[Decision Concerning Army Sergeant's Claim for Reimbursement for Loss in Converting Foreign to U.S. Currency]

An Army member requested reimbursement for exchange losses he incurred as a result of a disadvantageous fluctuation in the exchange rates when he converted Honduran currency into United States currency. GAO held that, although the Army should reimburse members for their actual and necessary expenses and for the cost of exchange fees for currency conversion, as a general rule, the risk of incurring a loss due to fluctuating currency exchange rates should fall on the individual, since the expense would not be necessary to the successful performance of official duties. Accordingly, the claim was disallowed.