Docket No. 2515-20 Ref: Signature Date From: Chairman, Board for Correction of Naval Records To: Secretary of the Navy Subj: REVIEW OF NAVAL RECORD ICO , XXX-XX Ref: (a) Title 10 U.S.C. § 1552 (b) Joint Travel Regulations 2019 Encl: (1) DD Form 149 w/attachments (2) Subject’s naval record 1. Pursuant to the provisions of reference (a), Subject, hereinafter referred to as Petitioner, filed enclosure (1) with the Board for Correction of Naval Records (Board), requesting that his naval record be corrected to authorize reimbursement for airfare cost during Permanent Change of Station travel for Petitioner and authorized dependents. 2. The Board, consisting of , reviewed Petitioner’s allegations of error and injustice on 19 November 2020 and, pursuant to its regulations, determined that the corrective action indicated below should be taken on the available evidence of record. Documentary material considered by the Board consisted of the enclosures, relevant portions of Petitioner’s naval record, and applicable statutes, regulations and policies. 3. The Board, having reviewed all the facts of record pertaining to Petitioner's allegations of error and injustice, finds as follows: a. Before applying to this Board, Petitioner exhausted all administrative remedies available under existing law and regulations within the Department of the Navy. b. In accordance with reference (b), an AO may direct a traveler to use Government transportation, such as a plane, ship, or bus over a usually traveled route (see transportation computation example). When a traveler does not use the directed mode, reimbursement is not allowed. c. On 23 January 2019, Petitioner was issued official change duty orders (BUPERS order: 0239) from . Petitioner’s 3 dependents were authorized to travel. Government air/government-procured air was directed. d. On 2 July 2019, CWT Sato Travel issued Petitioner ($1,009.20) itinerary/tickets effective 6 August 2019 from with an arrival date of 7 August 2019. e. On 2 July 2019, CWT Sato Travel issued Petitioner’s dependents ($2,142,60) itinerary/tickets effective 6 August 2019 from , with an arrival date of 7 August 2019. f. On 7 July 2019, Petitioner transferred from . g. On 9 July 2019, issued Petitioner ($228.30) and his family ($684.90) an itinerary/tickets effective 6 August 2019 from with an arrival date of 6 August 2019. h. On 9 July 2019, United Airlines issued Petitioner ($603.00) and his family ($1,689.10) an itinerary/tickets effective 7 August 2019 from with an arrival date of 8 August 2019. i. From 13 July 2019 to 31 July 2019, Petitioner was attached to for temporary duty. j. From 31 July 2019 to 15 August 2019, Petitioner was attached to for temporary duty. k. On 24 August 2019, Petitioner arrived to for duty. l. On 15 November 2019, notified the that the Petitioner was authorized by the JTR to procure commercial airfare for himself and his dependents. Due to logistical hardships during his permanent change of station, he was unable to use the airline tickets reserved by the Navy Passenger Transportation Office (NAVPTO) and those tickets were cancelled by the command. Request that member be reimbursed up to the cost of the government fare. m. On 29 November 2019, Far East Asia representative notified Petitioner’s PDS that The letter attached from previous Commanding Officer is not valid as only the Orders Authorizing Official (AO) can grant this request in the form of an ORDMOD and for PCS Orders the AO is BUPERS. Additionally JTR 0202027 does not apply in this case. Per JTR 020208, if the AO directs a traveler to use Government transportation and the traveler does not use the directed mode, reimbursement is not allowed. Without an ORDMOD authorizing to self-procure transoceanic travel he is not authorized reimbursement. n. The , authorized no reimbursement of $2,292.80 on travel that commenced on 7 August 2019, from . CONCLUSION Upon review and consideration of all the evidence of record, and especially in light of the contents of enclosure (2) and reference (b), the Board finds the existence of an injustice warranting the following corrective action. The Board determined that Petitioner attempted to arrange travel through SATO, but was unable to change the departure city of his family to match his. Petitioner was advised that he could procure the tickets himself and that the command would cancel the old itinerary. Petitioner did so with the understanding he would be reimbursed for only up to the cost of the cancelled tickets. The Board concluded that Petitioner and his dependents were entitled to travel at government expense and should be reimbursed for the cost of the original SATO itinerary. RECOMMENDATION That Petitioner’s naval record be corrected, where appropriate, to show that: Petitioner was issued official change duty orders (BUPERS order: 0239) modification to read: Commercial transportation authorized” on 6 July 2019. Note: Petitioner is advised to resubmit his travel claim, orders, receipts, and a copy of this Board of Correction of Naval Records (BCNR) decision letter to his servicing Personnel Support Detachment for re-adjudication. Petitioner authorized reimbursement for commercial transportation cost limited to the amount the Government would have paid if the arrangements had been made directly through a TMC. Transaction fees are not reimbursable. Settlement of travel claim is chargeable to the line of accounting on the Petitioner’s BUPERS order: 0239. A copy of this Report of Proceedings will be filed in Petitioner’s naval record. 4. It is certified that a quorum was present at the Board’s review and deliberations, and that the foregoing is a true and complete record of the Board’s proceedings in the above-entitled matter. 5. Pursuant to the delegation of authority set out in Section 6(e) of the revised Procedures of the Board for Correction of Naval Records (32 Code of Federal Regulations, Section 723.6(e)), and having assured compliance with its provisions, it is hereby announced that the foregoing corrective action, taken under the authority of the reference, has been approved by the Board on behalf of the Secretary of the Navy.