RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2013-00556 COUNSEL: NONE HEARING DESIRED: NO ________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: She be reimbursed the cost of self-procured tickets for herself and two dependents for travel to her permanent change of station (PCS) assignment to Kenya via approved circuitous travel with a stopover, for leave en route, in London. ________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: 1. Upon receipt of approval for circuitous travel for her PCS to Kenya, she contacted the Commercial Travel Office (CTO) at her base to book flights for herself and two dependents. However the CTO representative told her that she must purchase her own tickets which would be reimbursed as long as the total cost was below the approved amount of $5,907.20 per person, which equaled $17,721.60. This guidance was in agreement with instructions on her PCS orders, which state, “Constructed cost of the normal route per authorized traveler is: ($5,907.20). Airman is authorized reimbursement of self-procured circuitous travel not to exceed the constructed cost of the normal route.” She believed the information was correct and did not keep a record of the names of the CTO individuals she spoke to. 2. They had originally planned to travel through Frankfurt and take leave in Germany, the approved circuitous travel route, and visit her brother and his family. However, her brother moved back to the United States unexpectedly in August, so she contacted her base to ask whether they still had to travel through Frankfurt if they were changing their leave destination. She was informed that once circuitous travel is approved the route no longer matters as long as it's under the approved budgeted price and leave is approved at that destination. She applied and received approval for leave in Italy and purchased airline tickets routing through London Heathrow. 3. She actually didn't fully understand the rules of circuitous travel and thought that they had to route through a “normal” connecting airport (ie.in London, Amsterdam, or Frankfurt) and then purchase tickets (without reimbursement) from that stopover location. She booked their flight through London to Nairobi expecting reimbursement for those flights. She then booked separate roundtrip flights from London to Genoa (expecting to not be reimbursed for these). This required overnight stays (going and returning) in London in order to make their connection. The flights were also from a different airport in London, thus, required expensive transport between Heathrow and Stanstedt. She later learned that the approval for circuitous travel included travel all the way through and that she should have booked flights from Dulles through Genoa (or Florence) to Nairobi. 4. The total ticket costs of $6,724.90 for the 3 tickets from Dulles to Nairobi with a stopover in London is well below their approved cost of $17,721.60, and she was instructed to self- procure tickets and submit for reimbursement after they arrived in Kenya. She feels very strongly that she should not be financially responsible for their airline tickets to PCS to Kenya on active duty orders. Especially since she followed the instructions she received from multiple active duty personnel which were in accordance with the instructions on her PCS order. In support of her request, the applicant provides a personnel statement, copies of her AF Form 899, Request and Authorization for Permanent Change of Station – Military, DD Form 1351-2, Travel Voucher or Subvoucher with summary, email correspondence and supporting documents. The applicant’s complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A. ________________________________________________________________ STATEMENT OF FACTS: The applicant is currently serving in the Regular Air Force in the grade of Major (Maj), O-4. The remaining relevant facts pertaining to this application are contained in the letter prepared by the appropriate office of the Air Force at Exhibit C. ________________________________________________________________ AIR FORCE EVALUATION: USAF/A1PA recommends partial approval. A1PA states that based on the applicant's case file and supporting documents they recommend concurrence with her request for reimbursement for the cost of procuring three plane tickets for herself and two dependents in support of her PCS travel, in an amount not to exceed the authenticated policy constructed amount included in her PCS orders, or what she paid, whichever is less, excluding the cost for round trip leave transportation. The maximum policy constructed amount for three travelers is $17,721.60. The applicant’s expense was $7,229.40 for three tickets. The total of $7,229.40 included leave travel costs of $504.50, which, if deducted, leaves an expense of $6,724.90. They recommend the applicant be reimbursed, $6,724.90, the amount she paid to self-procure three airline tickets from DC to London to Kenya. This amount is well below the constructed travel cost of $5,907.20 per person. The complete USAF/A1PA evaluation is at Exhibit C. ________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: A copy of the Air Force evaluation was forwarded to the applicant on 19 April 2013 for review and comment within 30 days (Exhibit D). To date, a response has not been received. ________________________________________________________________ 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 an error or an injustice warranting partial corrective action. We took notice of the applicant’s complete submission in judging the merits of the case and agree with the Air Force office of primary responsibility’s determination that the applicant should be reimbursed the amount she paid to self-procure three airline tickets for herself and dependents for travel to her permanent change of station (PCS) assignment excluding the cost of round-trip leave transportation. In this respect, we agree the applicant may not have been provided appropriate counseling concerning circuitous travel for her PCS assignment. Accordingly, we recommend her records be corrected as indicated below. ________________________________________________________________ THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT: The pertinent military records of the Department of the Air Force relating to APPLICANT, be corrected to show that competent authority approved: a. Prior approval to self-procure three airline tickets and use a non-US certified carrier for travel to her permanent change of station assignment. b. She be reimbursed, $6,724.90, the amount she paid to self-procure three airline tickets from Washington, D.C., to London, and to Kenya. ________________________________________________________________ The following members of the Board considered this application in Executive Session on 24 October 2013, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603: , Panel Chair , Member , Member The following documentary evidence was considered AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2013-00556: Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 28 December 2012, w/atchs. Exhibit C. Letter, USAF/A1PA, dated 15 April 2013. Exhibit D. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 19 April 2013. 1 2