Posted on Apr 8, 2016
Are soldiers required to have a Government Travel Card?
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Is there a regulation that states a soldier MUST/IS REQUIRED to have a GTC in their possession. I don't want one, nor have an interest in obtaining such a card. I can understand if you are going to ask for a reimbursement but if I don't? Just a general question.
Army Regulations
Travel
TDY
Posted 8 y ago
Responses: 45
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http://www.defensetravel.dod.mil/site/govtravelcard.cfm outlines the policy.
"Use of the travel card is mandated by the Travel and Transportation Reform Act of 1998. DoD utilizes the Government Travel Charge Card Regulations to manage the GTCC program. The Military Services may further restrict/define this policy."
"Use of the travel card is mandated by the Travel and Transportation Reform Act of 1998. DoD utilizes the Government Travel Charge Card Regulations to manage the GTCC program. The Military Services may further restrict/define this policy."
The Government Travel Charge Card Program (GTCC) provides travelers with a safe, effective, convenient, and commercially available method to pay for expenses associated with official travel. The GTCC includes Individually Billed Accounts (IBAs) and Centrally Billed Accounts (CBAs).
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SSG (Join to see)
The GTC is good to have for when you go on TDY and now it's becoming a item you need to PCS. I never had a problem with getting paid in time to pay off my card but others have had this issue where there's no funds and they have to wait for months until they get paid
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SSG Stephen Arnold
Oh. 1998. That explains why I had no idea what a GTC is.
My last active duty ETS was in 1991, and ARNG in 1993.
My last active duty ETS was in 1991, and ARNG in 1993.
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Yes. The Memo from 1 JUN 2011 states:
All senior leaders, Soldiers, and Army civilian employees, who meet the eligibility requirements, will obtain an individually billed account (IBA) travel charge card and use it for all official travel related expenses. Use of the centrally billed travel account for airfare is restricted to those individuals ineligible for an IBA.
Your card will not be activated unless you are on orders and have been setup in the DTS system. This helps to prevents inappropriate use while outside travel instructions. It can still be misused during travel however.
http://asafm.army.mil/Documents/OfficeDocuments/FinancialOps/Guidances/tc/memos//iba-memo.pdf
All senior leaders, Soldiers, and Army civilian employees, who meet the eligibility requirements, will obtain an individually billed account (IBA) travel charge card and use it for all official travel related expenses. Use of the centrally billed travel account for airfare is restricted to those individuals ineligible for an IBA.
Your card will not be activated unless you are on orders and have been setup in the DTS system. This helps to prevents inappropriate use while outside travel instructions. It can still be misused during travel however.
http://asafm.army.mil/Documents/OfficeDocuments/FinancialOps/Guidances/tc/memos//iba-memo.pdf
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SSG Adam Reed
1SG (Join to see) - Does it matter how or why the system affected the SM's credit score negatively? My question is simple. Who fixes the credit score when the system and not the SM, fails?
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1SG (Join to see)
I didn't say it wouldn't be a headache or take a long time. It probably will. However, I have yet to see the government travel card negatively impacting a Soldiers credit unless the SM is irresponsible with the card.
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Lots of people complain about DTS and Travel Cards, but I found them to be great! When I was on active duty, we filed paper travel vouchers. It could be 2 to 10 pages of multi-copy forms completed by hand. Also a big pile of paper receipts to back up your claim. Then waiting 10 to 30 days to get a cash payment or a check in the mail. As an Army Civilian, I usually had TDY reimbursement in my bank account in less than a week. Big improvement.
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Lt Col Jim Coe
Used it for 6 years. Never had any impact on my credit. I carefully used the travel card exactly as the Gov't specified. The payment from DTS went to the credit car. I had two Army Civilians who worked for me. They traveled about 100 days a year each. Neither of them ever had a significant problem. (I was their "approver" so I saw all their travel requests and vouchers. I am a very careful approver and had them make corrections when necessary, but it wasn't a big deal.)
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SSG (Join to see)
Lt Col Jim Coe
In my guard unit it has taken over a year to be reimbursed upwards of $3,000 travel expenses. I am turning down a mission because they are requiring I pay for the airfare on my own credit, when the mission planning has been in motion for months! Nothing but lazy.
In my guard unit it has taken over a year to be reimbursed upwards of $3,000 travel expenses. I am turning down a mission because they are requiring I pay for the airfare on my own credit, when the mission planning has been in motion for months! Nothing but lazy.
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You can get a restricted card if you have bad credit. If your credit is fine, it doesn't go on your report unless you become 90+ days delinquent so it doesn't hurt you. A gov cc is required often by unit sop and the jtr in order to travel. It also has 0% interest and is very useful on a pcs or extended TDY. Just don't fall victim to misuse and the gov cc is something you want. Also if you are told to get one, it isn't an immoral or illegal order so it doesn't matter what any reg says, as I can promise you there isn't a reg saying not to get one.
