Scheduling ADT to Hawaii, some questions...

[DD214_DOC]

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Hey guys,

I'm setting up an audition rotation at Tripler for later this year. Are flight arrangements setup for us, or do we set them up ourselves and get reimbursed for them?

Also, what if I wanted to fly first class? Will the military reimburse me for the economy price of the ticket and I eat the difference?

Lastly, since 9/11 we no longer fly in uniform if the military is paying, correct?

Thanks! Just wondering if I need to set this up myself or if they will do it for me.

 

[NavyFP]

Hey guys,

I'm setting up an audition rotation at Tripler for later this year. Are flight arrangements setup for us, or do we set them up ourselves and get reimbursed for them?

Also, what if I wanted to fly first class? Will the military reimburse me for the economy price of the ticket and I eat the difference?

Lastly, since 9/11 we no longer fly in uniform if the military is paying, correct?

Thanks! Just wondering if I need to set this up myself or if they will do it for me.

They will set them up for you.

 

[psychbender]

It should be taken care of for you. When you get your oders, it will include instructions to call Carlson-Wagonlit to set up travel arrangements. They will book your flight, and reserve your rental car, if authorized. Fly in civvies.

 

[colbgw02]

If you want to fly first-class, then get your ticket issued by Carlson-Wagonlit and use your own money or miles to upgrade.

Assuming that you don't get stuck in a military lodge, don't think you have to stay at the hotel chosen for you. They tend to stick students in a relatively crappy hotel by the airport. You can stay in any hotel you'd like, and many Waikiki hotels have military rates well below the DoD per diem. Of course, if you go over the per diem then that comes out of your pocket. With tourism down, you can even negotiate with the hotel about things like parking, which can be a substantial cost ($15-$20 per day).

 

[DH78]

Along this line- if you have a rotation in a mil hospital, the Army will pay for your travel to get there? This applies to Tripler, Brooke, etc?

What about lodging? Does the mil pay for room and board as well? This is a great line of questioning, and something I have wondered about myself. I don't mean to derail the post.

 

[psychbender]

Along this line- if you have a rotation in a mil hospital, the Army will pay for your travel to get there? This applies to Tripler, Brooke, etc?

What about lodging? Does the mil pay for room and board as well? This is a great line of questioning, and something I have wondered about myself. I don't mean to derail the post.

If the rotation is one of your ADTs (Active Duty for Training), then yes, they will pay for lodging. You call ahead to see if there is any room on-post, and if not, are given a statement of non-availability number, and told the per diem rate for that city. Then, you find a place to stay, collect your receipts and SNA, and submit them for reimbursement at the end of your rotation.

 

[notdeadyet]

If you're looking for hotels in Waikiki, check out the Hale Koa. It's an Armed Forces Recreation Center so the rates for military are the best you'll get on the beach.

 

[delicatefade]

Tip of the day:

WAIT to call for your lodging until about 2 days before you leave. They will most likely tell you there is nothing available and give you a statement of non-availability. Now you can stay on the economy (check the per diem rate to make sure you don't spend too much). My wife/daughter and I rented a condo on Waikiki beach for far less than the per diem allowed and we had covered parking and a full kitchen. Because I was staying on Waikiki beach, I got the med student coordinator at Tripler to authorize a rental car. I took the car to Tripler every day and wife/daughter walked to the beach.

Even though you wait until 2 days prior to call about lodging, go ahead and set up an alternate place to live. Waiting that long to call about the lodging sounds scary but it should not be. You have orders to Hawaii and they must put you up somewhere - if there is nothing at the lodge than you get to stay on the economy. If you call early enough, you'll be stuck at the lodge.

You're welcome.

 

[psychbender]

Tip of the day:

WAIT to call for your lodging until about 2 days before you leave. They will most likely tell you there is nothing available and give you a statement of non-availability. Now you can stay on the economy (check the per diem rate to make sure you don't spend too much). My wife/daughter and I rented a condo on Waikiki beach for far less than the per diem allowed and we had covered parking and a full kitchen. Because I was staying on Waikiki beach, I got the med student coordinator at Tripler to authorize a rental car. I took the car to Tripler every day and wife/daughter walked to the beach.

Even though you wait until 2 days prior to call about lodging, go ahead and set up an alternate place to live. Waiting that long to call about the lodging sounds scary but it should not be. You have orders to Hawaii and they must put you up somewhere - if there is nothing at the lodge than you get to stay on the economy. If you call early enough, you'll be stuck at the lodge.

You're welcome.

Definitely agree with this for all of your ADTs. Note: if you are given a statement of nonavailability, and therefore housed off-post, you should automatically be authorized for a rental car (call the student coordinator to make sure, then Carlson Wagonlit to make the reservation).

 

[colbgw02]

If you're looking for hotels in Waikiki, check out the Hale Koa. It's an Armed Forces Recreation Center so the rates for military are the best you'll get on the beach.

Not true. You can do better, even right next door at the Hilton. Also, the Hale Koa renovations are incomplete, so you're just as likely to get an old, crusty room as you are to get a new one.

 

[bogatyr]

I tried everything, but still got stuck in the BOQ at Schofield Barracks. I was assigned to someone else's rental car, who was a horrible driver and refused to believe that she would get reimbursed for fuel. So I wish you better luck than I had.

 

[notdeadyet]

Not true. You can do better, even right next door at the Hilton. Also, the Hale Koa renovations are incomplete, so you're just as likely to get an old, crusty room as you are to get a new one.

Boy, you got a deal. The Hilton on Kuhio is going for about $190/night these days; Hale Koa is $110 for junior officers.

Didn't know about the construction, though. That sucks.

And keep in mind, the drive from Waikiki to Tripler can get nasty if you hit traffic. Count on 15-20 minutes assuming you don't. And the price of parking in Waikiki racks up.

 

[colbgw02]

Boy, you got a deal. The Hilton on Kuhio is going for about $190/night these days; Hale Koa is $110 for junior officers.

Didn't know about the construction, though. That sucks.

And keep in mind, the drive from Waikiki to Tripler can get nasty if you hit traffic. Count on 15-20 minutes assuming you don't. And the price of parking in Waikiki racks up.

The Hilton has both the advantage and disadvantage of being subject to market demand. A few years ago, you would have been much better off at the Hale Koa than most other Waikiki hotels. With tourism down, you can negotitate with pretty much everyone except the Hale Koa, who could give a rat's *** about supply and demand. Even parking is on the bargaining table because - as you mentioned - it can be steep.

 

[delicatefade]

When I was there in 2007 the Hilton was giving rooms to HPSP students for the Hawaii per diem rate. Nice rooms.