Travel to Duty Stations

[sunshine73]

Several sailors from my sons PIR group are moving on to their fist duty stations and I am hearing so many horror stories. Two sailors that have driven and have followed the rules exactly not getting reimbursed. Two who have had flights scheduled by the Navy for the wrong day and have had to pay the difference. These change fees were over $700. Do any of you have suggestions or ideas on how to avoid this? My son will be going to Hawaii in a couple of months after his C school and I know several of your sailors are about to make their journeys.

[michemom (ship3div087)]

I am going to follow this too!!!!  My daughter was in school with Sunshine73's son and will be reporting to Hawaii after C School as well.  HELP US!!

[idahojeep]

My kids are having the same issue in Pensacola.  Staff there made plane reservations from P'Cola to Yokosuka but they are coming home for 3 weeks first and need to fly out of Spokane, WA to Yokosuka.

[idahojeep]

My kids said they told the staff ahead of time they were coming home first but that did no good.

[Dee (CTI3 Spencer&Erin)]

My son had to fly out of one of the airports near his A school even though he was coming home between it and his duty station.  They didn't care.  So, I had to buy him a ticket back down to the Bay area to then connect to his flight to Hawaii.  A ticket from Seattle would have been so much easier but oh well.  At least he got to come home and visit first!

[Susan R]

The military........no matter which branch plans for and pays for the transportion between duty stations only.......all side trips are at the members expense.

It was that way when my husband was in 30+ yrs ago and he went from Colorado to S.E Asia with thirty days leave enroute, he paid to come back to Ohio and the difference to SanFran when he had to go.

As for driving..........the military allows only so many miles a day for safe travel ( I think it is only 300 or so, very low number), if they arrived and reported in early they will lose out on some travel pay/money, they also need to make sure they had receipts to cover all their expenses when they submit the paperwork.There should be P.O in their new units assigned to help get them squared away that can help them with the paperwork.

 If the Navy truely screwed-up their flights that badly they needed to report that before they handed over the cash, I am sure if they had contacted someone at the nearest recruiting center or MEPS center, the Navy would have taken care of any error they made.

[idahojeep]

I and my sons have found that the sailor needs to speak up for themselves.  Navy isn't going to check it out for them.  My one kid told me last night in a brief conversation that their problem is worked out and they are good to go.

[Craig]

All - As you know I see things way different than you guys.  There is always two sides to a coin, and this is what I think is happening...

I thing the sailors are causing these "horror stories" because they are not following the orders that are given to them.  Just guessing here, but it appears they are trying to do stuff without getting the SATO office involved.  They appear to be making their own travel arraigments, which they are prohibited to do.  Did they tell SATO they were going to use a POV?  Did they tell them they were shipping a car?  Did they tell them they were taking leave?  These are offical orders, you just can't make your own changes without notify them.

I know I've had to counsel so many of my guys because they "thought" they were saving the Navy money, when it fact they were costing the Navy alot of money.  Here why...  Suppose the Navy books you a flight from Pensacola to Hawaii and you see the ticket cost the Navy $3500.00.  They look at Expedia and find the same exact flight for $1200.  So they book it, "because they are saving the Navy money".  Then they try to get reimbursed and the Navy says "No".  Why?  Because on their orders they can't do that. It a violation of their orders. 

Secondly, the price shown on the ticket, and what is actually paid is totally different.  Example, if the Navy did buy that ticket for $3500,  They will have a receipt showing $3500.   But, SATO gives they a rebate of $2600.  So the true net cost is only $900 (just like a rebate).  So the sailor that tried to save money is actually costing the Navy money because instead of paying $900, they now pay the sailor $1200.  It's all a paperwork drill.  

Back when I was in, they waivered this and didn't make the sailor pay the difference, but I was required to counsel them on violating orders, and encouring debts to the Navy.  Which is not a good way to show yourself to your new command.

It sounds like the Navy is getting smarter and now making the sailor pay for their mistake, which is great!  They should.  

You do that enough times, you'll learn to read your orders.

If the sailor truly thinks he got screwed then he needs to run a chit up the chain to ask for reembursement.  However, the best have their ducks in a row, they best have already filed a travel claim, and noted everything (ie the time they called SATO).  

Just my thoughts....

Here is what the orders say....

[sunshine73]

Thanks, as always, Craig! I will tell him to make sure he stays in close contact with the SATO office. His orders do not have a specific report date. Something about the ending date of his C school being unknown at this point? He only had a week between A school and C school (so he didn't come home) and we are hoping that he can come home before he goes to Hawaii. He has at least another month, possibly 2 months, does he need to start talking to them now?

[Wendi, CTR mom]

My daughter came home after A school and had to pay the difference on flights. She paid for the Pensacola to Sacramento (the cheaper part of the flight) and let the Navy pay for the flight to Hawaii