Reimbursement for Visits to Entertainment Centers in Connection With an Information Program

A decision was requested regarding the claim of an employee for reimbursement of extraordinary expenses incurred as an escort officer in operating an informational program conducted for a group of senior foreign naval officers being trained in the United States. The expenses incurred for visits to night clubs, bars, and restaurants were reimbursable under the provisions of Department of Defense Directive 5410.17 since, pursuant to authorizing statutes, funds could have been directly provided to the trainees to be spent as they desired, and the implementing regulations did not clearly limit the employee's discretion regarding such visits.