Finance_Guy

I know of no plans to remove the Accrual option on vMPF. That is currently the preferred method to file accruals, but you have to access via vMPF. Paper submission accruals are still allowed. A newer system is under development that will allow accruals and final settlement vouchers (non-DTS) to be submitted electronically (digital signature). The plan is to utilize the AF Portal which will allow either CAC logon or userID/pswd. This will allow those without a CAC reader to submit their vouchers. But for those who login using the userID/pswd will have to print the complete form, sign it, then scan/fax it back to the application--that's only for final settlements. Current rules do not require a signature on an advance accrual request. This new app is planned to store your previously entered accrual information so as you submit the next month's accrual or a final settlement voucher, the system will already have everything you previously updated. There will be no extensive routing rules to keep updated like DTS. You merely enter in the email address of your supervisor and/or approving official (very much like LeaveWeb) and then the package will route to them to review and approve. The package will then pass on directly to the AF Financial Services Center (AFFSC) at Ellsworth. Once the voucher is paid, the voucher payment info will pass back to this application and provide you a payment status and an image of the paid voucher. The best feature is that you (the customer) will have visability of where your voucher is in the entire payment process.

**UPDATE: Live PiPS/eFinance https://efinanceworkspace.wpafb.af.mil/GovWarning.aspx (from .mil) Most can use now to file non-DTS TDY vouchers to include Reservists. If you have not heard of this new system, contact your Finance office and ask them if you can begin using it now and if they say no, ask them why not. Here is a test site you can give it a test drive -- need CAC reader & DO NOT Enter Personal info(make up a SSAN like 000112222 https://workspace-clone.securedatainc.com/EFINANCE/ 10Aug2010 Edit - Add Info on new Virtual Finance Page: -----Original Message----- Sent: Tuesday, July 06, 2010 12:17 PM Subject: vFinance - Deployment of Knowledge Base w/1000 FAQs ALCON, On many occasions in the past year we talked about deployment of the full knowledge base (KB) of military pay and travel frequently asked questions (FAQ) and instant advice pages. We're pleased to tell you that we deployed the knowledge base on 29 June. The KB contains nearly 1,000 military pay and travel FAQs, as well as more than 100 pages of instant advice, the result of efforts by dozens of members of the FM community over the past two years. The KB can be accessed via virtual Finance on the AF portal at Virtual eFinance Link On the virtual Finance page, there are several links to the KB, including the left navigation menu (I Need Answers.), the Welcome page on the feature tab, and On-Line Help tab. Customers are linked to the KB where they can browse and search FAQs and review the instant advice (IA) pages. The IA pages provide short summaries of information in 10 categories; however, they also allow the user to drill deeper for more information as needed. We're hoping that the additional info provided by the KB will help to reduce foot traffic in the finance offices. Director, Air Force Accounting and Finance Office SAF/FMP(AFAFO) Denver, CO 80279 ---------------------------------------------- All, a new option developed to help guide you through completing certain Finance related forms. Check it out and see what you think. There is a newer application in development that will let you digitally sign some forms and electronically route them to finance (similar to LeaveWeb). One of the forms included in development is to complete non-DTS travel vouchers and electronically route them to be processed. Primarily for Reserve trave and AD Deployments. Any good suggestions of functionality you would like to see, post them here. Once in the AF Portal, go to “Life & Career” tab, then “Money - Finance Central” page . Look for Cash-Forms-Lite towards the bottom left under Money Related Links. If you give it a try, let me know what you think or any other ideas to make your interface with Finance easier. CASH Forms Lite Manage Your Money. Save Your Time. What Is It? Web-based application that reduces need to visit Finance > "Turbo Tax" like wizard to walk you through the form-filling process > Gives you properly completed and legible form > Provides instruction of what to do next Why Should I Use It? Saves you time! > Complete forms for all Finance transactions you can’t currently do on-line > Use from any computer that can access the Air Force Portal > Know what documentation and/or signatures you need before you make that trip to Finance How Do I Use It? Use CASH Form Lite, view a demo, or find out more information on the AF Portal - click the: > “Life & Career” tab > “Money - Finance Central” page

