Claim for Travel and Per Diem Allowances

An Army Reserve member appealed a Claims Group settlement which denied his claim for travel and per diem allowances while he served on active duty for training. GAO determined that, according to regulations, where a member of a Reserve component was ordered to active duty for a period of less than 20 weeks, the period on active duty totaling in excess of 20 weeks, and that period of duty was extended for a period of less than 20 weeks, and the record does not indicate that the extension was due to unforeseen circumstances, the member's claim for per diem cannot be paid from the date the member received the extension order. Since the member's tour of active duty was more than the 20 weeks allowable, it must be considered as his permanent duty station. Therefore, temporary allowances cannot be paid. Accordingly, the decision of the Claims Group was sustained.