Finance_Guy

TOPIC: TSP Facts for 2012 1. This message is to inform you of facts pertaining to the military Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) for calendar year 2012. 2. The Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board has announced the 2012 TSP contribution limits. Those limits are: Regular elective deferred limit: $17,000 TSP catch-up limit: $ 5,500 Members in a tax-free combat zone: $50,000 NOTE: The $50,000 total includes tax-exempt combat zone contributions and regular deferred contributions. 3. Based on the continuation of the 2011 reduction in the FICA percentage, airmen can continue to contribute any whole percentage up to 94 percent of basic pay, as long as the annual total of the tax-deferred investment does not exceed $17,000. 4. Members may also invest all or part of their bonuses, special pay or incentive pay. A percentage must be established for each of these entitlements separate from the base pay percentage and must be contributing a percentage of base pay in order to include a percentage for these additional entitlements. 5. DJMS has been updated to reflect the change in base pay percentage for both Active and Reserve\Air National Guard components. 6. AF implementing instructions will be published by AFAFO as needed. 7. Removed 8. Please ensure the widest dissemination. DFAS-JFLMC/IN Military Pay Operations - Indianapolis (Air Force) Systems Liaison & Procedures Division

I recall an email a few months back saying the Home Use Program (HUP) contract between MS and AF was ending on 30 Sep. That might be why the large price increase.

Nothing in the finance regs since it's not a finance matter. Personnel is the OPR. Check AFI 36-2110, Assignments, [edit to add] and/or AFI 36-2102, Base-Level Relocation Procedures

Thanks. Even better. At work today I found the AF/A1PA basic guide which has more info and sample letters. This one is definitely a keeper. Later. AF_A1PA_Guidance for the Field.doc

Check JFTR Chapter 10 for BAH Waivers. If it is for DEPs to stay in school or go ahead to enroll in school you have a good chance. All you need is your letter of explanation/justification while you are TDY enroute along with a copy of your orders. Finance (Or FSS Outbound) forwards up to MAJCOM who then sends to AF/A1PA for approval. Just saw one last week get approved for a guy who left deps back at old station to finish school. Ask and you may receive.

Sent on behalf of SAF/FM ALCON, After more than 46 years of service, Maj Gen Alfred Flowers is retiring on Wednesday, 16 November 2011 as the Air Force’s longest serving active duty member and the longest serving General in U.S. military history. For those unable to attend in person, the ceremony will be broadcast live via Defense Connect Online (DCO) webcast. Please join us for this historic event! Date: Wednesday, 16 November 2011 Time: 1000 EST Location: https://connect.dco.dod.mil/mgflowers When prompted for your guest name, please enter your name (First, Last, Office Symbol). Thank you!

This is not true. See JFTR U1045.C.3 below under GOV’T QTRS USE/AVAILABILITY. This scenarios all depends on who is the approving official for the TDY. I doubt you could use U1045.B.2 since this school may be considered a "service school". "....offered to move me to another room. Is that allowed, and do I have to do it?" Yes it is allowed, no you don't have to unless the room you are in MUST be vacated due to maintenance or renovation. I would have a sit down with your school commander and the base billeting to iron this out. I don't think the case is very solid and the AO may not buy your reason for quarters not being available. Main reason being the last time you spoke with the front desk they said rooms were available. C. Order or Voucher 1. Documentation. An/A order/voucher must document availability/non-availability by: a. Confirmation number provided by the Service’s lodging registration process; b. The date the member attempted to make reservations, and the phone number and name of the billeting office PoC; or c. Member certification that GOV’T QTRS were not available on arrival. 2. Authorization/Approval. When a member provides acceptable documentation on a order/voucher of GOV’T QTRS non-availability, the AO must authorize/approve reimbursement for commercial lodgings. 3. Paper Non-Availability Statement Not Required (Effective 1 October 1995). Per USD memorandum, dated 29 August 1995, a DoD traveler is not required to obtain paper non-availability statements to justify reimbursement for commercial lodging and per diem.

Hmmmm. Wonder if ATA could be cancelled. Per the attached and a SAF/GCA memo, all new conferences and conference related expenses must be cleared/approved by DepSecDef. OMB Memo: Eliminating Excess Conference Spending & Promoting Efficiency in Government. Also of Interest: OSD's Cost Guidance Home Page Did everyone use the OSD Costing Calculator before you went to your last conference, or funded ceremony travel. According to this document you must use the calculator and present to your supervisor. Find it under the page top banner under "Attending Events".