I don't know about the Ethics regs, but I don't really think this is a problem provided "Everyone" on the flight witnesses the seat give-a-way. Otherwise, other pax may think the DoD has a shit load of tax payer money and can afford 1st Class tickets for the military. Sends a wrong signal. But if someone already in 1st Class gets up and goes back and tells the soldier, "Hey take my seat in 1st Class", that's OK in my book--especially if they appear to be returning from deployment. I was on a flight to Tampa once and saw two uniforms already sitting in 1st Class as I boarded. So me, thinking finance reimbursement, know they shouldn't be reimbursed for 1st Class, but then again they could have used their personal banked miles to upgrade. Of course I think these two worked for one of the COCOMS, so maybe they think they are special or something. I just think military in uniform have to be carefull to eliminate the appearance that DoD pays for 1st Class tickets. Something that pissed me off on my return from Qatar a few years back. We luckily got on one of the World Airlines rotators that was configured with about 4 or 5 rows of 1st class. I was even luckier to get one. Well, wouldn't you know that about 3 of the seats were taken up by the World Crew/Maint (one guy hardly sat in the seat during the first leg). So we stopped in Shannon Ireland for fuel and a crew change. So I know I have a couple buds in the back and asked the main FA dude if they were getting off for sure and could I have my buds move to where they were sitting. Dude started giving me attitude, but then I brought up the fact that they have crew seats in the back so they can be separated from the main cabin and get some shut eye, so why don't the new crew use them. I also brought up the fact that everyone on this flight besides them have been on a long deployment and would appreciate a better seat. So he finally says yes, go ahead and tell them to take the seats. So we get off the bird, go have some awesome 16 yr whiskey and a few beers. As we are getting back on, I go back up front and wouldn't you know it, three other aircrew (what their purpose was I don't know) are sitting in those 3 seats. Shit...so I have to go back in the cabin and let them know the new crew (maybe some just catching a ride back) are in the seats and they'll have to stay put. I just thought it was rude of them to do that since their ass hadn't been deployed for the last 4 months. Anyway, just something I thought I'd share. I also want to say I offered to switch with my buds, but they told me to stay where I was. But I really would have gave it up if they would have came up there, but that crew wouldn't.

I've not done the online version of COD4, only the player mode. BC online is so much different than the campaign since you can use any available resource (tank, chopper, jeep) you see. Even if it's in enemy territory. Also, if someone gets killed you can take over their kit and change roles on the fly. So if you have damage and see a support guy kit, you can pick it up, heal yourself, then switch back to your original role. Or you can just switch and stay with that one. I've only played through 3 levels of the BC campaign mode and haven't been back since I got hooked on online play. I think the best thing about online play is there are so many different strategies you can try and you see all kinds from all the other different players. Some piss me off--teamkillers. Sometimes you get in with an awesome team and other times you get with one that sucks--makes it even more interesting. Even though you might be a defender of the crates, you can actually go in attack mode and try to hit the attackers home base (like the howitzer). A few guys I work with are X-Box fanatics and are in the BC online. I could get their gammer tags if you wanted to hook up with them -- they do the whole headset experience to talk back and forth. Online play really gets fun when you have a team that can work together...cover, repairs and so on.

You gotta try the online play--the action is crazy. Just yesterday they added the "Conquest Mode" It's a bit different than the other challenges in the sense you have to take control of (and keep it) for 5 flag bases. My PS3 gamer tag is Davo-64

