• Travel and Transportation

  USPHS Supplement To The Joint Federal Travel Regulations For Retirement Travel and Transportation

  Sample Memorandum- Request for Extension of Time Limit for Travel and HHG Transportation to Home of Selection (PDF, 13kb)

  The Joint Federal Travel Regulations (JFTR) contain basic statutory regulations concerning Uniformed Service members’ travel and transportation. These regulations have been interpreted to have the force and effect of law. There may be circumstances when payment of certain allowances is prohibited in JFTR. The absence of a prohibition does not imply or grant authority or permission for any action for which authority does not exist/is not explicitly allowed in the JFTR. All members of the active and Reserve Components, without regard to the Service to which assigned, are covered by JFTR.

  A member on active duty is authorized travel and transportation allowances to a home of selection (HOS) from the last permanent duty station (PDS) when retired. A member may select a home at one of the following: (1) at any place within the United States, or (2) the home of record outside the United States or the place outside the United States from which a member was initially called or ordered to active duty, or (3) any other place. However, if a member selects as his home a place other than a place described in clause (1) or (2) of the preceding sentence, the travel and transportation allowances authorized upon retirement may not exceed the allowances which would be payable if the place selected as his home were in the continental United States (i.e., the 48 contiguous States and the District of Columbia).

  Authorized locations for HHG transportation for retired members when retired include to or from non-temporary storage; storage in transit (limited); to home of selection; from last PDS; from a previous PDS; and from a designated place.

  Travel to a HOS must be completed within one year after active duty termination except when undergoing hospitalization or medical treatment*, education or training**, or other deserving cases***. The entitlement to ship HHG at Government expense will terminate unless HHG are turned over to a carrier for shipment within one year of the retirement effective date unless extended as described below. A written time limit extension may be authorized/approved using the secretarial process.

  The Division of Commissioned Corps Officer Support (DCCOS) is delegated authority to authorize/approve requests for extensions of the 1-year time limitation. The request for extension must include a description of the circumstances preventing completion of the final move within the allotted time with documentation supporting the request. The request must also include the specific additional time period required to complete the move and acknowledge the extension will not be granted merely to accommodate personal preferences or convenience (JFTR U5012-I).

  Within the time limit extension request, members must also agree to pay all costs for non-temporary storage (NTS) for any period in excess of 1 year from the date of termination of active service, or the longer period authorized due to hospitalization or medical treatment, if applicable. Each extension equals 1 year but may not be extended for more than a total of 6 years (including the first year after retirement) from the retirement date. The member must submit the written request (see attached sample memorandum (PDF, 13kb)) and supporting documentation to:

  Director, Office of Commissioned Corps Operations
  ATTN: Travel Coordinator, Office of Commissioned Corps Officer Support
  Tower Building, Suite 300, 1101 Wootton Parkway
  Rockville, MD 20852 

  *Hospitalization or Medical Treatment (JFTR, U5130-B2)

  A member confined in, or undergoing treatment at, a hospital on active service termination date is authorized travel and transportation allowances to a HOS from the last PDS. Travel must be completed within 1 year after the discharge date form the hospital or termination of medical treatment except when authorized/approved by the secretarial process.

  Prior to the expiration of the original 1-year entitlement, you must submit the following documents for an extension of time limitation:

  1. Retirement order.
  2. Written statement from the attending physician where hospitalization or treatment was provided stating starting date and reason current treatment precludes travel.

  A member confined in, or undergoing treatment at, a hospital for any period of time during the initial 1-year period after the active service termination date is authorized travel and transportation allowances to a HOS from the last PDS. Travel must be completed within 1 year after the active service termination date, plus a period equal to the member’s hospitalization or treatment. A longer period may be authorized/approved by the secretarial process.

  Prior to the expiration of the original 1-year entitlement, you must submit the following documents for an extension of time limitation:

  1. Retirement order.
  2. Written statement from the attending physician where hospitalization or treatment was provided stating starting date and reason current treatment precludes travel.

  **Education or Training (JFTR, U5130-B3)

  A member, who on the active service termination date is undergoing education or training to qualify for acceptable civilian employment or who begins such education or training during the 1 year period after termination is authorized travel and transportation allowances to a HOS from the last PDS. Travel must be completed within 1 year after the education or training is completed, or 2 years from the active service termination date, which ever is earlier. The extended time must be authorized/approved by the secretarial process. A further extension of this time limit may be authorized/approved by the secretarial process.

  Prior to the extension of the original 1-year entitlement, you must submit the following documents for an extension of time limitation:

  1. Retirement order.
  2. Official statement by the registrar or other appropriate education institution official, or place of employment for on-the-job-training providing the date the period of education or training began and the expected date of completion.

  Education must be on a continual basis and the member must go at least two major semesters during the school year or be a half-time student. Changes in majors may void future extensions. Internet and correspondence courses do not qualify for education extensions. The intent of the program is to allow members undergoing education or training to qualify for acceptable civilian employment.

