RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
         AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF:				DOCKET NUMBER:  02-02201
							INDEX CODE 128.02
	 						COUNSEL: No 

							HEARING DESIRED: No

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APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

She be reimbursed for the cost of airline tickets self-procured outside the Traffic Management Office (TMO)/Contractor Travel Office (CTO) for a permanent change of station (PCS) from Dover AFB, DE to Mountain Home AFB, ID, in the amount of $723.88.

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APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

While stationed at Mountain Home AFB, ID, she was deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. While deployed, she was approved for retraining. She was notified approximately four hours before departure. Her commander advised her to purchase a ticket from Dover AFB to Boise ID, which she did with her government travel card. Upon arrival at Boise, she traveled by private vehicle (POV) to Mountain Home AFB. She was not counseled that she had to go through a TMO.  She acted in good faith and should not be penalized with this expense.

The applicant’s complete submission is Exhibit A.

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STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The applicant is currently serving in the Regular Air Force in the grade of senior airman.

Based on the documents supplied by the applicant (Exhibit A) and HQ USAF/ILGT (Exhibit B), she was issued travel orders for a temporary duty (TDY) assignment deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom during 23 Sep-23 Dec 01. Her deployment orders dated 25 Sep 01, state, “DoD and AF policy prohibits members from self-procuring official travel.” 

The applicant had submitted a request to cross-train into a new career field months before and, while deployed, was notified she was approved for retraining.  On or about 8 Nov 01, she was directed to return her home duty station to begin training on 11 Dec 01. 

The aircraft used to rotate deployed personnel through the theater was on station on 10 Nov 01 and the applicant was directed to be on it for return to the states. She was taken to Dover AFB, DE. She then purchased a ticket in the amount of $692.50 for travel on 11 Nov 01 to Mountain Home AFB, ID. The applicant traveled from Philadelphia through Minneapolis, MN to Boise, ID. 

Effective 1 Feb 02, Change #184 to the Joint Federal Travel Regulations (JFTR), Chapter 3, paragraph U3110B, stipulates that when Government/Government-contracted transportation/in-house or Contractor Travel Office (CTO) service are available and the member procures common carrier transportation at personal expense under an individual travel order, the member may elect to receive reimbursement for the actual transportation cost for the transportation mode authorized and used up to the constructed commercial transportation cost between authorized points.

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AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

HQ USAF/IGLT notes that although the applicant is requesting $723.88, the travel ticket in question cost $692.50. The remainder requested by the applicant includes a Bank of America (BoA) late fee of $29.00 and a telephone transaction fee of $10.00 for a grand total of $731.50. The $723.88 requested is an unsubstantiated travel amount and is derived from a BoA past due notice dated 3 Jun 02. IGLT requested the applicant provide the receipt from Jan 01, which would include charges associated with the travel in question; however, the documentation did not materialize.  The travel transaction cost associated with the return travel is confirmed on the BoA statement dated 3 Dec 01 and includes penalty fees mentioned above, but obviously from a previous transaction. The 3 Dec 01 BoA statement reflects a previous balance unpaid, with the corresponding late fee and subsequent telephone transfer charge.  Therefore, in their opinion the $39.00 penalty fees are not pertinent to this case. Although Change #184 to the JFTR was not in affect at the time, IGLT recommends the applicant be reimbursed $692.50 for travel because she acted in good faith to return to her home duty station in a timely manner.

A complete copy of the evaluation, with attachments, is at Exhibit B.

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APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

A complete copy of the evaluation was forwarded to the applicant on 1 Nov 02 for review and comment within 30 days.  As of this date, this office has received no response.

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THE BOARD CONCLUDES THAT:

1.	The applicant has exhausted all remedies provided by existing law or regulations.

2.	The application was timely filed.

3.	Sufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate the existence of error or injustice to warrant partial relief. From the information provided, it appears the applicant was not properly counseled regarding travel entitlements. Although Change #184 to the JFTR was not effective at the time she traveled, its purpose was to grant travel entitlements to members when they self-procure their tickets. The applicant acted in good faith to return to her home duty station in a timely manner and should be appropriately compensated for her government-directed travel. However, we agree with HQ USAF/ILGT’s rationale in recommending the applicant be reimbursed for $692.50, the cost of her ticket to Boise, ID, and not for the $723.88 requested. In this regard, the late fee and telephone transfer charge apparently pertain to a previous unpaid balance and do not warrant reimbursement. Therefore, we recommend the applicant's records be corrected as indicated below.

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THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT:

The pertinent military records of the Department of the Air Force relating to APPLICANT, be corrected to show that, on 22 September 2002, competent authority authorized her to self-procure commercial airline tickets from Dover AFB, DE to Mountain Home AFB, ID on 11 November 2001, and that she is entitled to reimbursement for the expenses incurred for her personally-procured official transportation, including those airline tickets purchased for official travel at commercial rates. 

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The following members of the Board considered this application in Executive Session on 8 January 2003, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603:

All members voted to correct the records, as recommended.  The following documentary evidence relating to AFBCMR Docket Number 02-02201 was considered:

   Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 3 Jul 02, w/atchs.
   Exhibit B.  Letter, HQ USAF/ILGT, dated 23 Oct 02, w/atchs.
   Exhibit C.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 1 Nov 02.

                                   

AFBCMR 02-02201

MEMORANDUM FOR THE CHIEF OF STAFF

	Having received and considered the recommendation of the Air Force Board for Correction of Military Records and under the authority of Section 1552, Title 10, United States Code (70A Stat 116), it is directed that:

	The pertinent military records of the Department of the Air Force relating to   , be corrected to show that, on 22 September 2002, competent authority authorized her to self-procure commercial airline tickets from Dover AFB, DE to Mountain Home AFB, ID on 11 November 2001, and that she is entitled to reimbursement for the expenses incurred for her personally-procured official transportation, including those airline tickets purchased for official travel at commercial rates.