A U.S. Navy memo launched this month outlines tips for sailors’ obligatory use of presidency journey cost playing cards.
The instruction was introduced by a NAVADMIN message directed towards service members touring for a everlasting change-of-station. They’re required to make use of the cardboard for journey bills similar to lodging, meals, and transportation, in line with the memo.
Pentagon coverage stipulates that the cardboard is for use by eligible Protection Division vacationers for “prices associated to official authorities journey,” the memo mentioned, which means “journey below official orders whereas performing duties pertaining to official authorities assignments,” similar to short-term obligation or everlasting change of station.
Journey advances won’t be handed out for sailors with the journey card, the memo mentioned, aside from these coping with nonconcurrent household journey or personally procured transfer advances. Sailors with the journey card are eligible for an advance of their dislocation allowance, an entitlement.
Service members who’re ineligible for the journey card may be paid a journey advance to cowl everlasting change-of-station prices.
Earlier than touring, sailors are required to confirm a zero-dollar steadiness on their journey card with their detaching company program coordinator, in addition to present contact data and confirm their journey card is about up to be used.
Company program coordinators are to make sure the sailor’s authorities journey cost card account is in everlasting change-of-station mission crucial standing 5 days earlier than the date of their authorized detachment.
The coordinators are additionally to make sure the account stays in PCS mission-critical standing whereas the sailor is touring.
As soon as sailors arrive at their new command, they’ve 5 days to fulfill with their command pay and personnel administrator and submit a journey voucher to make sure authorities journey cost card fee.
Cut up disbursement is obligatory for sailors utilizing the federal government journey cost card for everlasting change of station journey, and sailors are totally accountable for reimbursement of the journey card.
For break up disbursement, some journey card bills are despatched on to the journey card account, whereas the remainder of the reimbursement is deposited within the service member’s account. The service member can then use these funds to repay the journey card steadiness.
Energetic-duty, coaching and administration of the reserves, and chosen reservists executing lively obligation for operational help and officer recall PCS orders are permitted to make use of the federal government journey card.
The memo mentioned obligatory use of the cardboard doesn’t apply to these on accession, separation or retirement orders, or to others similar to Protection Division contractors, reservists serving to lively obligation models, particular person prepared reserve Navy personnel, or these ineligible for presidency journey cost playing cards.
Riley Ceder is a reporter at Navy Instances, the place he covers breaking information, felony justice, investigations, and cyber. He beforehand labored as an investigative practicum pupil at The Washington Submit, the place he contributed to the Abused by the Badge investigation.
