Posted on Nov 18, 2019
Can an Army unit force you to utilize a specific mode of travel when traveling somewhere on orders?
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I'm going on orders to Fort Bragg. I wanted to drive, but my unit is forcing me to fly. Driving costs less than flying would according to DTS. Can they do this?
Defense Travel System (DTS)
Travel
Soldiers
Orders
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 16
Yea. They can pretty much dictate. It's their funds. Probably someone took a look at a DRA and figured there is less risk in you flying in comparison to driving and would rather pay extra for the flight.
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If you are on orders to Bragg, whether it be for PCS or TDY, the unit has to account the distance needed to be traveled and the amount of travel days authorized. Per Army regulations, you are "not allowed" to drive more than 400 miles per day. If the total distance is greater than 400 miles, they would have to give you an extra travel day which may not be cost efficient, hence why 90% of CONUS PCS moves give you 2-3 days unless its to the west coast. TDY is almost always more cost efficient to fly the individual to the location.
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Yes, Government may specify mode, especially if there is a specific arrival time and there is not an authorization for in and around travel by government auto or POV. The purpose of travel (like a school) may specify NO POVs. What you can do is engage the travel approval authority from the DTS chain and show the lower constructive cost of POV travel Vice commercial air and commercial ground transport. If the answer is no, then it is no. Yes they can do that.
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Sure they can. Your orders authorize specific modes of travel.
Sometimes, like in certain trainings, they dont want you to have a vehicle.
Life happens. Drink water and carry on
Sometimes, like in certain trainings, they dont want you to have a vehicle.
Life happens. Drink water and carry on
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SGT (Join to see)
SSG(P) (Join to see) - “ They government wonders why we are in a deficit sir and this is a prime example. Make a soldier fly when it's cheaper for him to drive. And they won't even give me a rental to boot. Now I'm being forced to change my hotel room to a double and allow someone else in there...”
Well, all the money they overpay on your mode of travel, sounds as though they are more than recouping by not providing a rental and making soldiers double up in a room. I rarely defend the ridiculous of Army spending, but instances like this really aren’t the reason that the, “.. government wonders why we are in a deficit”.
One of the top pieces of advice that junior soldiers need to learn. When asking questions that start with, “Can the Army do....XYZ?” Just about always, and certainly almost every time, the answer is usually ‘yes’.
Another quality pro-tip. Gripe less. Listen more. Before even thinking, “I’m getting f*cked”, you need to ask yourself, “Even if I legitimately am, is this the hill I’m willing to die on?” Junior joes could save themselves so much angst and frustration by doing so.
Anyway, good luck at Bragg. As a last tip, I might not recommend making too much, if any, of an issue out of this situation while there. The Ft. Braggamites aren’t exactly known for soft compassion.
Best of luck.
Well, all the money they overpay on your mode of travel, sounds as though they are more than recouping by not providing a rental and making soldiers double up in a room. I rarely defend the ridiculous of Army spending, but instances like this really aren’t the reason that the, “.. government wonders why we are in a deficit”.
One of the top pieces of advice that junior soldiers need to learn. When asking questions that start with, “Can the Army do....XYZ?” Just about always, and certainly almost every time, the answer is usually ‘yes’.
Another quality pro-tip. Gripe less. Listen more. Before even thinking, “I’m getting f*cked”, you need to ask yourself, “Even if I legitimately am, is this the hill I’m willing to die on?” Junior joes could save themselves so much angst and frustration by doing so.
Anyway, good luck at Bragg. As a last tip, I might not recommend making too much, if any, of an issue out of this situation while there. The Ft. Braggamites aren’t exactly known for soft compassion.
Best of luck.
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SGT (Join to see)
SSG(P) (Join to see) - I have to ask. A day ago, you wrote, “And for the record, I'm not a CPL anymore because my unit doesn't have slots for CPLs”.
Did your unit open up CPL slots in the past 24 hours?
Did your unit open up CPL slots in the past 24 hours?
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You’re in the Army now. It doesn’t have to make sense. If they are giving you money to do the traveling, then do what you think is right. If your goal is to have your vehicle with at the next post, then drive. If they are not giving you money and you are expecting reimbursement then fly. If you don’t want reimbursement, then drive.
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yes, they can. However, I know of some who put in for leave before they had to report. They drove to their new duty station while on leave. Not a good idea as they did not receive travel pay to my knowledge. Be mindful of your leave time when you arrive to your new duty station. By making you fly their has to be a process in place to get your car to your new duty station you should inquire about the process before you depart.
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Why would they care? It seems to me that if your reporting date allowed for the time to drive, from wherever you started, they would have no say in how you got there.
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Yes, pull up the joint travel regulation. Even as a DA Civilian the organization can select our mode of travel.
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SSG(P) (Join to see), if you really want to drive then submit a cost comparison to whomever is your approval authority showing how driving is more advantageous rather than fly. Keep the Joint Travel Regulation in mind as you perform the exercise since it has to be well articulated and the cost benefits easily identified.
That been said, approval is not always guaranteed since the unit might have a reason to justify their decision regardless of savings.
That been said, approval is not always guaranteed since the unit might have a reason to justify their decision regardless of savings.
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Again, these are questions best answered by your chain of command. There are too many variables. Are you transferring to a Post with limited parking? Is having a POV detrimental to the mission? You may be deploying and not returning to the same location.
My answer: Yes they can.
My answer: Yes they can.
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