I'm first curious on the "home of record" mention. I thought on remote tours you could elect where you want dependents to remain while overseas--Called a Designated Location. And once a designated location was elected, the you were authorized to travel to that location, then on to your new PDS. Upon tour completion, then you would travel from old PDS, to Deps Designated location, then on to your new PDS. What has Outbound Assignments told you about "Home of record"? I want to say if this is a true unaccompanied tour, then you are authorized travel to where your dependent relocate. Ref JFTR: U5120 TRAVEL AND TRANSPORTATION ALLOWANCE UNDER SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES EDIT: Removed Para H and added PARA G. I had copied the wrong one. I was looking at the right one, but when I went back to copy, I went one below it. G. Travel to/from a Designated Place. A member, ordered on a PCS who travels to a designated place, may be paid PCS allowances for travel from the old PDS to: 1. The new PDS via the designated place, 2. The designated place via any TDY station(s) and then to the new PDS, or 3. Any TDY station(s) via the designated place and then to the new PDS But to answer the ticket purchase question: See JFTR Refs below. If the tickets you purchase are all within CONUS then para A. would allow you to be reimbursed. Note that the PCS transoceanic travel cannot be reimbursed. That would be the ticket from your port of departure in the US to the OCONUS port. Even though the policy requires you use the CTO, I've never seen anyone get disciplined for not going through the CTO. Hope this helps. U3110 PERSONALLY-PROCURED COMMON CARRIER TDY TRANSPORTATION REIMBURSEMENT *NOTE 1: Throughout par. U3110, users must remember that it is MANDATORY DOD and NOAA Corps policy to use CTOs for all official travel transportation requirements. The payment options provided below should in no way be interpreted to suggest that use of other than the CTO/TMC is authorized or encouraged. The payment options are provided for situations when the CTO/TMC cannot be used. Par. U1055 applies to those who violate policy. *A. General. Except for PCS transoceanic travel (see par. U5108-A), when a specific transportation mode is directed, a member, who must procure transportation without benefit of using a CTO/TMC, may be reimbursed for personally procured transportation NTE the directed mode cost. Otherwise, the member is authorized transportation cost reimbursement as prescribed in pars. U3110-B, U3110-C, U3110-D, U3110-E and U3110-F. Reimbursement may not be more than the accommodations cost prescribed in pars. U3125, U3130 and U3135. See Chapter 3, Part D when the transportation is partly by POC. If a member uses Government-procured transportation for part of a journey (see par. U3010), the limits in pars. U3110-B and U3110-C must be reduced by its cost. NOTE: This policy does not apply to pars. U5108-A, U7200-C1a, U7205-A, U7206, U7400, U7401, U7450-A, U7451, U7500 and U7551, items 3 and 4. *B. Government/Government-contracted Transportation/In-house or CTO/TMC Is Available. When Government/ Government-contracted transportation/in-house or CTO/TMC (see Appendix A for definition) services are available and the traveler procures common carrier transportation (including sleeping accommodations) at personal expense under a travel authorization/order, the traveler may elect to receive reimbursement for the actual transportation cost for the transportation mode authorized and used NTE the constructed transportation cost between authorized points. For air transportation, constructed costs are based on the non-capacity controlled city-pair airfare, not the capacity controlled city-pair airfare, if both are available. If a city-pair airfare is not available between origin and destination (e.g., There is often no city-pair airfare connecting origin and destination. Several policy airfares (see Appendix A) U3120 ARRANGING OFFICIAL TRAVEL A. CTO/TMC Use 1. Mandatory Policy. It is DOD mandatory policy that a DOD Uniformed Service member use an available CTO/TMC to arrange official travel, including transportation and rental cars, except when authorized IAW par. U3110. Commands must not permit a CTO/TMC to issue premium-class tickets purchased at Government expense without prior proper authorization. 2. Service Regulations. See Service regulations for CTO/TMC use information. 3. Failure to Follow Regulations a. Commands/units are expected to take appropriate disciplinary action when a member and/or an AO fails to follow the regulations concerning CTO/TMC use. See par. U1055. b. Disciplinary action should be for willful violations and may be in the form of counseling (oral/written), non-judicial action, or other appropriate means. Action must not be through refusal to reimburse. See par. U3120-A4 below for the exceptions when reimbursement is not allowed. 4. Reimbursement Not Allowed. Reimbursement is not allowed when the member does not follow the regulations for foreign flag carriers (see par. U3125-C5) and directed transoceanic transportation (see pars. U3110-A NOTE, and U5108-A).

It is first person, but work as a team/squad. However, when driving/shooting in the tank, jeep or helo, you can switch to 3rd person. Also, some vehicles have multiple seats so you can switch back an forth between them. Jeep will have 4 seats so you can switch from driver to gun or to just passenger and shoot while someone else is driving. Most all of this is in the on-line game. Isn't SOCOM4 first person?

You nailed it. Also, when cash is accepted at all those other on-base activities, where do you think the funds are deposited and safeguarded...in the local finance. More uncessary work and wasted time spent waiting in line at finance to get some cash. This card also eliminates the need to take checks with you to deployed locations. Best idea I've seen in the AOR that was finance related. I know BMTS uses them as well. I doubt this card could ever affect your credit rating since it's merely a stored value card that hits against your existing bank account. A quote from the US Treasury Website: https://www.fms.treas.gov/eaglecash/index.html EagleCash has been in existence since 1999 and can be found on approximately 50 U.S. military installations in ten countries around the world. To date (as of 5/08), over 330,000 cards have been issued and have been used to process 15 million electronic transactions valued at over $1 billion.

