Authorization To Travel at Government Expense to Old Duty Station

GAO was requested to determine whether the Joint Travel Regulations (JTR) may be amended to authorize travel for a service member at Government expense to a newly designated home port to assist his dependents' relocation and continue at Government expense to travel to the location of the ship or mobile unit at the old home port. In a prior decision authorizing this type of an amendment to JTR, GAO stated that, since changes of duty assignments are for the purpose of carrying out the Government's business, it was a matter over which the member has no control. It was held that members should not be required to expend personal funds for travel and transportation resulting from a permanent change of station. In a recent decision, that rule was interpreted to permit travel from a temporary duty station to the old permanent duty station when a transfer of station occurred after a period of temporary duty even though the new permanent duty station was designated after the member reported for temporary duty. Travel at Government expense in those circumstances may be allowed only if JTR is amended to provide for it and only to the extent that such travel by the member is for the purpose of relocating his dependents and/or personal effects. This rule is applicable to the instant situation. Accordingly, JTR may be amended to authorize the member to travel at Government expense to the newly designated home port of his ship or other mobile unit and then to the location of that ship or unit. This travel must be for the purpose of assisting in relocating dependents and/or personal effects. Further, travel to the home port may be authorized when the ship or mobile unit is away from the home port or at the old home port during a period of transition.