Per Diem

[delicatefade]

I've got a question for anyone out there familiar with West Point. I just finished up an ADT at Keller ACH. My orders state that I am supposed to use gov't quarters (which I am told is the 5 Star Inn where I am staying) and gov't mess. When I came here I was told there was no government mess, so I was assuming that I would get per diem every day.

My orders state that if these are not available I am supposed to get a "non-available control number".

Well, I was stupid and waited until now (my last day) to try to take care of this. I called the 5 Star Inn and asked them where I can get the control number. She said that she could have given me one for lodging if they had not been able to accomodate me, but she didn't know where I could get the control number for gov't mess non-availability. She suggested I contact the MP station.

I called the MP's and was snarkily informed by some specialist that there IS a chow hall on post, right next to the MP station. He didn't know who could give me a non-available control number anyway.

So I think I'm f'd. Even if there IS a chow hall here, if you're familiar with the post, it is NO WHERE NEAR the hospital, and with the early/late/variable hours I was working I'm not sure how I was supposed to get over there for meals anyway especially when we were taking 15 minute lunch breaks in between cases in the OR.

But just in case, does anyone know who ACTUALLY gives the non-available control numbers out for meals at West Point??? I was originally told I could get them from "billeting" but it turns out that billeting is the 5 Star Inn. I'm not sure what to do at this point, and I think I'm going to miss out on per diem which is probably over $1000.

Thanks

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[delicatefade]

Actually, now that I think about it I wonder if I'm thinking about this totally wrong.

Last year, at OBC, we stayed on base for free and were given a card to eat meals M-F for free at the DFAC. We got per diem for weekends.

When I read "use of gov't quarters and mess is directed" I was assuming that it would mean the same thing (no out of pocket cost). When I got here, I found out that I do have to pay for the 5 Star Inn, but I'm assuming I'll get reimbursed for it when I submit the receipt with my travel voucher.

So, am I correct in assuming that even though there was a DFAC on post (and a cafeteria in the hospital if that's the same thing), I would have had to pay for that as well and therefore I should still get the per diem???

Thanks - I can't stand how vaguely they word everything in the military.

 

[DaveB]

From my past experience, you get a "non-available control number" from the BOQ, and that lets you stay elsewhere and get reimbursed for it. Keep your housing receipts and send them in with your travel voucher. You can also keep receipts for things like dry cleaning, ATM fees and whatnot. There is a whole list of things you can get reimbursed for. Keep gas receipts, and keep track of milage if you're using your own car. As far as the chow thing goes, I never got any sort of number for that..... I just ate wherever and eventually some per diem showed up in my bank account. Its usually pretty generous and will more than cover what you'll spend. No receipts necessary.

 

[delicatefade]

Thanks - didn't know about the gas reimbursement so I'll submit those receipts too.

 

[Monty Python]

Thanks - didn't know about the gas reimbursement so I'll submit those receipts too.

If your orders authorize use of POV (privately owned conveyance) you'll be reimbursed flat-rate mileage at the currently IRS deduction rate of 0.445 cents/mile. Just put that mileage on your travel voucher - no need to submit gas receipts.

Generally, your travel expense reimbursement is completely dependent on the wording in your orders. If your orders state "gov't billeting and messing available" you must utilize those facilities, or you won't get reimbursed for going elsewhere (i.e., Holiday Inn).

If they state gov't facilities are NOT available in the orders, that's your ace card to stay wherever you want and eat wherever you want, and you'll get reimbursed up to the per diem rate for that locality. For instance in the boonies you'll get ~$55-60/day for hotel and ~$33/day for meals. In New York City it's ~$250/day for hotel and ~$65/day for meals. Spend less on meals and you pocket the difference. Spend more and the difference is out of your pocket.

The only receipts you generally need to attach to your travel voucher are hotel/billeting, rental car (must be authorized in your orders for reimbursement) and gas for the rental car. No need to submit meal receipts. Either you receive the off-base food allowance, or the on-base allowance of ~$9/day if you live on-base and eat all three meals in a gov't cafeteria.

If your orders say gov't quarters are available, and turns out they're not, you must obtain a CNA number (Certificate of Non-Availaiblity) or form, to attach to your travel voucher. That authorizes payment of off-post hotel expenses.