Have you checked out Battlefield Bad Company? In the DEMO you can play online matches. I'm still new at it, but I really like it. Can jump into tanks, jeeps, helos and other defensive positions.

Sorry for you, but finance is right. If you are the only one moving, then only one vehicle is paid. It boils down to You are the only one on orders, not your spouse or father. Taxpayer dollars shouldn't be used to pay for a 2nd car you might own that isn't required. Basically one person can only drive one car at the same time. The JFTR only shows what is authorized and isn''t going to specify every single item that isn't authorized.

How much equipment does it take to move 2,500lbs? I would say if it cost $500 more than you received as a DITY Incentive, then it was way too expensive and not worth doing it yourself. DLA is to cover those extraordinary costs related to a PCS move. You "get what you get" on a DITY move--95% of what if would have cost the government. I guess the way around this is to have the Govt arrange it all...no work for you or out of pocket $$.

Well at first yes. Would have been nice if there was the word "I'm" at the beginning of the sentence. I took it to mean he was jabbing me for borrowing someone else's expression, then in light of that to go choke myself. I didn't know who was doing the borrowing. My bad.

Does the class have a report not later than date (RNLTD)? Most all AETC classes do and I want to say the first day of class is the inprocessing. Some billeting offices work with the school house to check you in as well.

And what was the expression exactly?

I agree the Died is not a combat zone in the true sense of "Combat", but is a qualified hazardous duty area due to the direct support the base provides to combat operations for OEF/OIF. Read the DoDFMR 7A, Chapter 44--Qatar is Defined as a Combat Zone (CZ) by Excutive order (EO)...period. 440103. Combat Zone Income Tax Exclusion for Active Service in a CZ or Qualified Hazardous Duty Area A. Combat Zone Defined 2. Effective January 17, 1991, Executive Order 12744 designated the following areas (including air space and adjacent waters) as combat zones: Persian Gulf; Red Sea; Gulf of Oman; Gulf of Aden; that portion of the Arabian Sea that lies north of 10 degrees N. Lat., and west of 68 degrees E. Long.; and the total land areas of Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. If anyone feels so strongly about those at the Died receiving CZ entitlements, might I suggest you all write your Senators and Congressmen and raise you concerns as to why you feel this location should not longer be a CZ. I'm sure they could work with the CINC and get a revised EO drawn up. Maybe the CINC could come out and announce, "...the end of major combat operations in Qatar". Maybe they could set up a show under the Bra for that event. I would suspect the CINC could set up a round robin trip and do the same in Bahrain and UAE as well. Would suck to no longer receive CZ entitlements for those who work in units that do directly support the effort. I have to say most everything at the Died is there to support the OEF/OIF effort....take a look around when you are there. Go see what other units do. Talk to the PERSCO, Cargo, Fleet and PAX folks...see if what they do don't somehow support those in the AOR...especially the CAOC. They are all there for a reason--to provide combat support. I also feel those who merely skirt the edge of CZ designated airspace over the Adriatic and Ionian Seas are not really in a CZ. Can't tell you how many tried to get that and claimed they were "Assigned" to the airspace. They were merely transiting airspace and were not assigned. A flight plan doesn't assign you to CZ duties in that airspace. A quote from the DoDFMR, "The fact that most members are in an official duty status when flying through a designated airspace should not be construed to mean they are assigned to the airspace to perform duty and therefore entitled to the exclusion." It's funny, during my years working in finance at Ramstein (during the Operation Northern Watch days), it seemed mostly OPS folks (aircrew) were at my counter demanding CZ pay since their flight to Incirlik directly supported ONW operations. It became such a problem that an AF Audit was done and resulted in EUCOM publishing guidance to basically state what was considered direct support and what was not. We had aircrew who would fly down and pick up patients and now all of a sudden they were entitled combat zone pay. Some even tried to say picking up and delivering mail was in direct support. Both of those scenarios were deemed by EUCOM to NOT be in support of CZ operations. Travel orders had to specifically state "In Direct Support of ONW" and commanders were to use the EUCOM guidance. Fortunately, Tax Free entitlements were ceased for Incirlik on 1 Jan 2005...but they still receive Imminent Danger pay (IDP). I'm just not getting all the crap the Died is getting in this thread. I was there...been there done that...and it's not that bad. Most of the dumb rule stuff is there for a reason. Even with the rules, dumb sh$ts still do dumb stuff. Can't believe when I was there someone got a DUI on base. OK, so much for the ration card. And I couldn't believe all the lazy a$$ fools who left the area under the Bra a mess for someone else (TCNs) to clean up their crap...with a trash can within ten feet away. And before you come back and blast me that I was just a shoe clerk. I was out there on the flight line in 120 degree heat with the OPS folks on a few money runs to downrange locations. Yes, I jumped off the bird during the ERO for a nights stay while the bird shot back off to the Died. You never know where your passengers work or what they will be doing when they get there. Oh yeah, one of my money runs was in a C-21 to UAE...what a tough combat mission that was. I don't think the 21s even went anywhere but Kuwait and UAE. Basically what I'm trying to say enough about Qatar and it not being a combat zone. It is, just just take your $225/month IDP and tax free and be happy. Who cares if you have to wear the right socks and a disco belt to get it.