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SSG Adam Reed
Your statement of "unless you become 90+ days delinquent" was how I got out of getting one. I proved to my leaders that each SM's credit can be affected and I told them I wouldn't get one because I didn't trust the system, whether it was the human side or the electronic side. For some strange reason they were being told that it doesn't effect credit scores. But they knew how jacked the system was, is, and will always be. When your credit depends on the accuracy of a flawed system why should it be allowed. Horror stories are all I hear about those cards. Especially when they don't get paid in time. Guaranteed the "system" gives two shits about your credit and if it doesn't pay the bill on time you as the individual gets in trouble. You even get a naughty boy letter from the same system that causes the problem in the first place.
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CPT Mark Gonzalez
Well like any system or order when time is available and you are able to present an argument maybe the supervisor will agree. However, as we all know the military is not a democracy.
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SSG Adam Reed
Your statement is true about the military not being a democracy. I 100% agree. And I 100% agree that is how it needs to be. But does that give it the right to force a flawed system onto its members. Especially the young SM's who can't afford to travel. Is this system and the non democratic organization it supports going to fix a SM's credit score when it flubs a payment. I think not. Instead the SM will get their naughty boy letter from the system and from their creditors. I used to get so irate when leaders would tell me that it was my SM's responsibility to make the payment. But wait a minute the system thinks the SM can't afford the travel cost and that's why they force card on them in the first place. But now they want him or her to hurry up and come up with the payment. When the system fails they throw it all back on the SM's shoulders. That is fact.
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Here is a link that talks about the GTC I hope this is what you are referring to. http://www.military.com/daily-news/2014/10/23/troops-issued-government-travel-cards-for-pcs-expenses.html
Troops Issued Government Travel Cards for PCS Expenses
Most troops moving to a new duty station will no longer be paying costs out of pocket, according to new guidance from the Department of Defense.
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MSG (Join to see)
SSG Reed you keep saying the system is screwed up can you go into more details what makes it screwed up? I am my Brigade's GTC APC and DTS Approver so maybe I can help understand some issues you may have experienced.
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SSG Adam Reed
Issues
1. The card doesn't get turned on and SM's are stranded.
2. Those who control the cards go on leave, don't tell anyone below them and SM's cards don't get paid.
3. Receipts get denied but the SM isn't told which delays the payment
4. Legit receipts get denied and the SM eats the cost.
5. Errors take to long to get fixed
6. And my biggest complaint but not my last.....the SM credit score does not get fixed because of these issues that were not his or her fault.
1. The card doesn't get turned on and SM's are stranded.
2. Those who control the cards go on leave, don't tell anyone below them and SM's cards don't get paid.
3. Receipts get denied but the SM isn't told which delays the payment
4. Legit receipts get denied and the SM eats the cost.
5. Errors take to long to get fixed
6. And my biggest complaint but not my last.....the SM credit score does not get fixed because of these issues that were not his or her fault.
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I remember the first Government Card. It was, wait for it, Diners Club. Then AMEX, and then whatever bank gets the contract. Lots of posts here that point to it as a "requirement". The only thing I'll ad is to make sure you get it turned on prior to heading out. I always used mine for the travel, lodging, and rental car. That way I'd have a split disbursement to pay the card with the per diem coming back my way. Made bookkeeping much easier. Another caution. Make sure you use it only for authorized purchases. I've seen the system is very harsh on misuse, even by accident. That extends to Civil Service as well. We've had interesting, but legit, charges doing work up in Alaska. Helo charter, zodiac repair, you name it. If there are going to be oddities, get it stated on your orders and you're good to go.
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I agree with most of the comments below. If you don't need it, then simply don't use it. However always smart to have for backup.
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If your told to have one, get it. You do not have to use it. Pick your battles
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SSG (Join to see)
You do have to use it for official travel costs when you have one. The number goes in your DTS profile and airfare is automatically billed to it.
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SSG Adam Reed
SSG (Join to see) - it is mandatory to have one, not to use one. Where they have the SM"s by the balls is that the average SM can't afford travel. So they ned up using the card. There were many times I didn't use it and no one slapped my hand for that.
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SGT (Join to see)
SSG Adam Reed just because you didn't use it and nobody yelled at you doesn't mean it's allowed. If I'm speeding and don't get pulled over, does that make it legal?
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All senior NCOs are required to have a GTC but you are not required to use it.
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I think if it were mandatory, soldiers would get them in basic or AIT. Even if you do get one you don't have to use it.
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