RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
             AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF:      DOCKET NUMBER:  02-00190
            INDEX CODE:  128.02
            COUNSEL:  NONE

            HEARING DESIRED:  YES

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

He be reimbursed for the cost  of  an  airline  ticket,  self-procured,  for
official travel  from  El  Paso,  TX  to  Ronald  Reagan  National  Airport,
Arlington VA.
_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

He made a conscious, well-thought-out, good faith effort in the purchase  of
his ticket.  The DOD Claims Appeals Board decision denied his claim  on  the
grounds that he was erroneous or negligent in his actions, which is not  the
case.  He should not be subject to a  penalty  due  to  the  fact  that  the
Commercial Travel  Office  (CTO)  was  not  knowledgeable  on  this  subject
matter.  The Air Force prides itself on the ability  to  take  care  of  its
people and this situation is the antithesis  of  this  motto.   Justice  has
greater wisdom than what has been displayed.

In support of his application, he submits a copy of the DOD  Claims  Appeals
Board decision, a memorandum from his unit  financial  officer,  a  personal
statement, Travel order number TC-213,  passenger  airline  receipt,  travel
voucher and travel voucher summary.  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
lieutenant colonel and is assigned to Holloman AFB, NM.

Based on  travel  documents  provided  by  the  applicant  (Exhibit  A),  he
departed Holloman AFB, NM on 20 September 2000 and arrived in Cincinnati  OH
on personal leave on  the  same  date.  According  to  his  travel  voucher,
applicant was in a  leave  status  from  20  –  24 September  2000.   On  25
September 2000, he departed Cincinnati, OH and arrived at  Langley  AFB,  VA
via a Government-procured rental car. On  30  September  2000,  he  departed
Langley AFB, VA and arrived at Holloman AFB, NM on the same date.

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.

_________________________________________________________________

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

USAF/ILT recommends the application be  granted  for  the  constructed  cost
between authorized points (El Paso, TX to Ronald  Reagan  National  Airport,
Arlington, VA).  ILT states  that  for  the  Government  to  take  financial
responsibility for official travel without conflicting with the  applicant’s
desired route of travel to include the leave location  in  conjunction  with
official travel, applicant should be reimbursed $352.00.

The Air Force evaluation, with attachments, is at Exhibit C.
_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

Applicant states that  he  concurs  and  accepts  the  recommendation  of  a
$352.00 reimbursement.

_________________________________________________________________

THE BOARD CONCLUDES THAT:

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

2.  The application timely filed.

3.  Sufficient relevant evidence  has  been  presented  to  demonstrate  the
existence  of  error  or  injustice.   After   reviewing   the   applicant’s
submission and the evidence of record, we are persuaded that some relief  is
warranted.  We believe the policy  not  to  reimburse  personnel  for  self-
procured official travel from a  source  other  than  a  Traffic  Management
Office is an irritant and detracts from  morale  and  retention,  especially
when members are provided no guidance or  erroneous  information.   We  note
that the applicant took  leave  enroute  to  his  Temporary  Duty  (TDY)  to
Langley AFB, VA and should not be reimbursed for the portion of his  airline
ticket that pertains to personal  travel.   Therefore,  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 be  reimbursed  $352.00.   Therefore,  we  recommend  the
applicant’s records be corrected as indicated below.

4.  The applicant’s case is adequately documented and it has not been  shown
that a personal appearance with or without counsel will  materially  add  to
our understanding of the issue(s) involved.  Therefore, the  request  for  a
hearing is not favorably considered.

_________________________________________________________________

THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT:

The pertinent military records of the Department of the Air  Force  relating
to APPLICANT, be corrected to show that  on  19  September  2000,  competent
authority authorized him to self-procure commercial airline tickets from  El
Paso, TX to Ronald Reagan National Airport,  and  return,  and  that  he  is
entitled to reimbursement for the  expenses  incurred  for  his  personally-
procured official transportation in the amount of $352.00.

_________________________________________________________________

The following members of the Board considered this application in  Executive
Session on 5 March 2003, 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 was considered:

    Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 10 Jan 02 w/atchs.
    Exhibit B.  Letter, USAF/ILT, dated 13 Mar 02 w/atchs.
    Exhibit C.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 22 Mar 02.
    Exhibit D.  Letter, Applicant, 27 Mar 02.





                                   CHARLENE M. BRADLEY
                                   Panel Chair

AFBCMR 02-00190




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 XXXXXXXXXXX, be corrected to show that on 19 September 2000,
competent authority authorized him to self-procure commercial airline
tickets from El Paso, TX, to Ronald Reagan National Airport, and that he is
entitled to reimbursement for the expenses incurred for his personally-
procured official transportation in the amount of $352.00.








  JOE G. LINEBERGER

  Director

  Air Force Review Boards Agency