  ***Other Deserving Cases (JFTR, U5130-B4)

  An extension of the 1-year time limit may be authorized/approved for a period not to exceed six years when an unexpected event beyond the member’s control prevents the member from moving to the home of selection within the specified time limit. A time limit extension may also be authorized/approved for a period not to exceed six years if it is in the best interest of the Service, or substantially to the benefit of the member and not costly or otherwise adverse to the Service. This includes cases where the 1-year time limit has already been extended due to hospitalization/medical treatment or training/education. If, at the expiration of this extension period, additional time is required, the member may request a further extension though the Secretarial Process, citing the reasons for the extension.

  Extensions are authorized/approved for the specific period of time, not to exceed six years, the member anticipates is needed to complete the move (see examples below).

  Other Deserving Cases for Extension and Documents Required (See Note)

  Delay in closing/renovating/construction of retirement home. Statement from contractor showing reasons for delay and approximate date of completion

  Child’s Education. Child must be in middle of school year or entering senior year in high school. Requires letter from the school.

  Child’s Special Education. Only those with learning disabilities; the child is in a program established prior to retirement. Requires annual application with current individual educational plan (IEP) assessments.

  Spouse’s education. Middle of school term or to complete final year. Only in year following retirement, not after previous extensions. Requires letter from the school.

  Family member’s severe illness (unexpected, serious/terminal). Statement from the physician describing date the individual may be expected to recover enough to travel.

  Death in Family (immediate family, brother/sister, parent-in-law). Statement from the member with the date of death.

  Death of Member (Active Duty). First extension is automatic with call from survivor.

  Spouse is active duty member- copy of spouse’s active duty order.

  Spouse is permanent civil service employee impacted by RIF action. Copy of the spouse’s RIF notification letter.

  Retiree’s job search. Letters from employment agencies, perspective employers, etc.

  Employment OCONUS. Employment must be to the benefit of the Government (e.g. contractor, civil service employee, etc.) Requires letter from employer.

  Legal/administrative proceedings that preclude member form moving within time limits. Requires copy of document denoting proceedings.

  Note: The circumstances outlined above are guidelines only. Due consideration is to be given to circumstances surrounding each member’s request. Comptroller General Decision B207157, February 2, 1983 states “The primary requirement is that the travel be the result of separation/retirement from service, since it is not a benefit which the separated/retired member retains until used regardless of circumstances.”

  Non-Temporary Storage (JFTR, U5365-C)

  The non-temporary storage (NTS) authority begins on the date the retirement order is issued and terminates 1 year from the active duty termination date. Members undergoing hospitalization or medical treatment may have HHG in NTS continued at Government expense. The HHG of a member, for whom the 1-year time limit has been extended because of education or training or other deserving cases, may be continued in NTS with the Government acting as the member’s agent for the period of the extension at the member’s expense. The member retains the right for HHG transportation at Government expense with an extension.

  Members may have NTS authorization extended provided: 1) continued storage is authorized/approved through the Secretarial Process, and 2) the member agrees to pay all costs for NTS for any period in excess of 1 year from the date of termination of active service, or the longer period authorized due to the member undergoing hospitalization or medical treatment, if applicable (JFTR U5365-C). Upon approval of an extension for travel and transportation the government maintains the NTS account during the period of the authorized extension. The member must reimburse the Government.

  Temporary Storage (U5365-C4)

  Storage in transit (SIT) of a shipment from NTS is authorized only when necessary because of conditions beyond the control of the member, such conditions arise after transportation from NTS, and it is authorized/approved in accordance with Service regulations. Any portion of HHG not placed in NTS may be placed in SIT as part of HHG transportation.

  SIT is cumulative and may accrue at any combination of origin, transit, and destination. HHG storage cannot begin before the date the HHG are released to a transportation service provider, or the Government for transportation. A member is authorized 90 days storage in transit for any authorized HHG transportation. If HHG are not removed from storage before expiration of the first 90-day period, storage charges accruing thereafter are the member’s responsibility unless additional storage is authorized/approved.

  Local Short Distance Moves (U5355-B4)

  A short distance HHG move between residences or from NTS in an area to a residence within the PDS limits, same city, town (intra-city) or metropolitan area (inter-city) is authorized when a member is retired. The short distance move is the final HHG transportation authorized. SIT is not authorized for intra-city HHG moves. SIT for inter-city short distance moves is limited to special circumstances and must be authorized/approved by the Secretarial Process.

  GENERAL INFORMATION/SUMMARY ON EXTENSIONS

  1. Requests for retirement HOS travel and transportation extensions should be submitted 90 days prior to entitlement expiration.
  2. Extensions are not automatically approved.
  3. Each extension equals 1 year but may not be extended for more than a total of 6 years (including the first year after retirement) from the retirement/separation date.
  4. Extensions for medical reasons include non-temporary storage at government expense.
  5. Non-temporary storage is payable by the member for extensions approved for education or other deserving cases.
  6. If your extension is disapproved, the time required for submission/review of the request does not extend your time limit.
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