Claim by Air Force Officer for Dependent Travel and Dislocation Allowance

An accounting and finance officer requested an advanced GAO decision on the question of whether a claim by an Air Force officer for dependent travel and dislocation allowance could be allowed where the wife and minor child did not travel until 6 months after the effective date of the officer's permanent change-of-station orders, at which time the wife was no longer a dependent because of a divorce and award of child custody. After the couple's subsequent remarriage, the officer submitted a claim for reimbursement of travel expense for his wife and dependent child and a dislocation allowance. GAO determined that since his dependents were not authorized to move under orders and did not move at the time of the permanent change of station, he was entitled to a dislocation allowance at the without-dependent rate. As his wife was not his spouse at the time of her move to the new duty station, and as the child was not in the custody and control of the officer, there was no authority to pay their transportation expenses.