[Marine Corps Member's Entitlement to Dislocation Allowance]

The Marine Corps requested an advance decision concerning whether a member was entitled to payment of a dislocation allowance equal to 2 months of basic quarters allowance (BAQ), since delays occurred in processing his claim beyond the enactment of an act which reduced the allowance payment rate. GAO held that, the claimant was entitled to payment of the dislocation allowance at the higher rate, since the: (1) claimant incurred the obligation against the appropriations account in effect when his orders were issued; and (2) rights to travel allowances vested when the claimant performed the travel in compliance with those orders. Accordingly, the claim was allowed.