Permanent Change of Station Travel Training

1. Permanent Change of Station Travel Training Bill Tirrell, Chief of Travel & Transportation Branch PDTATAC Division GSA Expo June 9 – 11, 2009

2. Caveats • Material included in this brief is current BUT is subject to change • Do NOT use this brief as the basis of any decision; consult the appropriate reference in the Joint Travel Regulations (JTR) or Joint Federal Travel Regulations (JFTR) for the most current information • “If you can’t stand the answer, don’t ask the question.” ~ Ed Brennan, State Department • PDTATAC website can now be found at: http://www.defensetravel.dod.mil/perdiem

3. Overview • JFTR, Volume 1 - not applicable to DoD civilian employees • DoD civilian employees follow the regulations of authority whose appropriations pay for the travel (except for ‘Fly America’) • Service regulations supplement the JTR, but cannot authorize expenditures that are not allowed in JTR • JTR available at: http://www.defensetravel.dod.mil

4. JTR and JFTR Basics • JTR/FTR and JFTR are NOT guidance; have the force and effect of law • NoJTR or JFTR waivers • Location of TDY, not hotel, determines per diem locality and rate (with a very rare exception) • Just because JTR (or JFTR) does not specifically state that you cannot do something, does NOT mean that you can (JTR, par. C1050-A and JFTR, par. U1000) • Said differently: The regulations tell users what they can do; find where the regulations say you can do something • JTR & JFTR Appendices • A must-readif dealing with DoD civilian employees (and Uniformed Personnel), travel and transportation allowances

5. JTR and JFTR Basics (continued) • Link to JTR & JFTR is posted on DTMO website • Find additional information including: • Several links to other sites • Frequently asked questions on a variety of relocation/PCS and business travel/TDY subjects • CURRENT world-wide per diem rates (including for U.S. Installations) • Service representative phone numbers (DoD civilian employees/Uniformed Personnel) http://www.defensetravel.dod.mil/perdiem

6. PCS Allowances Comparison – DoD Civilian Employees vs. Uniformed Personnel • General information (JTR & JFTR, Chs 5, Part A) • Travel (paid differently) • New POC mileage rate set by GSA was effective January 1, 2009 ($.24/mile) • Same per diem rate for POC travel ($109/day) • JTR & JFTR Chs 5, Parts B • DoD civilians paid ‘Lodgings-Plus’; Uniformed Personnel paid ‘flat rate’ • House Hold Goods (HHG) • Varying weights and more options for Uniformed Personnel • JTR & JFTR, Chs 5, Parts D

7. PCS Allowances Comparison (continued) • Dependent travel and transportation • Paid differently • Same per diem rate used for POC travel ($109/day) • JTR & JFTR, Chs 5, Parts C • Miscellaneous Expense Allowance (MEA) vs. DLA • Paid differently; different payment ceilings • JTR & JFTR, Chs 5, Parts G • POV shipment • No optional storage DoD civilian employees • JTR & JFTR, Chs 5, Parts E • House hunting trips at government expense • For DoD civilian employees only (JTR, Ch 5, Part M) • Uniformed Personnel at ‘no cost’ to government

8. PCS Allowances Comparison (continued) • Temporary lodging and meal expenses at previous and/or new permanent duty stations • Paid differently for DoD civilians and Uniformed Personnel; paid differently within Uniformed Services • DoD civilians: TQSE(AE) or TQSE(F) • JTR, Ch 5, Part H; TQSA per State Dept regs - DSSR • In CONUS TQSE(AE) is based on standard CONUS per diem - This is important! • TLE CONUS (48 & DC) vs. TLA overseas • TLE and TLA computations in JFTR • JFTR, Ch 5, Part H for TLE and JFTR, Ch 9, Part C for TLA • Leave travel between overseas assignments • Similar • RAT & COT/ IPCOT; JTR, Ch 5, Part K & JFTR, par. U7200

9. PCS Allowances Comparison (continued) • Leave travel while overseas • Both DoD civilian employees and Uniformed Personnel now have FEML and R&R travel in designated locations • Similar • JTR, Ch 7, Parts N & O; JFTR, pars. U7207 and U7300; JTR/JFTR, APPs S and U • Buy or sell residence/property management • DoD civilian employees only • JTR, Ch 5, Parts P and Q • Taxes on PCS travel/transportation allowances • DoD civilian employees PCS allowances significantly taxed; Uniformed Personnel PCS allowances not taxed • JTR, Ch. 5, Part N, FTR; DODFMR • For references, see the FAQ #36 posted on website

10. Frequently Asked Questions • I’m civilian employee (or Uniformed Personnel) with no dependents. I get a smaller HHG weight allowance (Uniformed) and less MEA or DLA than a civilian employee (or Uniformed Personnel) who has dependents. Why? • Why can’t I ship two POVs at the government’s expense? • Why won’t the government pay for a rental car while I’m waiting for my POV to be delivered? • Why are Uniformed Personnel reimbursed for baggage tips at airport but not civilian employees? • Why don’t I, as a civilian employee, get a 10% packing material allowance for paper and cardboard boxes like Uniformed Personnel?

11. Conclusion • A traveler’s greatest need is correct and timely information • Travelers should be informed by knowledgeable personnel using JTR/FTR/DSSR or JFTR, and Service implementing regulations • JTR implements FTR (and DSSR, in part) for DoD civilian employees • JFTR is statutory regulation for Uniformed Services • PDTATAC Division is required to review “all written material” implementing JFTR and/or JTR (DODD 5154.29) • Read Appendix A in JTR and JFTR! • Refer contractor questions to the CORs and Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR)

12. Additional Information • Website: http://www.defensetravel.dod.mil/perdiem • Service points of contact: http://www.defensetravel.dod.mil/perdiem/phdir.html • Contact the PDTATAC Division: PDTATAC@dtmo.pentagon.mil

13. Back Up Slides

14. PCS Allowances Comparison

15. PCS Allowances Comparison (continued)

16. PCS Allowances Comparison (continued)