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Military Member's Entitlement to Permanent Change of Station Allowances

B-200285,B-200857 Jul 01, 1981
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Highlights

GAO was requested to render an advance decision in two cases as to whether a military member may be allowed travel to the old duty station from a temporary duty station when the new duty station is not designated until the end of the temporary duty. In the first case, a Marine Corps member was detached from his permanent duty station to a temporary duty station without the designation of a permanent duty station. His travel orders were subsequently modified authorizing him to return to the old permanent duty station from the temporary duty station before traveling to the new duty station. The Marine Corps questioned the interpretation of the regulation under which the member's travel orders were modified. It contended that the regulation only applies to situations in which the member is not detached from his old permanent duty station and that it was intended that the member would return to the old permanent duty station at the end of the temporary duty. In the second case, a Navy ensign was ordered from her permanent duty station to a temporary duty station. Her next permanent duty station was not assigned at the time the order was issued. Upon completion of the temporary duty, the ensign was ordered to a permanent duty station and her orders were modified to permit her to travel to the new station via the old permanent station. Subsequently, the Navy determined that the regulation under which her orders were modified did not apply to her case. Thus, she was charged for excess transportation furnished, and leave and traveltime adjustments were made. In a prior decision, GAO held that the Government has an obligation to defray the cost of travel and transportation for service members when the travel is a direct result of a change in the member's permanent station. Therefore, a member may be reimbursed round-trip travel to the old permanent station to arrange for the relocation of his family and effects to the new permanent station. The same general rule may be applied in the instant cases. However, since such travel is not authorized under current regulations, payments for travel back to the old permanent station in those circumstances may be made only if authorized in an amendment to the Joint Travel Regulations.

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