[Response to Request for Decision Concerning Payment of Overseas Allowance Following Change of Vessels' Home Ports]

The Army requested a decision on a proposed change to the Joint Travel Regulations to permit the payment of overseas station allowances when: (1) its vessels' home ports are changed from the contiguous United States to overseas locations; and (2) the members' dependents arrive at the overseas station prior to the effective date of the home port change. GAO held that, since overseas station allowances are related to permanent changes of station: (1) a service member is entitled to assistance for dependent travel and household goods transportation; and (2) the effective date of a home port change should not limit the availability of the allowances. Accordingly, the Joint Travel Regulations could be changed to authorize the payment of overseas station allowances effective on the dependents' relocation even before the effective date home port change.