[Claim for Additional Per Diem]

A civilian employee of the Army appealed a Claims Group denial of his claim for additional per diem or an additional amount in foreign transfer allowances. The employee received travel orders for permanent change of station travel for himself and his dependent and was authorized to travel by personally owned vehicle from his old duty station to a port of call from where his vehicle would be shipped to his new duty station. The employee was informed that he would be allowed 7 days for his travel on a constructive traveltime basis. Army computations of the employee's traveltime reimbursement totaled the maximum amount allowed for constructive travel, although he completed the travel in 5 days. The employee claimed that he was entitled to per diem to cover the entire period because he arrived 2 days early at his port of call and lodged in temporary quarters for that period. However, GAO held that the Claims Group correctly denied his claim because he had already received the maximum amount allowed for travel, and regulations do not exist for allowing reimbursement for the last 2 days simply because he arrived early. Further, he was not entitled to foreign transfer allowances for that period since they are allowed only for periods prior to travel. Accordingly, the employee's claim may not be allowed, and the Claims Group decision was sustained.