Posted on Mar 5, 2020
Can you be "technically" forced to use your own POV to attend an NCOES school?
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I currently have two options to get to ALC. Flying there or driving my own POV. If I fly there, I will not be provided transportation to get my classes or designated areas and will have to rely on possible taxi cabs available. If I drive there, I will have my car for transportation but I will not be fully reimbursed for fuel cost (getting to the base and back to home station) or the maintenance required for me to while I'm there (oil change, tire rotation, etc.). Plus I run the risk of being late reporting if I have maintenance issues or getting into an accident enroute. I'm just trying to understand why is that if the Army is sending you to a school, why are they not providing you everything needed to get there and being reasonable about transportation on location to avoid being late and basically getting to where you need to go?
Is this a unit funded thing or big Army funded thing? S3 just basically tells me I'll get denied and will not give a reason because just like everything in the Army, "shut up and drive on". I've had buddies of mine attending these schools with their POVs with multiple flat tires, one of them had their cars totalled on the way back to home station (not their fault) and another did not report on time because of maintenance issues. I always see officers have no issue getting a TMP or some kind of transportation enroute based on my experience. Even ATRRS says that we may be allowed to get a rental but gets shot down everytime.
From Ft. Hood to Ft. Eustis is exactly 1,496 miles one way. That's a good amount of distance to cover, especially in your own POV.
Is this a unit funded thing or big Army funded thing? S3 just basically tells me I'll get denied and will not give a reason because just like everything in the Army, "shut up and drive on". I've had buddies of mine attending these schools with their POVs with multiple flat tires, one of them had their cars totalled on the way back to home station (not their fault) and another did not report on time because of maintenance issues. I always see officers have no issue getting a TMP or some kind of transportation enroute based on my experience. Even ATRRS says that we may be allowed to get a rental but gets shot down everytime.
From Ft. Hood to Ft. Eustis is exactly 1,496 miles one way. That's a good amount of distance to cover, especially in your own POV.
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NCOES
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Edited 4 y ago
Posted 4 y ago
Responses: 10
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No one is forcing you to use your POV, the Army is offering to fly you. It is generally discouraged to take your own POV to school. In fact, you would have to travel most of the trip on your personal leave if you choose to drive; only one day would be allowed for TDY for travel days. ATRRS always says you are allowed to get a rental unless it is expressly prohibited, such as in Ranger School. If your lodging is far away from your class then you are allowed to claim in and around mileage to the amount already prescribed in the ATRRS course catalog or by the school.
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Not sure what you are expecting. Once in site you will be housed and have no need for a POV or rental car. If you choose to drive instead of flying you will receive mileage, once on site you have the advantage of a POV. This is clearly on you.
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SSG (Join to see)
Well that's another thing. Let's say I do fly instead. The barracks is furthest away from where I have to attend my classes. Luckily from what I hear we do PT near the barracks but the only concern I have is if I do fly, why would the unit or whoever is charge of the finances say I can get reimbursed for using a taxi cab to get a ride from the barracks to the class building when there are virtually no cabs that quickly accessible for use? I even talked to a few previous and current school house instructors and they even say that if I were to travel on foot that I would not be able to make it on time to class, just solely based on where the TDY barracks are located. No student should be at fault for not being able to arrive to class on time if it's that difficult to go from the barracks and to your place of duty, without having some sort of transportation.
This technically forces the student to have to drive their own POV to the school house just to mitigate this issue.
This technically forces the student to have to drive their own POV to the school house just to mitigate this issue.
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CSM Darieus ZaGara
It appear as if you are relying on here say. I recommend you contact directly the Academy and ask the transportation queTion for movement to PT and class. As for taxis, that is an extension of your flight and part of your travel authorization, unles the organization/base provides transportation from the airport as many do. Contact the Academy. SSG (Join to see)
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MAJ Ken Landgren
It sounds like you are looking at it from a lose lose proposition. I always took my POV to army schools. It would totally suck ass if I had no POV at my TDY location. It's an easy decision to me if the school allows POVs.
