Do the reserves pay for you to fly to your unit if it is too far to drive?

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 17 Nov 2015 01:42:09 -0500

I've been told the reserves will fly you to your unit if you need them to. Could someone explain this?

Response by PO1 John Miller made Nov 17 at 2015 1:58 AM

PO1 John Miller — Tue, 17 Nov 2015 01:58:48 -0500

I did some Googling for you. The short answer is, ask your unit but I do have a couple of sources for you to research further:

http://themilitarywallet.com/national-guard-reserves-travel-deductions/

According to this one, you can claim your travel on your taxes.

http://themilitarywallet.com/reserve-idt-travel-reimbursements/

This one covers the reserves more than it does the National Guard (I'm not sure if you're in the Regular Reserve or National Guard Reserve).

How to Deduct Travel Expenses for National Guard and Reserves

Members or the National Guard and Reserves may be eligible to deduct mileage and other travel expenses if they live more than 100 miles from their base.

Response by CPO Andy Carrillo, MS made Nov 17 at 2015 2:05 AM

CPO Andy Carrillo, MS — Tue, 17 Nov 2015 02:05:27 -0500

Short answer: no. It is your responsibility to report for duty as assigned. However, you can claim related travel expenses and associated mileage as a deductible expense on your taxes (currently at the rate of $.54/mile). Or so my CPA brother-in-law advised me as he prepared my tax returns.

Response by PO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 17 at 2015 7:35 AM

PO3 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 17 Nov 2015 07:35:57 -0500

Yes and No. It is about funding sometime. I assume you drill at a different NOSC? Your travel "expenses" is funded through the NOSC. So if they running low on funding ... they will not let you fly or even approve you to go and drill at your unit. It is about paperwork. I got two fly in driller last drill weekend, and they are from the same NOSC, one got approved and the other didn't ... no reason given.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 17 at 2015 9:55 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 17 Nov 2015 09:55:03 -0500

There is something called IDT (i can't remember what it means) in place. You submit a travel voucher through DTS and it will pay UP to 300 dollars of your plane ticket. And you have to use your govtcc, of course. Just get with your unit for specifics, Sir.

Response by CCMSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 17 at 2015 10:24 AM

CCMSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 17 Nov 2015 10:24:05 -0500

IDT Travel, for military members, is for certain career fields. I believe it is down to 17 fields now in the Air Force Res. They pay $300 toward travel. Airline tickets, mileage, gas, meals on the travel days, etc. They do not pay for rental cars. There are regs on it. It's for critically manned career fields as an incentive.

Response by MSG Michael Murphy made Nov 17 at 2015 3:56 PM

MSG Michael Murphy — Tue, 17 Nov 2015 15:56:48 -0500

If You are in a tier 1 unit and have a critical mos MI MP Med etc then yes I remember the units I supported at OHARA Airport in Chicago utilized this often for troops to attend drill

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 19 at 2015 12:10 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 19 Nov 2015 12:10:49 -0500

See SSG Livingston's response. He hits the nail on the head.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Nov 19 at 2015 1:01 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Thu, 19 Nov 2015 13:01:04 -0500

I would put you in a closer unit if they have the slots.