All PCS orders must contain all of the above information. If they do not, then Amendments to the orders must be obtained by the traveler and provided to SatoTravel. Without the above information or the proper Amendment to the PCS travel order, SatoTravel cannot authorize the issuance of a ticket because the Government will not pay for the member’s travel. The most common amendments are provided for:

• A child was not listed on the PCS travel order.
• Member received a change of assignment (destination) after the PCS travel order was issued.
• A mistake in the members name or social security
  number was made on the PCS travel order.
• A fund citation was not provided on the PCS travel order.

FOP (Form of Payment): If the order does not direct a form of payment, or if travelers would like to use a personal IBA when CBA is directed, ticketing can be provided however advise the member that the orders may have to be amended before a voucher can be filed.

Any statement on the order, or next to the travelers name, indicating that the member will use his IBA is to be interpreted as mandatory use of the IBA. Tickets can not be issued without an amended order.

• Military orders will contain a statement next to each traveler's name.
• Civilian orders will contain a general statement that will apply to all travelers on the order. If any of the individual travelers listed on the order will use a different method, that method will be noted next to their name.

See CBA - IBA Matrix for required counseling.    For PCS purposes, the IBA referenced in the Matrix is the travelers personal IBA. The Government IBA can not be used to purchase travel unless the member is Air Force. Air Force personnel may use their Government issued IBA for PCS travel if desired.

FOP (Form of Payment) CINCUSEUCOM: All personnel assigned to CINCUSEUCOM, who are primarily based in Stuttgart or Belgium, have been authorized to utilize their individual IBA, the Government IBA or the Government CBA regardless of the FOP directed on the travel order. If the FOP used is different than what is stated on the travel order, we must advise the traveler that the orders may have to be amended before a voucher can be filed. Reminder, government fares can only be purchased with a government IBA or Government CBA.

Expired Orders
PCS orders expire when another PCS order is issued and or the member separates or retires from service. There is not a one year expiration date as is commonly believed. (see JFTR para 5203-D)

B. Communicate Entitlements

• The DOD traveler is entitled to Government paid travel from where the member is stationed overseas to the commercial airport serving his or her new PCS duty station.

• If the member is not shipping a POV, travel to an alternate port of entry can not be provided using Government funds or Government fares, even if it is less than the cost to the new duty station. This is circuitous travel and requires the military member to use personal funds. (For more information see the "Circuitous Travel" and the "POV" section below.)
  NOTE: This travel guidance applies to military personnel and military dependents only. The travel of DOD civilians and car shipment is not yet fully determined. We will handle these personnel on a case by case basis.

• The member, and dependents if traveling, are required to travel along the most direct route. A direct route is defined as any route that does not require the government to pay additional per diem costs or additional transportation costs.

• Travel from the duty station to the commercial airport servicing the duty station is authorized by common carrier. Common carrier is defined as rail, bus or private auto.

• Military and DOD Civilian members who have PCS orders to Asia, i.e. Korea, Japan, Thailand etc., can choose to travel via CONUS or via the direct route using a foreign flag carrier. If direct routing is selected offer the lowest fare available to include restricted fares (The member is not required to accept a restricted fare). If an unrestricted fare is desired offer the lowest unrestricted fare available. SACOR/ITO approval is not required.

• Military and DOD civilian personnel traveling to the United Kingdom from Europe may elect to drive their POV. POV may be booked on the Chunnel or via Ferry transportation for travel across the English Channel. SatoTravel will make reservations and provide ticketing for the POV and family members.

• If the dependent(s) of a military member are in CONUS (Alaska and Hawaii are considered OCONUS) upon the members receipt of PCS orders:
  1. AND the dependent(s) were moved to CONUS at government expense and are traveling from the location they were moved to at government expense, the dependent(s) are authorized travel to the new duty station.
     Example

  2. AND the dependent(s) were moved to CONUS at government expense however desire travel from a location in CONUS other than the location they were moved to at government expense, travel may be provided only if the cost of travel from the desired location does not exceed the cost of travel from the location they were moved to at government expense to the new duty station.
     Example

  3. AND the dependent(s) were moved to CONUS at the members personal expense, travel may be provided only if the cost of travel from the desired location does not exceed the cost of travel from the members current duty station to the new duty station.
     Example

• If the dependent(s) of a military member were allowed to be at the members oversea duty station, but are located at another overseas point upon receipt of PCS orders to CONUS, the dependents are entitled travel at government expense from their current location only if:
  1. They were moved to their current address at government expense.
  2. The cost of travel from their current address to the new duty station is less expensive than travel would have been from the members old duty station.
     Example

• If the member is shipping a POV at government expense (reference JFTR U5002), the DOD traveler is entitled to Government paid travel from where the member is currently stationed to the commercial airport that serves the primary port (the POV shipping point that services the members authorized PCS destination), or any government POV shipping destination, regardless of whether East or West of the Primary Port, as long as the passengers travel costs are at or below costs to the primary POV shipping destination. The member must provide you with a Request for Transportation Services (RTS) form, if shipping a POV. Refer to the POV port list for the primary port for each State.

  POV Primary Port List

  Circuitous Travel:
  Circuitous travel is defined as self procured travel to any destination, at any cost. SatoTravel cannot provide information regarding reimbursement for self procured travel.

  Military members and their dependents are entitled to circuitous routing when performing PCS travel to a new duty station. Circuitous travel is considered leisure travel and USAREUR has determined that payment for leisure travel cannot be placed on the USAREUR Centrally Billed Account (CBA). Therefore, all circuitous travel must be personally procured at the members personal expense. The use of government fares cannot be used to support circuitous travel. The use of the Government travel card (IBA) is also not authorized.