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Mileage takes into account fuel and wear and tear on your vehicle. You will be paid for to/from mileage, but if rental car is not required you will not be paid for in/around.
You must use which ever travel option is the cheapest for the government. You must do a cost comparison worksheet if you are thinking about driving over 500 miles. If rental is required that is a huge advantage for you if you want to drive because how much rentals are over the duration of the school.
As far as your concern over break downs, how is it any different when you are at home? You could have a break down anytime, anywhere. If you're that stressed about it you should go to a wellness center and get some stress management classes.
You must use which ever travel option is the cheapest for the government. You must do a cost comparison worksheet if you are thinking about driving over 500 miles. If rental is required that is a huge advantage for you if you want to drive because how much rentals are over the duration of the school.
As far as your concern over break downs, how is it any different when you are at home? You could have a break down anytime, anywhere. If you're that stressed about it you should go to a wellness center and get some stress management classes.
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SSG (Join to see)
It's a combination of things. It is exactly 1,496 miles one way from Ft. Hood to Ft. Eustis. I've even talked to current and former school house instructors and they even tell me that if I were to travel on foot to the classrooms from the barracks, it is practically impossible to report on time due to where the TDY barracks is located vs the location of the school house. Not to mention, taxi cabs are virtually impossible to get when you need them there to be somewhere on time. Due to this, you are literally forced to drive your own car there just so you don't miss class.
Also, you shouldn't be at fault enroute to class in case a irresponsible driver or wild animal runs into your vehicle. Even my buddies that have gone to ALC and SLC all had issues like blown out tires, deer's slamming into their doors on the highway and even one totaling their vehicle enroute back to home station. A lot of that could be avoided if the unit was provided funds to fly students to their appointed bases for schools and provide a rental or even a TMP on that local post. I understand that if I drove my own POV that maintenance and what not is all on me. That's already given.
I'm not stressed about it. I understand it's no different than driving anywhere else may it be close or afar. I'm just trying to understand why sometimes the Army sends you somewhere important for your career but sometimes "half-asses" on getting you there. If I was still stationed at Ft. Bragg, I would have no problem driving my own vehicle to the school house as it's only about four and a half hours away. I mean, why give us the option to be allotted funds for cab fare on post when you're hardly going to be able to get a cab to begin with?
I'm currently overseas on a unit rotation and trying to head back stateside here soon but due to the COVID-19 outbreaks, it's getting difficult to arrange flights for a lot of people around here.
Also, you shouldn't be at fault enroute to class in case a irresponsible driver or wild animal runs into your vehicle. Even my buddies that have gone to ALC and SLC all had issues like blown out tires, deer's slamming into their doors on the highway and even one totaling their vehicle enroute back to home station. A lot of that could be avoided if the unit was provided funds to fly students to their appointed bases for schools and provide a rental or even a TMP on that local post. I understand that if I drove my own POV that maintenance and what not is all on me. That's already given.
I'm not stressed about it. I understand it's no different than driving anywhere else may it be close or afar. I'm just trying to understand why sometimes the Army sends you somewhere important for your career but sometimes "half-asses" on getting you there. If I was still stationed at Ft. Bragg, I would have no problem driving my own vehicle to the school house as it's only about four and a half hours away. I mean, why give us the option to be allotted funds for cab fare on post when you're hardly going to be able to get a cab to begin with?
I'm currently overseas on a unit rotation and trying to head back stateside here soon but due to the COVID-19 outbreaks, it's getting difficult to arrange flights for a lot of people around here.
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SGT(P) (Join to see)
LOL, I am stressed about it to 1SG,i am having the same predicament, but will manage it and use my POV!!! What you said does make sense. And yes the Army does offer you too fly you for free also. Having your own POV will be helpful in case you need a haircut, ASU cleaners etc. My car is old, this will be my excuse to by a new Truck or SUV after the school is over:)
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