MARADMINS : 492/06
R 120005Z OCT 06
FM CMC WASHINGTON DC(UC)
TO AL MARADMIN(UC)
UNCLASSIFIED//
MARADMIN 492/06
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC PR/MP//
SUBJ/COMMERCIAL AIR TRANSPORTATION FOR OCONUS TRAVEL//
REF/A/DOC/JFTR//
REF/B/DOC/DOD 4500.9-R//
NARR/REF A IS THE JOINT FEDERAL TRAVEL REGULATIONS, VOLUME 1. REF B
IS THE DEFENSE TRANSPORTATION REGULATION.
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1. PURPOSE. TO REMIND TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT OFFICES,
COMMANDERS, AND TRAVELERS OF THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO FOLLOW THE
REGULATIONS CONTAINED IN REFERENCES A AND B REGARDING THE USE OF
FOREIGN FLAG CARRIERS FOR OFFICIAL TRAVEL. UNIFORMED SERVICE
MEMBERS, DOD CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES, AND DEPENDENTS ARE REQUIRED TO USE
AVAILABLE U.S.-CERTIFICATED CARRIERS FOR ALL COMMERCIAL AIR
TRANSPORTATION FOR OFFICIAL TRAVEL, IAW PAR. U3125 OF REFERENCE A.
2. BACKGROUND. IN RECENT MONTHS, NUMEROUS MARINES HAVE ARRIVED IN
OKINAWA HAVING BEEN INCORRECTLY AUTHORIZED TO PURCHASE THEIR OWN
AIRFARE FOR TRANSOCEANIC TRANSPORTATION. APPARENTLY, THE
REQUIREMENT TO FLY U.S. CERTIFICATED AIR CARRIERS WHEN AVAILABLE,
WAS NOT MADE CLEAR TO THEM. AS A RESULT, TRAVELERS WERE PURCHASING
TICKETS ON FOREIGN FLAG CARRIERS, WHICH LED TO LIMITED OR NO
REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE COST OF TICKETS THEY PURCHASED.
3. ACTIONS. IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT ALL THOSE PARTIES IN TICKETING,
AUTHORIZATION, AND TRAVEL FAMILIARIZE THEMSELVES WITH THE
PROVISIONS IN REFERENCE A COVERING THE PROPER HANDLING OF
TRANSOCEANIC TRAVEL. SPECIFICALLY, CLOSE ATTENTION SHOULD BE PAID
TO THE FOLLOWING PARAGRAPHS: U1010-B3, U1055, U3100-A8, U3120-A4,
U3125, U5108-A, AND U5116. FURTHERMORE, IT IS REQUESTED THAT ALL
TRAVELERS BE INFORMED OF THE REQUIREMENT TO USE THEIR DESIGNATED
CONTRACTED TRAVEL AGENCY OR THE LOCAL TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT OFFICE
WHEN MAKING ARRANGEMENTS FOR TRAVEL.
4. FAMILIARIZATION OF THIS PROCESS WILL GO A LONG WAY IN REDUCING
POTENTIAL FINANCIAL HARDSHIPS INCURRED WHEN TRAVELERS ERRONEOUSLY
PERFORM TRANSOCEANIC TRAVEL ON A FOREIGN FLAG CARRIER. THERE ARE
VERY FEW EXCEPTIONS THAT WILL ALLOW FOR REIMBURSEMENT OF A TICKET
THAT WAS PURCHASED FROM A FOREIGN FLAG CARRIER. THOSE EXCEPTIONS
CAN BE FOUND IN REFERENCE A.
5. TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT OFFICES MUST ROUTE ALL OFFICIAL PASSENGER
TRAVELERS IN ACCORDANCE WITH REFERENCE B, PART I, CHAPTER 103 A.2.
FURTHER, ALL OTHER CATEGORIES OF AIR TRAVEL MUST BE EXHAUSTED
BEFORE THE USE OF FOREIGN FLAG CARRIERS CAN BE CONSIDERED AND
APPROVED. PLEASE DIRECT QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS PARAGRAPH TO MR.
TIMOTHY VANDAGRIFF, DSN 225-8072 OR AT TIMOTHY.VANDAGRIFF
@USMC.MIL. LOCAL TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT OFFICES CAN ALSO PROVIDE
ASSISTANCE AND ANSWER QUESTIONS. POC AT RFF FOR THIS MESSAGE IS
MGYSGT MARC S. WILLIAMS, DSN 224-4981 OR AT MARC.WILLIAMS
@USMC.MIL. POC AT MPO FOR THIS MESSAGE IS MR. KERRY CERNY, DSN
278-93871 OR AT KERRY.CERNY@USMC.MIL.
6. THIS MESSAGE HAS BEEN COORDINATED WITH M&RA (MI, MPO-40),
P&R (RFF) AND I&L.//