This seems to fit here nicely... Wall Street hits 13-month low on Europe woes

The DTMO regrets to announce the cancellation of the 2012 Connect Seminar. Although we recognize the value in hosting such an event, we know that today's environment demands that organizations be fiscally conservative, especially with travel funds. Therefore, after soliciting feedback from Service and Agency senior leadership it was decided that this is the best decision based on the current fiscal environment. Presentations from the 2011 Seminar can be found in the Reference Library or by searching for “2011 Connect Seminar” using the Search feature at the top of the page. https://www.defensetravel.dod.mil/site/seminar.cfm Read the latest Defense Travel Dispatch

Good Story--There you go, that's what I'm talking about. There is still some love left out there.

Go Travis. AMC Rocks. Well most of the time. You won't believe this question I got today. My first reaction was, WTF? My thoughts are: AMC aircrews are the most highly paid per diem travelers in the world so why would someone expect to be reimbursed for good samaritan act? Kind of negates the "Good Samaritan" principle. The question from the base: "A med evac patient (on med orders) is on the xxx being transported. The patient hasn't eaten (long flight) and the patient was hungry. The patient has no funds. The aircrew purchased (paid for by aircrew member) a meal and gave to the patient. How does the aircrew member get reimbursed?" Thoughts? Maybe we could run an article similar to this one: Local Good Samaritans help wounded warriors ; Maybe name it, Good Samaritan Helps Wounded Warriors, Requests Payment. BTW, our answer was no they cannot be reimbursed. Patient should have been on per diem along with the Aircrew. This is a personal transaction between the two and the aircrew member should ask the patient for reimbursement. Done ranting.

Current Room rate for Os at LR s/b $39/night https://dodlodging.net/

It is still legit and now in para U2605 PCS TRAVEL of the published JFTR.

SUBJECT: UTD/CTD for MAP 58-11(I)/CAP 73-11(I) -- PCS MALT Rate Effective 1 July 2011 1. SYNOPSIS: Change PCS MALT rate from 19 cents to 23.5 cents per mile effective 1 July 2011 based on IRS change and the Federal Travel Regulation §302-4.300 (41 CFR 302-4.300), indicating that the PCS MALT rate is identical to the published IRS moving expense rate. U2605-B: *B. MALT Rate *1. Effective 1 July 2011, the MALT rate per authorized POC is $.235/mile. The MALT rate in effect from 1 January – 30 June 2011 was $.19/mile. *2. The $.235/mile rate is effective for all PCS travel that commences on or after 1 July 2011 (i.e., the initial travel is started). *3. PCS travel that commenced prior to 1 July 2011 must be paid at the old rate ($.19/mile) even if the travel was not completed until after 1 July 2011. 4. Par. U5015 clarifies general information and reimbursement ICW MALT. NOTE 1: Regardless of the POC type used (except as described in par. U2615), this is the PCS travel MALT rate. Par. U2020 details official distance determination.

So is this an electronic Non-A? Or just an follow-up email? If you have a Non-A in your hands, thats the one you give finance. Can you send me (PM) the email?

He goes through USAA ($260) and they sub to Progressive.

Motorcycle Insurance--Anyone dealt with getting cycle insurance from German Ins. companies? My son shipped his Harley to Ramstein and his quote from Progressive was like $260 month for the policy (more than his car). That seems pretty excessive IMO. Just looking for any input from anyone's past/present experience.

Don't aircrew get in the new Dorms at the 'Deid?

Still Valid. Billeting/Services still play their games and AETC can't get their orders cut right. Orders should only say Gov't Qtrs Directed. If not available, then they need to document and give you a non-A which is a one-time requirement.

Right, but it may not be an automatic roll-over. You may have to request any leave lost be reinstated using previous said guidance.

You need to review JFTR U5462 and the few pages that follow plus U5470. Are you doing a POV storage in lieu of POV shipment or do laws preclude shipment/entry of a POV at GOV’T expense into that foreign/non-foreign OCONUS? JFTR AF Supp says this: 6.11.2. (U5466-B2) Government-Procured Storage Not Available. The Air Force has NOT designated POV storage facilities under this paragraph. The TMO should issue a letter authorizing the member to self-procure storage until such time as government arranged storage is available. NOTE: This letter should not be issued for motorcycles under this paragraph unless there are no Non-temporary storage warehouses available. So you have a choice to let the Gov't arrange it all and pay. If you choose to do it yourself, then you will have to pay each month and claim reimbursement at whatever frequency you decide but no more often than monthly. AFI 65-114: 8.32. Claims Procedures and Authority for Storage of Privately Owned Vehicle. JFTR, par. U5464, authorizes reimbursement for storage of a privately owned vehicle (POV) when POV transportation is not authorized or storage in connection with contingency operation TDY. The member must provide a copy of the PCS/contingency TDY order and a copy of the paid storage receipt. POV storage payments are made after the fact, on a monthly basis.

