RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
         AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS


IN THE MATTER OF:                       DOCKET NUMBER:  02-00784
                                        INDEX CODE 128.14
                                        COUNSEL: No

                                        HEARING DESIRED: No


_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

He 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 Maxwell AFB, AL to Altus AFB,
OK with a Permissive Temporary Duty (PTDY) to Seattle, WA.

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

He was not aware  that  reimbursement  would  not  be  authorized  for
tickets procured outside the TMO.  He  purchased  tickets  himself  in
good faith and should not be penalized with this expense.

The applicant’s complete submission is Exhibit A.

_________________________________________________________________

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The applicant is currently serving in the Regular  Air  Force  in  the
grade of 1st lieutenant.

Based on the documents supplied by the applicant (Exhibit A)  and  the
Air Force (Exhibit B), it appears he departed his  home  in  Lakewood,
WA, on 30 Sep 01 and took  private  transportation  to  Seattle/Tacoma
International Airport, WA. From there he went to Atlanta Airport,  GA,
via a government travel voucher.  He then boarded a charter  bus  that
delivered him to Maxwell AFB, AL, on 1 Oct 01 where he participated in
Officer Training School (OTS) for 12 weeks.

On 26 Nov 01, he was assigned to  the  97th  Contracting  Squadron  at
Altus AFB, OK, with a report no-later-than (NLT) date of 15 Jan 02. On
21 Dec 01, he took a taxi from Maxwell AFB,  AL,  to  Montgomery,  AL,
airport ($25.00) and flew on a personally procured ticket ($425.50) to
Seattle to participate in the Recruiter Assistance  Program  (RAP)  in
PTDY status. Members are not charged  leave  when  they  are  in  PTDY
status; however, there are no travel entitlements associated with PTDY
or RAP.  On 14 Jan  02,  he  flew  from  Seattle/Tacoma  International
Airport, WA, on a personally procured ticket ($486.50) to Lawton,  OK,
and private transportation to Altus AFB, OK.

He filed a TDY voucher on 22 Jan 02 and was reimbursed $25.00 for  the
taxi on 21 Dec 01.

In accordance with Change #184, effective  1  Feb  02,  to  the  Joint
Federal Travel Regulations (JFTR), Chapter 3, paragraph  U3110B,  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 (Exhibit B).

_________________________________________________________________

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

HQ USAF/ILGT contends that although Change #184 was not in  effect  at
the time of the applicant’s travel, the purpose for this  JFTR  change
is to grant the travel entitlement when individuals self-procure their
travel and reduce the  number  of  AFBCMR  cases.   They  advised  the
applicant claimed in telephone conversations that he was unaware there
is  no  travel  entitlement  when  performing  RAP  duties.  Had   the
government purchased the applicant’s travel from Maxwell AFB,  AL,  to
Altus AFB, OK, the constructed commercial transportation cost, General
Services Administration (GSA) City  Pair  Program  costs  would  total
$341.00. The applicant was reimbursed for the $25.00 taxi charge on 21
Dec 01. They estimate taxi expense from Lawton Airport, OK,  to  Altus
AFB, OK, would be $25.00.  They recommend the applicant be  reimbursed
at the GSA rate for airfare in the amount of  $341.00  and  $25.00  in
estimated surface transportation, for a total of $366.00.

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

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

The 26 Jul 02 SAF/MRBR cover letter forwarding a complete copy of  the
evaluation to the  applicant  advised  him  that  the  Air  Force  was
recommending approval. However, the  relief  recommended  by  the  Air
Force is partial, not full.

_________________________________________________________________

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 new to the  Air
Force, had little or no prior PCS experience,  and  was  not  properly
counseled regarding PCS travel entitlements.  At  the  time  he  self-
procured his ticket, Change #184  to  the  JFTR  was  not  in  effect.
However,  we  believe  the  policy  at  that  time,  which   precluded
reimbursement for self-procured official travel from  a  source  other
than a TMO, was an irritant and detracted from morale  and  retention,
especially when new members were provided  no  guidance  or  erroneous
information.  While the Air Force recommends some reimbursement  based
on the approved GSA program, we believe the applicant,  who  acted  in
good faith, is  entitled  to  full  reimbursement  for  the  costs  he
actually incurred for official travel, including the  $25.00  for  his
taxi. However, we  note  that  enroute  to  his  PCS  destination  the
applicant apparently also took PTDY to Seattle to participate  in  the
RAP. Since there are no travel entitlements associated  with  PTDY  or
RAP, he should not be reimbursed  for  that  portion  of  his  airline
tickets.  Therefore, we recommend the applicant's 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 on 20 September 2001,
competent authority authorized him to self-procure commercial  airline
tickets from Maxwell AFB, AL,  to  Altus  AFB,  OK,  and  that  he  is
entitled to reimbursement for the expenses incurred for his personally-
procured official  transportation,  including  those  airline  tickets
purchased for official travel at commercial  rates  and  the  cost  of
surface transportation.

_________________________________________________________________

The following members of the  Board  considered  this  application  in
Executive Session on 4 November 2002, under the provisions of AFI  36-
2603:

                  Ms. Charlene M. Bradley, Panel Chair
                  Mr. Michael V. Barbino, Member
                  Mr. E. David Hoard, Member

All members  voted  to  correct  the  records,  as  recommended.   The
following documentary evidence relating to AFBCMR  Docket  Number  02-
00784 was considered:

   Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 25 Feb 02, w/atchs.
   Exhibit B.  Letter, HQ USAF/ILGT, dated 17 Jul 02, w/atchs.
   Exhibit C.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 26 Jul 02.




                                   CHARLENE M. BRADLEY
                                   Panel Chair



AFBCMR 02-00784




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 20 September
2001, competent authority authorized him to self-procure commercial
airline tickets from Maxwell AFB, AL, to Altus AFB, OK, and that he is
entitled to reimbursement for the expenses incurred for his personally-
procured official transportation, including those airline tickets
purchased for official travel at commercial rates and the cost of
surface transportation.





JOE G. LINEBERGER

Director

Air Force Review Boards Agency