R 032141Z JUL 13
UNCLASSIFIED/
MARADMIN 334/13
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC MRA MP//
SUBJ/PREMIUM CLASS TRAVEL POLICY AND GUIDANCE//
REF/A/DOC/JFTR//
REF/B/DOC/JTR//
REF/C/DOC/SECNAV WASHINGTON DC/20040505//
REF/D/DOC/CMC WASHINGTON DC/20130624//
REF/E/DOC/USD(PR) WASHINGTON DC/20070907//
NARR/REF A IS JOINT FEDERAL TRAVEL REGULATIONS (JFTR). REF B IS JOINT TRAVEL REGULATIONS (JTR). REF C IS MEMO PROVIDING POLICY, GUIDANCE, AND DELEGATION OF APPROVAL AUTHORITY. REF D IS MEMO PROVIDING FURTHER DELEGATION. REF E IS MEMO DIRECTING REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.//
POC/W. MCWATERS/HQMC MRA/MPO/TEL: COMM: 703-784-9386, DSN: 225-9386/EMAIL: WILLIAM.MCWATERS(at)USMC.MIL//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1. PURPOSE. TO PROVIDE POLICY AND GUIDANCE REGARDING PREMIUM CLASS TRAVEL (OFFICIALLY KNOWN AS OTHER THAN ECONOMY/COACH CLASS TRAVEL) FOR ALL MARINE CORPS PERSONNEL, EMPLOYEES AND THEIR FAMILIES EXECUTING MARINE CORPS FUNDED TRAVEL, REGARDLESS OF GRADE OR BILLET. CLARIFICATION FOR OUR WOUNDED WARRIORS INCLUDED.
2. BACKGROUND. THE REFERENCES REQUIRE THAT ALL OFFICIAL TRAVEL BY PREMIUM CLASS TRAVEL (FIRST AND BUSINESS CLASS) BE APPROVED BY DESIGNATED SENIOR OFFICIALS, AND SET FORTH THE CIRCUMSTANCES UNDER WHICH SUCH TRAVEL MAY BE APPROVED. REFERENCES A AND B PROVIDE DETAILED POLICY AND GUIDANCE. REFERENCE C DELEGATED APPROVAL AUTHORITY TO THE COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS AND DIRECTED REPORTING OF SUCH TRAVEL. REFERENCE D FURTHER DELEGATED AUTHORITY TO APPROVE PREMIUM CLASS TRAVEL TO THE DEPUTY COMMANDANT FOR MANPOWER AND RESERVE AFFAIRS (DC MRA). DC MRA IS RESPONSIBLE FOR POLICY, MANAGAGEMENT, AND REPORTING OF SUCH TRAVEL.
3. POLICIES
A. THE MARINE CORPS WILL STRICTLY ADHERE TO THE REQUIREMENTS AND LIMITATIONS IN THE REFERENCES.
B. IT IS GOVERNMENT POLICY THAT ECONOMY (COACH) CLASS ACCOMMODATIONS SHALL BE USED FOR ALL TRANSPORTATION MODES (E.G., AIR, RAIL, SURFACE) FOR ALL OFFICIAL GOVERNMENT TRAVEL. PREMIUM CLASS TRAVEL IS THE EXCEPTION AND WILL ONLY BE AUTHORIZED FOR THOSE SITUATIONS SET FORTH IN REFERENCES A AND B, ONLY WHEN FULLY JUSTIFIED AND PROPERLY DOCUMENTED, AND ONLY WHEN AUTHORIZED BY THE APPROPRIATE PREMIUM CLASS TRAVEL APPROVAL AUTHORITY.
C. ALL PREMIUM CLASS TRAVEL MUST BE MADE AND AUTHORIZED IN ADVANCE OF THE ACTUAL TRAVEL, UNLESS EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCES OR EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES MAKE ADVANCE AUTHORIZATIONS IMPOSSIBLE. FAILURE TO ADHERE TO THE ADVANCE NOTIFICATION OR PROPER DOCUMENTATION PROCEDURES MAY RESULT IN THE TRAVELER BEING PERSONALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COST OF THE TRAVEL IN EXCESS OF THE ECONOMY CLASS FARE.
