RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF:				DOCKET NUMBER:  BC-2003-00430
							INDEX CODE:  128.02
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX				COUNSEL:  NONE

XXX-XX-XXXX				HEARING DESIRED:  NO

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APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

He be reimbursed in the amount of $1,245 for the shipment of his privately owned vehicle (POV) in conjunction with his permanent change of station (PCS) from Goodfellow AFB, TX to Elmendorf AFB, AK in October 2002.  

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APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

The Goodfellow AFB Travel Management Office (TMO) advised him that he was entitled to ship one vehicle at the expense of the government and his options were to drive his POV up the Alcan Highway or take the ferry.  He was never told that he could ship his POV unaccompanied.  He decided to take the ferry; however, when he contacted the ferry company, he was told the earliest date he could arrive in Alaska was 6 November 2002.  Since his report-not-later-than date (RNLTD) was 21 October 2002, he decided to ship his vehicle separately while he flew to Alaska.  The ferry company gave him phone numbers to three different barge companies and he made arrangements to ship his POV from Seattle, WA to Anchorage, AK.  He had airline tickets to fly from Los Angeles, CA to Anchorage, AK, so his mother drove the POV to the port in Seattle, WA.  His mother encountered some difficulties at the port because she did not have a government bill of lading (GBL).  She convinced the barge company to ship the POV by stating they would be able to pick up the GBL upon delivery to the applicant.  After his mother informed him of the difficulties, he contacted the Elmendorf TMO and was ultimately advised he would not be reimbursed for the shipment of his POV.  He at no time attempted to take advantage of the system or do anything incorrectly.  Had the POV shipping process been thoroughly explained to him, he would have followed the correct procedures and used the government-approved shipping company.  

In support of his application, the applicant submits a personnel statement; copies of his PCS order, a Bill of Lading, a paid shipment invoice, an E-mail to his commander with the three barge company phone numbers; and a letter informing his commander of the sequence of events concerning the shipment of his POV.  The applicant’s complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A.

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STATEMENT OF FACTS:

According to the military personnel data system (MilPDS), the applicant enlisted in the Regular Air Force on 2 April 2002 at the age of 25 in the grade of airman first class (E-2).  The applicant’s current date of separation is 1 April 2006.  

By orders, dated 16 September 2002, the applicant made a PCS move from Goodfellow AFB, TX to Elmendorf AFB, AK in October 2002.  He paid $1,245.43 to ship his POV from Seattle, WA to Haines, AK at personal expense.  

The remaining relevant facts pertaining to this application, extracted from the applicant’s military records, are contained in the letter prepared by the appropriate office of the Air Force at Exhibit C.

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AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

JPPSO-SAT/ECAF recommends denial of the applicant’s request.  ECAF states the applicant’s decision to ship his POV at personal expense was not based on erroneous advice from transportation personnel.  

In accordance with paragraph U5410-A of the Joint Federal Travel Regulation (JFTR), when a POV shipment is authorized, one POV not to exceed 20 measurement tons may be transported from the POV port or vehicle processing center (VPC) serving the old permanent duty station (PDS) or a POV port/VPC serving the passenger port of debarkations (POD) or any POV port/VPC in between the old and new PDS to the POV unloading port/VPC servicing the new PDS at no cost to the service member.  For members making a PCS to Alaska, the member may ship a POV through the Global POV Contract system, drive a vehicle over the Alcan Highway, or take a vehicle on the Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS) ferry.  To drive the ALCAN Highway or take a vehicle on the AMHS ferry, members must have a reservation prior to departing the old PDS.  The TMO or member calls the AMHS reservations office in Seattle, WA for rates, schedules and booking information.  After confirmation, AMHS will fax to the TMO the confirmation number; a list of all charges, to include the cost for the vehicle, travel cost for the member and command-sponsored dependents, if applicable; scheduled departure date and time; and arrival date and time in Alaska.

For members departing Goodfellow AFB who wish to take a vehicle on the AMHS ferry, the member calls the AMHS office direct to obtain a reservation.  When the TMO office receives the confirmation number and booking, the information is provided to the member to take to finance to obtain an advance operating allowance to cover the cost of the ferry.  

The applicant’s statement that when he called the ferry company he was informed the earliest he could arrive in Alaska via the ferry would be 6 November 2002 is not supported by the facts.  On 26 September 2002, the applicant departed Goodfellow AFB on leave with a RNLTD to Elmendorf AFB of 21 October 2002.  During this period, AMHS ferry had sailing dates departing the Seattle, WA area and arriving in Haines, AK the port of discharge, on the following dates:

     Departing 27 Sep 02	arriving 30 Sep 02
     Departing 04 Oct 02	arriving 07 Oct 02
     Departing 11 Oct 02	arriving 14 Oct 02
     Departing 18 Oct 02	arriving 21 Oct 02

Members who wish to transport a vehicle via the AMHS ferry must have the authorization included in their PCS orders.  The applicant’s orders do not contain the authorization to transport a POV via the AMHS ferry.  Members must obtain reservations for the ferry prior to departing their origin base.  The applicant did not obtain reservations prior to departing Goodfellow AFB.  When members wish to travel via ferry, they are not authorized airline tickets for air travel.  The applicant was issued airline tickets prior to departing his origin base.  The TMO at Goodfellow AFB states the applicant discussed travel by POV via the AMHS ferry with them but decided against it and requested an airline ticket.  On 23 September 2002, they issued airline tickets for the applicant to travel from Los Angeles, CA, his leave address, to Anchorage, AK on 21 October 2002.  At the time he departed his origin base, it is clear to ECAF that he did not intend to travel to Alaska via the AMHS ferry.  The applicant requested and received airline tickets; therefore, he was not entitled to surface transportation via the ferry.  The JPPSO-SAT/ECAF evaluation is at Exhibit C.
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APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

A copy of the Air Force evaluation was forwarded to the applicant on 25 April 2003 for review and comment (Exhibits D).  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.  Insufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate the existence of probable error or injustice.  After reviewing the evidence of record, the Board is not persuaded that the applicant has been the victim of an error or injustice.  The applicant’s PCS orders did not authorize transportation of his POV via the AMHS ferry.  In addition, the applicant was issued and accepted an airline ticket prior to departing his origin base.  Had he indicated he wished to ship his POV via the AMHS ferry, he would have had to have a reservation prior to departing his origin base, accompany his POV, and he would not have been issued an airline ticket.  The applicant asserts that the POV shipping process had not been thoroughly explained to him.  However, other than his own assertions, he has provided no evidence that would lead us to believe the TMO counselor provided misleading or inaccurate information.  In this regard, we agree with the opinion and recommendation of the Air Force office of primary responsibility and adopt their rationale as the basis for our conclusion that the applicant has not been the victim of an error or injustice.  Therefore, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, we find no compelling basis to recommend granting the relief sought in this application.

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THE BOARD DETERMINES THAT:

The applicant be notified that the evidence presented did not demonstrate the existence of material error or injustice; that the application was denied without a personal appearance; and that the application will only be reconsidered upon the submission of newly discovered relevant evidence not considered with this application.

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The following members of the Board considered this application in Executive Session on 18 June 2003, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603:

	Vice Chair
	Member
	Member

The following documentary evidence for AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2003-00430 was considered:

     Exhibit A.  DD Forms 149, dated 21 Jan 03.
     Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
     Exhibit C.  Letter, JPPSO-SAT/ECAF, dated 16 Apr 03.
     Exhibit D.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 25 Apr 03.

                                  
                                  Vice Chair