Is there a required timeframe for a DTS approver to respond to a submitted travel authorization?

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 26 May 2017 15:46:41 -0400

Response by SGM Erik Marquez made May 26 at 2017 4:38 PM

SGM Erik Marquez — Fri, 26 May 2017 16:38:39 -0400

The is no regulatory guidance I know of....and I was a DTS reviewer at the G3 Div level.

There are local (DIV/Corps/Post) business rules that will say something like the DTS clerk has XX days to process, Review XX days and Approver XX days
Each of those steps will be 3-10 days in a "will " type verbiage... IOW something like, DTS reviewer will approve or return to unit a DTS request in 7 business days or less once it has hit the reviewers inbox"

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 26 at 2017 9:39 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 26 May 2017 21:39:01 -0400

I ask this question because my unit requires vouchers be submitted within 5 days of order completion. A recent mission was for 7 days but cut in two separate orders. My first set of orders was provided 10 prior to departure so I immediately submitted a travel authorization for all 7 days. 3 days later it was denied because the 2nd set of orders were not attached. The second set was provided less than 48 hours to departure so I immediately attached and resubmitted the travel authorization and it was initially "Approved as 'Limited'." The AUTHORIZATION was then denied 14 days later (6 days after orders completed) for not having signed orders. It seems that I always run close to owing late fees on my GOVCC because of how long it takes to get an authorization approved and then the same difficulty or worse for the actual voucher.