A quick check in the AF Supplement to the JFTR (can find in AF Pubs on the Portal), shows a trailer weight can be used. I couldn find any restrictions on a tandem axle type. It appears if the trailer would/could be shipped by a commercial company, then it would qualify based on what I read. I've asked another person I know in that area to get their input, but you could run this by TMO and see what they say. Some TMO folks don't even know about this AF Supp. 1 APRIL 2002 AIR FORCE SUPPLEMENT/ JOINT FEDERAL TRAVEL REGULATIONS VOLUME 1/ JOINT TRAVEL REGULATIONS VOLUME 2 A14.6. VEHICLES AND EQUIPMENT. There are no restrictions as to the type of POV or equipment used to perform personally procured transportation of HHG. Government owned vehicles are not authorized under this program. A14.6.1. A member who uses a personally owned utility trailer for an authorized personally procured move may include the weight of the utility trailer in the total weight. The utility trailer weight applies one time only if trailer is used as the means of conveyance. A14.6.1.1. Such a trailer includes any authorized trailer (other than a camper trailer travel trailer, or horse trailer) that a commercial carrier could legally accept and transport as HHG. A14.6.1.2. The member or member’s dependent must own the trailer prior to the effective date of the PCS or TDY order. A14.6.2. Reimbursement and/or a monetary allowance is authorized for HHG moved in personally owned car-top carrier that would be accepted for shipment by a carrier. However, the weight of a rented or borrowed car-top carrier for GCC cost computations is not authorized. A14.6.2.1. The weight of a camper or POV with a previously installed camper shell, built-in HHG and any other previously installed equipment is to be included in the tare weight of a personally procured HHG move. A14.6.2.2. Tare weight is defined as the weight of the POV and/or rental equipment as the weight of the vehicle with all pads, furniture dollies, hand trucks, ramps, and other equipment required to transport HHG. A14.6.2.3. Packing, crating materials, drivers or passengers cannot be in vehicles at the time of tare weighing. Drivers and passengers cannot be in the vehicle at the time of fully-loaded weighing.

JFTR Para U5800 says you can. Reimbursement for actual mandatory quarantine fees for household pets is authorized not to exceed $550 per PCS move. B. Pet Quarantine Information. The following website may contain useful pet quarantine information: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/ncie/pet-info.html or https://www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/ncie/exp-pets.html. Restrictions: 1. Other animals (horses, fish, birds, various rodents, etc.) are excluded as pets covered by this authority because of their size, exotic nature, or restriction on shipping, host country restrictions, and/or special handling difficulties.

Hey Intact, I sent your question to someone who "might" know, but no response yet. This is really out of the finance lane and is more personnel's, specifically, Civilian personnel. I did find some info on the web that may get you started. Sorry I couldn't help much more. From a quick scan on the net, there was a ANG brochure that seems to say you would get both retirements concurrently, but you should really check with the ANG finance or Personnel folks since there may be differences in AGR and Technician jobs. I want to say I saw where Guard time could be bought back. Later. Check out chapter 22 in this OPM Manual, CSRS and FERS Handbook for Personnel and Payroll Offices https://www.opm.gov/asd/htm/hod.htm Could try this email and ask your question. mailto:benefits@cpms.osd.mil

