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.