[Claim for Per Diem]

A retired Army officer requested reconsideration of a prior decision which denied his claim for per diem. The claim was disallowed since members of reserve components called to active duty for a period of more than 20 weeks are considered to be at their permanent duty station, and no per diem is payable for this period of active duty except when members are away from the permanent station on temporary duty as evidenced by orders. In his request for reconsideration, the officer contended that he was entitled to per diem payments for this period of active duty, because he was required to rent quarters and live on the civilian economy since Government quarters and mess were not available in his duty assignment area. GAO stated that, although the officer may have incurred some unusual expenses during his voluntary active duty tour, his pay and allowances during this period were necessarily limited to those amounts authorized by law and the regulations. Accordingly, the prior action disallowing the officer's claim was sustained.