Claim for Travel Expenses Incurred for Extra Travel

A member of the Army appealed a Claims Division settlement of his claim for travel expenses and leave restoration. The issue presented was whether a member should be reimbursed for expenses incurred for extra travel to obtain passports for his dependents, and whether leave was properly charged for the 2 days the member spent obtaining the passports. While on leave prior to departure for an overseas duty station, the member was notified that the paperwork for his dependents' passports had not been received. To obtain the passports in time for a port call, the member and his dependents traveled to Washington, D.C., where they spent 2 days. A requested amendment to the member's travel orders allowing this travel was denied. The Claims Division denied the request for reimbursement of the travel expenses, and annual leave charges were not disturbed. Statutes provide that service members may be entitled to receive allowances for travel performed under orders. Under regulations, no reimbursement for travel is authorized unless orders by a competent authority have been issued for such travel. If competent orders are not issued, there is no basis for payment of travel and transportation allowances. Thus, the member was not entitled to travel expenses incident to the trip to Washington, D.C., since this trip was not performed under competent travel orders. Travel orders may not be retroactively amended unless error is apparent on the face of the original orders or where relevant facts and circumstances indicate that a previously intended provision was inadvertently omitted. The charge of leave time spent obtaining the passports was a matter within the discretion of the Army and was not disturbed. Therefore, the Claims Division settlement was affirmed.