Four days looks right and travel days would be 1-4 Sept. Even though 4 Sep is your RNLTD it can still be a travel day. I want to say as long as you report by 2400 on 4 Sept you are within the rules. Doesn't mean you have to be there first thing in the morning on 4 Sep. JFTR U3005 TRAVEL TIME *2. PCS. Generally, 1 day of travel time is allowed for each 350 miles of official distance ordered of ordered travel. If the excess distance is 51 or more miles after dividing the total number of miles by 350, one additional day of travel time is allowed. When the total official distance is 400 or fewer miles, 1 day of travel time is allowed As for the movers, can't they pack you out before the EAD? I would suspect so since you are expected to begin travel to your first PDS on 1 Sep. Also check the AF Supplement to the JFTR under the AF Publications website. The entire supplement was dedicated to movement of POVs and HHG.

Since you all drove in one car, then only one POV was needed to move all of you from point A to B. However, there is a provision in the JFTR where a cost comparison can be done to determine if there "Might" be any additional entitlement. Payment for a 2nd car is not automatic, but can be calculate as if your spouse did drive it as the example cost comparison in subpara D explains. Check this Para: U5417 POV TRANSPORTATION WITHIN CONUS INCIDENT TO A PCS WHEN POV TRANSPORTATION IS ADVANTAGEOUS AND COST-EFFECTIVE TO THE GOVERNMENT A. General 1. An eligible member, who has dependents who are also relocating incident to the PCS, ordered on a PCS between CONUS PDSs may have POV transportation authorized for one POV from the old CONUS PDS to the new CONUS PDS when it is advantageous and cost-effective to the Government and provided that the: a. Member and/or eligible dependent(s) own more than one POV to be relocated to the new PDS; b. Member and dependents then travel at one time in one POC; c. Cost of shipment and commercial transportation of the POV to be shipped does not exceed the cost of MALT plus per diem for driving two POCs to the new PDS. See example below in par. U5417-D.; and *d. Member is financially responsible for all excess costs/additional expenses associated with POV transportation. NOTE: If the cost of transporting the POV exceeds the reimbursement limitation (see par. U5417-D) the member is financially responsible for the cost difference to enable the POV to be transported. Show finance this and they should be able to calculate the total cost.

Effective 1 July the PCS MALT/mileage rate is changed from $.19 per mile to $.27 per mile for all uniformed members and civilian employees. PCS_Mileage_Rate_Change_from_19_to_27_MAP79_08.doc

OSD Directive Type Memorandum concerning the leave carryover increase from 60 to 75 days. 1. Annual leave accrual is temporarily (until December 31, 2010) increased from 60 to 75 days. Service members may now carryover up to 75 days of accrued leave, beginning with the fiscal year changeover from FY 08 to FY 09 (i.e. a Service member with 75 days of leave on September 30,2008 will not lose that leave on October 1,2008). 2. Special leave accrual (SLA) retention limits are increased. Under the new limits, SLA earned in combat zones may now be kept for 4 fiscal years; SLA earned in support of operations may now be kept for 2 fiscal years. Absent further statutory revisions, the higher combat zone retention limit applies only to SLA accumulated during the period of October 1,2008 through December 31,2010. See attached for full OSD Memo. EDIT: 16 July--New Information from SAF/FMP: DFAS has approved making a change to DJMS-AC (the pay system) that would allow the 75-day leave carryover to happen in system without additional queries or delays. They hope to have it implemented in time for FY 2008 year end, thus preventing members from losing leave and having to have it restored later. However, in the event the change is not ready for the end of the fiscal year, DFAS will run a file search/query and identify the impacted members and restore the leave as previously reported. So, this is a win-win; if the system can be changed in time, the process should be relatively seamless/transparent to the members you service. If not, DFAS will still identify them and restore the leave. New_Leave_and_Liberty_Policies_to_Implement_the_2008_NDAA.PDF

