Posted on Aug 13, 2018
Can a soldier be denied meal per diem while being housed off post while TDY?
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Sgt arrived to Fort Eustis for ALC from the 82nd and was given a statement of non-availability and directed to stay in a hotel off post. He contacted his S3 NCO to correct his 1610 form and after some arguing and being told to some how find an open barracks he submitted and agreed to pay him the 93 dollar lodging allowance. When the soldier asked to be payed the M&IE per diem the S3 NCO had a fit and told him no and that he could drive from his hotel to the DFAC on post for meals and said he would only give the 5 dollar Incidentals per diem. In the Joint Travel Regulation page 2-34 it states that "A Government dining facility is available only when the Government quarters on the U.S. installation on which the Service member is assigned TDY are adequate and available". To me that says if the service member is residing off post they are not required to travel to eat at the dining facility. Even for the Proportional Meal Rate on page 2-32 is states "A Service member is lodged in adequate Government quarters on a U.S. installation".
Of the 42 soldiers that arrived today he is the only one that has been denied meal per diem and seemingly because of the S3 E-7's attitude. The service members 1st Sgt has been given the regulation and is supposedly getting involved but with no guarantee that the issue will be solved. What would be the next step for the SM? Would this fall under the Abuse section of Fraud, Waste and Abuse? The S3 NCO seems to be going against regs because of his personal feelings.
Of the 42 soldiers that arrived today he is the only one that has been denied meal per diem and seemingly because of the S3 E-7's attitude. The service members 1st Sgt has been given the regulation and is supposedly getting involved but with no guarantee that the issue will be solved. What would be the next step for the SM? Would this fall under the Abuse section of Fraud, Waste and Abuse? The S3 NCO seems to be going against regs because of his personal feelings.
TDY
Army Regulations
Inspector General
Toxic Leadership
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 10
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That happened to me in the 82nd when I went to SLC. I should have received $2 a day for laundry. I was told 82nd didn't do laundry, even though it's in the reg. Didn't seem worth fighting tooth and nail for $60.
It sounds like the S3 NCO is the DTS manager. He should contact his unit XO who is in charge of the budget and funds for the unit.
It sounds like the S3 NCO is the DTS manager. He should contact his unit XO who is in charge of the budget and funds for the unit.
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SFC (Join to see)
I only told you what to do, I didn't tell you why to do it. So, let me explain the why and the how.
The S3 NCO is not in charge of money. He was probably placed as the DTs NCO, which is a terrible and thankless job, and he probably has several other duties. In each unit the DTs NCO can be anyone different.
When you look at the chain of authorizations, as in who is the level 10, or level 20, you will see that the DTs manager is one of the first and lowest levels. They are not experts in what is authorized, they only took a couple of online classes to qualify them as level 10 managers.
What the soldier will need to do is contact the highest level, usually the level 25 and explain their situation to them. The highest level person is the final approving Authority. They only care about what is in regulation and what is legally authorized. As long as the soldier can show what they are authorized in writing, they should have no issue getting the approval Authority to authorize the payment
The reason I said the XO is that in many units it is the XO. But, whoever that level 25 is, is the person they need to talk to
The S3 NCO is not in charge of money. He was probably placed as the DTs NCO, which is a terrible and thankless job, and he probably has several other duties. In each unit the DTs NCO can be anyone different.
When you look at the chain of authorizations, as in who is the level 10, or level 20, you will see that the DTs manager is one of the first and lowest levels. They are not experts in what is authorized, they only took a couple of online classes to qualify them as level 10 managers.
What the soldier will need to do is contact the highest level, usually the level 25 and explain their situation to them. The highest level person is the final approving Authority. They only care about what is in regulation and what is legally authorized. As long as the soldier can show what they are authorized in writing, they should have no issue getting the approval Authority to authorize the payment
The reason I said the XO is that in many units it is the XO. But, whoever that level 25 is, is the person they need to talk to
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All good information. Remember that orders can be amended after the fact to reflect those unforecasted events. Keep all receipts and provided Statements of Non-availability IOT get the required changes. For the time been concentrate on the course!
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You have some good suggestions already. You can also talk to the course manager/1SG. He can educate the S3 NCO on your situation. But, I would allow your 1SG time to make things happen first.
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