D. DC MRA IS THE APPROVAL AUTHORITY FOR ALL PREMIUM CLASS TRAVEL FUNDED BY THE MARINE CORPS (REFERENCE D) FOR ALL PERSONS AND REASONS, INCLUDING FOR MEDICAL REASONS FOR WOUNDED WARRIORS AND MEMBERS, DEPENDENTS, AND EMPLOYEES WHO ARE ILL/INJURED. PREMIUM CLASS TRAVEL DUE TO MEDICAL REASONS MAY BE AUTHORIZED/APPROVED ONLY IF COMPETENT MEDICAL AUTHORITY CERTIFIES SUFFICIENT JUSTIFICATION OF DISABILITY OR OTHER SPECIAL MEDICAL NEED EXISTS AND THAT MEDICAL CONDITION NECESSITATES (FOR A SPECIFIC TIME PERIOD) THE ACCOMMODATIONS UPGRADE. DC MRA MUST BE ABLE TO DETERMINE THAT, AT THE TIME OF TRAVEL, PREMIUM CLASS TRAVEL IS NECESSARY BECAUSE THE MEMBER OR DEPENDENT IS DISABLED TO AN EXTENT OR LIMITED BY OTHER SPECIAL MEDICAL NEEDS THAT OTHER LOWER-COST ECONOMY ACCOMMODATIONS (E.G., BULK-HEAD SEATING, AISLE SEATING, OR PROVIDING TWO ADJACENT ECONOMY SEATS) CAN/COULD NOT BE USED TO MEET THE TRAVELER'S/DEPENDENT'S MEDICAL REQUIREMENTS.
E. BLANKET JUSTIFICATIONS AND AUTHORIZATIONS FOR THE USE OF PREMIUM CLASS TRAVEL ARE PROHIBITED.
F. WHEN MULTIPLE TRAVELERS TRAVEL TOGETHER, PREMIUM CLASS TRAVEL FOR EACH TRAVELER MUST BE JUSTIFIED AND AUTHORIZED SEPARATELY.
G. REQUESTS SHALL INCLUDE THE COST OF THE FARE FOR ECONOMY CLASS AND FOR THE PREMIUM CLASS TRAVEL AND WILL CLEARLY REFLECT WHETHER THAT COST IS ONE-WAY OR ROUND-TRIP. FOR ROUND-TRIP TRAVEL, PREMIUM CLASS TRAVEL FOR EACH PORTION OF THE TRAVEL (I.E., TRAVEL TO AND TRAVEL FROM THE DESTINATION), MUST BE JUSTIFIED AND AUTHORIZED SEPARATELY.
4. GUIDANCE FOR REQUESTS
A. COMMANDERS SHALL SUBMIT REQUESTS FOR PREMIUM CLASS TRAVEL IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE GUIDANCE IN REFERENCES A AND B AND THIS MARADMIN. REQUEST FORMAT AND THE REQUIRED REQUEST DATA ELEMENTS MAY BE FOUND AT WWW.DEFENSETRAVEL.DOD.MIL/SITE/PREMIUM.CFM; UNDER QUICK LINKS AND RESOURCES SELECT OTHER THAN ECONOMY-/COACH-CLASS TRANSPORTATION APPROVAL CHECKLIST. DETAILED INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND IN APPENDIX H OF REFERENCE A, ALSO LINKED TO THIS WEBSITE.
B. ALL REQUESTS FOR PREMIUM CLASS TRAVEL, ALONG WITH THE REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION AND COMMAND ENDORSEMENTS, WILL BE SUBMITTED TO CMC (MPO). CMC (MPO) WILL FORWARD REQUESTS TO DC MRA VIA DIR MP. SUBMIT REQUESTS SO AS TO ARRIVE AT CMC (MPO) AT LEAST TWO WEEKS IN ADVANCE OF THE PROPOSED TRAVEL TO ALLOW SUFFICIENT TIME TO STAFF AND REPLY TO THE REQUEST AND FOR THE TRAVELER TO MAKE FINAL TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS.
C. DOCUMENTATION WILL INCLUDE: THE BASIC REQUEST WITH ALL REQUIRED DATA ELEMENTS, A COMPLETED DECISION SUPPORT TOOL/CHECKLIST, A COPY OF THE TRAVELER'S PROPOSED FLIGHT ITINERARY (IF APPLICABLE), A COPY OF THE TRAVELER'S WORK SCHEDULE (IF APPLICABLE), AND ANY DOCUMENTATION OR INFORMATION TO SUPPORT THE REQUEST.
5. REPORTING. REFERENCES A, B, AND E PROVIDE COMPREHENSIVE DATA COLLECTION, RETENTION, AND REPORTING REQUIREMENTS AND DC MRA IS RESPONSIBLE FOR SAME.
6. ACTION A. COMMANDS/COMMANDERS WILL ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH THE POLICY AND GUIDANCE AND SUBMIT REQUESTS FOR PREMIUM CLASS TRAVEL IAW REFERENCES A AND B AND THIS MARADMIN.
7. THIS MARADMIN IS APPLICABLE TO THE MARINE CORPS TOTAL FORCE.
8. RELEASE AUTHORIZED BY LTGEN R. E. MILSTEAD JR, DEPUTY COMMANDANT FOR MANPOWER AND RESERVE AFFAIRS.//