Or those who transit airspace at 35k feet

First, about the only good info I know of that trys to explain TSP in relation to Combat Zone Tax Exclusion is AFMAN 65-116, Vol 1, Chapter 68. Check it out in AF Pubs. It's a huge 44 MB file, so you may want to download. Will try to attach a TIF of those pertinent pages--nope, can't attach .tif files. Made a few JPGs out of them. The manual has not been updated to reflect current maximum contributions. To attempt to answer your questions. #1. Officer elections into TSP (exempt) are also capped at the highest enlisted just as the current Base pay and other entitlements, but done so independently. So the ACP Authorization/Payment paid in a tax-free month along with any other elections will be limited to $6,875.10 plus the $225 IDP. If you elect 100% of the bonus, then any remainder would be deposited to the TSP (Deferred) which caps out at $15.5K. This is by far the most confusing part of TSP and CZTE and I can say I still don't fully understand it all. Refer to some examples in the AFMAN pages. #2. In theory what you stated is correct, but the bottom line is ALL TSP deductions reduce your taxable income. I think what you mean is that while in a CZTE mode there is the 46K cap, but outside the CZTE, there is the $15.5K cap. Now to put less in while in a CZTE area so you can put more in later doesn't follow--CZTE contributions are "Exempt" (don't hit against the $15.5K cap) while contributions outside a CZTE area are "Deferred" I think if you have 100% of ACP set up, you are going to max out the $15.5K deferred anyway, so TSP deductions will stop automatically. However, if the ACP does not max out the $15.5K deferred limit, then the more you put in would reduce your taxable wages when not in a CZTE area. Bottom line, putting 100% of ACP in TSP while in a CZTE area is a bonus--see next paragraph for explanation. #3. For this one, I'd prefer not to answer since I'm not a qualified tax or investment professional. I can say the TSP "Exempt" is a little known avenue to garner more than the $6,875.10 officer cap for exempt contributions. Example is those with a base pay that exceeds the cap..ex. $7,000 (an O-5 over 16 years). Say this O-5 puts has 10% to TSP and 100% for fly-pay ($800). While in a Combat Zone (CZ) the regular base pay is exempt up to $6,875.10, but fly-pay is not--it's still taxed in regular pay. But on the TSP side, since only 10% of base pay is going is as "Exempt" contributions ($700), that leaves about $6,175.10 left. That's when the Fly-Pay goes into TSP as "Exempt" contributions. This is due to the Officer cap is used separately in TSP than in the regular payroll. So for that particular month, in the O-5's regular net pay, they are tax-free on $6,875.10, but also the extra $800 fly-pay that went to TSP is also "Exempt" and will not have to pay tax on that portion whenever it's withdrawn from TSP down the road. Of course the $800 would have reduced wages in regular pay anyway since fly pay was elected for TSP. Same applies to the ACP bonus mentioned. In regular pay, if you cap out with base pay, then the entire bonus is taxable. But when the bonus get's applied to TSP, it will add another $6175 to your "exempt" TSP contributions. So for a bonus month, you can actually be tax free on close to double the $6875. Confused as Heck? To really answer, I'd need some figures (base pay and ACP amounts) and when the ACP is due to be paid. PM me if you want. Does anyone have any real experiences with these scenarios to validate. I do remember seeing the fly-pay example while working in finance.

Adding info-Searched forums and only found post above dealing with SDP. You cannot put in $10K up front. Must be in the qualified zone for at least 30 days and then the limit per month is disposable income. RE: https://www.defenselink.mil/comptroller/fmr/07a/07a_51.pdf Sent: Monday, June 23, 2008 8:26 AM Subject: Policy & Procedure Update - Automatic Refunds of Saving Deposit Program (SDP) Accounts TOPIC: Automatic Refunds of Saving Deposit Program (SDP) Accounts 1. The purpose of this message is to notify all military members who participate in the current saving deposit program of a change in policy regarding the transfer of the balance of any dormant SDP accounts. 2. A military member may contribute to an SDP account while assigned to a combat zone or other qualifying area. Ninety days after the member leaves the combat zone or qualifying area, the SDP account becomes inactive or dormant and stops earning interest. Please note that a member may request a withdrawal of funds at anytime after their assignment ends. 3. Effective April 30, 2008, and each month thereafter, the Defense Finance and Accounting Service will automatically transfer the balance of any dormant SDP account, 120 days after the termination of qualifying combat duty assignment, to the member's military pay account. 4. To request an earlier withdrawal of the balance of funds from their account, members can access the MyPay website using following address https://mypay.dfas.mil/mypay.asp//. 5. Questions concerning the SDP account statement or 1099-INT tax statement should be directed to the Centralized customer support unit at 1-800-624-7368, Comm. (216) 522-6545, or DSN 580-6545 during the hours 0700 thru 1800. 6. For MyPay assistance call 1-800-390-2348, Comm. (216) 522-5122, or DSN 580-5122 during the hours 0700 thru 1830 est. ...... 10. Please ensure the widest dissemination.