Some drilling reservists qualify for travel reimbursements

  • Published
  • By AFRC News Service
ROBINS AIR FORC BASE, Ga. --  Certain Air Force reservists who travel 150 miles or more from their homes to perform monthly drills may be eligible for round-trip travel reimbursements. Qualifying reservists include those displaced by Base Realignment and Closure actions and programmatic changes or those serving in critical Air Force specialties. They could receive up to $300 for each round trip taken after Aug. 14, 2008.
 
A memorandum signed Aug. 14, 2008, by Assistant Secretary of the Air Force Craig W. Duehring established the Air Force policy for Inactive Duty Training Travel Entitlements Outside of Normal Commuting Distance for eligible members. 

Only reservists who receive inactive duty for training drill pay are eligible for the pay under the following conditions: 

· They are qualified in a skill designated as a critically manned career fields. Officer career fields include, but are not limited to, rated operations staff officers (16G), civil engineers (32E) and clinical social workers (42S). Enlisted career fields include aviation resource management (1C0), operations intelligence (1N0) and safety (1S0). 

· They are assigned to an Air Force Reserve unit with a critical manpower shortage or in a pay grade with a critical manpower shortage. Officer career fields include operations commanders (10C), bomber pilots (11B), test pilots (11E) and fighter pilots (11F). Enlisted career fields include flight engineer (1A1), aircraft loadmaster (1A2), and airborne battle management (1A4). 

· They are assigned to a unit or position that is disestablished or relocated as a result of BRAC or another force structure reallocation. 

Under this policy, eligible reservists can be reimbursed for all travel expenses for each round-trip travel up to $300, not to exceed 12 IDT travel trips per calendar year. 

Actual costs of lodging, transportation and meals may be reimbursed. Receipts are required for lodging expenses claimed and any expenses of $75 or more. 

Reservists serving on Military Personnel Appropriate and Reserve Personnel Appropriation Man Day tours are not eligible to be reimbursed for their expenses. 

The legislation governing IDT travel reimbursement expires Dec. 31, 2010. 

For more information, unit reservists can contact their local Reserve military personnel flight. IMAs can contact their respective program manager or base individual mobilization augmentee administrator. Local Reserve finance offices also have information about the travel reimbursement.