Payment for Job-Related Courses

The Finance and Accounting Officer of the Army Armament Research and Development Command (ARRADCOM) requested a decision concerning the propriety of making payment on a voucher for tuition and expenses of job-related courses. ARRADCOM is a major subordinate research and development command for the Army, and the military personnel attached to the Command are involved in professional and technical duties which require a high level of managerial competence. To assist the civilian and military work force in maintaining job proficiency, ARRADCOM contracted with the Florida Institute of Technology to provide courses after normally scheduled hours at the installation. Command personnel are authorized to, but not required to, attend. Upon successful completion of the job-related course, payment is made on that individual's behalf. However, if the particular course is determined not to be job related, the cost of the course must be borne by the individual. GAO held that payment of full tuition would violate applicable regulations pertaining to limitations for off-duty training. The term off-duty means the same as nonduty in this situation because course attendance is not required as part of ordered military duty and because courses are not scheduled when personnel are engaged in scheduled military duties. Therefore, the Government's share of tuition and expenses for these courses may not exceed 75 percent. Accordingly, the vouchers accompanying the submission were returned for modification and payment.