRECT TRAVEL BETWEEN THOSE PLACES. AFM 75-40, PARAGRAPH 3308B (5). QUESTION C IS ANSWERED ACCORDINGLY.

IN VIEW OF THE ANSWER TO QUESTION C, NO ANSWER TO QUESTION D IS REQUIRED.

MAJOR NEAL IS THEREFORE DUE REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE TRAVEL PERFORMED BY CIRCUITOUS ROUTE FROM CLARK AIR FORCE BASE, REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES, TO WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, OHIO, LIMITED TO PER DIEM FOR THE TRAVEL TIME REQUIRED BY GOVERNMENT AIR TO THE PORT OF DEBARKATION PLUS MILEAGE FOR THE DISTANCE BY HIGHWAY FROM MCGUIRE AIR FORCE BASE, NEW JERSEY, TO HIS NEW DUTY STATION, PROVIDED THAT THE PER DIEM ALLOWED IS NO MORE THAN THAT AUTHORIZED FOR THE NORMAL ROUTE AND THE TOTAL COST TO THE GOVERNMENT DOES NOT EXCEED THE COST THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN INCURRED HAD HE TRAVELED BY THE NORMAL ROUTE. HE IS ALSO ENTITLED TO TRAVEL ALLOWANCE FOR HIS DEPENDENTS' TRAVEL FOR THE DISTANCE FROM THE PORT OF DEBARKATION TO HIS NEW DUTY STATION, PROVIDED THE TOTAL COST TO THE GOVERNMENT FOR SUCH TRAVEL DOES NOT EXCEED THE COST OVER THE NORMAL ROUTE.

THE FACT THAT THE TRAVEL FOR WHICH THE OFFICER CLAIMS REIMBURSEMENT IS SHOWN IN HIS COMPARATIVE COST STATEMENT TO HAVE BEEN PERFORMED AT A SAVING TO THE GOVERNMENT -- SUCH STATEMENT REFLECTING NO EXPENSE TO THE GOVERNMENT FOR THE SPACE AVAILABLE TRANSPORTATION FROM THE PHILIPPINES TO MADRID -- PROVIDES NO BASIS FOR ALLOWANCE OF HIS CLAIM FOR TRAVEL FROM TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, CALIFORNIA, TO WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, OHIO. LIKEWISE, THE FACT THAT HE DID NOT AVAIL HIMSELF OF GOVERNMENT STORAGE FACILITIES FOR HIS HOUSEHOLD EFFECTS DURING HIS OVERSEAS ASSIGNMENT PROVIDES NO BASIS FOR SUCH PAYMENT. THE VOUCHERS RECEIVED WITH YOUR LETTER ARE RETURNED AND THE CLAIM MAY BE ALLOWED ON THE BASIS STATED ABOVE, IF OTHERWISE CORRECT.