Not exactly. The number of days deployed is not tied to the number you can carry over. And I still believe you have to request the leave be restored. But if you do serve at least 120 days in a CZ then you can request up to 120 days SLA. I don't think it's automatic unless you were serving in a CZ for the 120 days immediately preceeding 1 Oct that same year. Go ask your local FSS since their office is the OPR for initiating special leave accrual requests. RE: https://comptroller.defense.gov/fmr/07a/07AIC37-06.pdf AFMAN 65-116, Volume 1: 44.7. Leave Accrual, etc., for Members Assigned to Hostile Fire Areas: 44.7.1. Members assigned to hostile fire areas for four or more consecutive months, or have been approved for special leave accrual through personnel channels as set forth in AFI 36-3003, are allowed to carry forward more than 60 days of leave from one fiscal year to the next. 44.7.2. This is done for three full fiscal years after departure from the combat zone but is subject to the following limitations: 44.7.2.1. Member can accrue up to 120 days leave in accordance with AFI 36-3003. After departing the combat zone the limit is the balance as of departure from the combat zone. 44.7.2.2. Whenever a member takes leave, the balance as of the end of the leave is compared to the balance as of departure. If the balance as of the end of the leave is less than the balance as of departure, the balance as of the end of the leave becomes the new maximum. -------------------------------------------- Defense Finance and Accounting Service 8/24/2010 - RAF MILDENHALL, England -- The National Defense Authorization Act 2008 changed the maximum leave carryover (except for special leave accrual and members in a missing status) from 60 days to 75 days from Oct. 1, 2008 through Dec. 31, 2010. The NDAA 2010 extends the 75 day carryover until Sept. 30, 2013. The NDAA 2010 also extends to Sept. 30, 2013 the longer retention period for the 120 days of leave as special leave accrual (SLA) for members who serve on active duty for a continuous period of at least 120 days in an area where they are entitled to HF/IDP, are assigned to a deployable ship or mobile unit or other duty designated under uniform regulations, or qualifying duty designated by the Secretary of Defense. The 120 days of SLA can be kept until the end of the fourth fiscal year (instead of third fiscal year) after the fiscal year in which the Service members qualified to accumulate up to 120 days leave at the end of the fiscal year. The NDAA 2008 increase to 120 days the leave carryover for members who serve in support of a contingency until the end of the second fiscal year after the fiscal year in which such service on active duty is terminated. This provision did not have a termination date so it has not changed. For more details, contact Darrell Hampton at DSN 238-5559.

-----Original Message----- From: DFAS Sent: Wednesday, May 05, 2010 11:24 AM Subject: Policy and Procedures Update - Extension of Temporary Increase in Leave Carryover TOPIC: Extension of Temporary Increase in Leave Carryover 1. Section 504 of the FY 2010 NDAA included a provision to extend the maximum leave carryover of 75 days through 30 September 2013. DFAS General Counsel has determined that members can carry forward up to 75 days from FY 13 to FY 14, but that leave in excess of 60 days will be lost at 1 Oct 2014 unless the law is extended or made permanent. 2. Based on this opinion, and barring any additional changes to the law or policy on this subject, DJMS-AC will allow leave of up to 75 days to be carried forward from 30 Sep 2013 to 1 Oct 2013. 3. This message was coordinated with AFAFO. 4. FSO questions should be directed to their MAJCOMs. MAJCOMs may contact AFAFO. 5. Please ensure the widest dissemination. DFAS-JFLM/IN Military Pay Operations - Indianapolis (Air Force) Chief, System Liaison & Procedures Division

You will get With Dep rate DLA when they do PCS/Move provided they are authorized dependents on your orders. Most likely they will not advance you the DLA. You would not be due any DLA if initially staying in Go'vt Bachelor qtrs. Her per diem (s/b $123/day) and mileage ($0.19) would be the same as your's. When dependent drives non-concurrent, they are paid as if the member drove. Any children would also rate the 50 or 75% extra on per diem. JFTR PARA U5210.C Don't file your voucher saying you traveled together if you in fact did not.