ALCOAST 233/24 - MAY 2024 FY24 INACTIVE DUTY TRAINING TRAVEL REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAM - PHASE 3

R 301604Z MAY 24 MID120001151320U
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC
TO ALCOAST
BT
UNCLAS
ALCOAST 233/24
SSIC 4600
SUBJ: FY24 INACTIVE DUTY TRAINING TRAVEL REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAM -
PHASE 3
A. COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC 201301Z OCT 23/ALCOAST 403/23
B. COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC 081520Z MAR 24/ALCOAST 116/24
C. Reserve Component Action Plan
D. Reserve Duty Status and Participation, COMDTINST 1001.2A
E. Government Travel Charge Card (GTCC) Program Policies and
Procedures, COMDTINST 4600.18
F. The Joint Travel Regulations (JTR)
G. ALCGFINANCE 026/23, FY23 CLOSEOUT GUIDANCE
1. This ALCOAST announces the expansion of FY24 Inactive Duty
Training Travel Reimbursement Program (IDT-TRP) to Phase 3. The
policy in this message supersedes REFs (A) and (B).
2. IDT-TRP implements goals outlined in REF (C) to restore
the Selected Reserve (SELRES) to authorized strength and advance
benefits parity for the total workforce by reimbursing eligible
travel expenses for members serving in critical skills communities,
critical staffing shortfalls, and/or at understaffed units. IDT-TRP
is not an entitlement and is not guaranteed each fiscal year (FY).
COMDT (CG-R) will conduct an annual review of IDT-TRP and publish
updated eligibility criteria based on funding availability.
3. Phase 3 Units with members eligible for IDT-TRP are encouraged to
identify an IDT-TRP Command Representative. IDT-TRP Command
Representatives should familiarize themselves with the program at
the SharePoint site in paragraph 7. Command Representatives support
the unit and the program by providing counseling to members on
program requirements and may be trained as a collateral Approving
Official (AO) for IDT-TRP travel claims.
4. Phase 3 Eligibility Criteria and Timeline:
    a. Eligible members must be drilling reservists with satisfactory
participation during the previous FY, in accordance with REF (D).
This requirement shall not prohibit new reservists, within 6 months
from accession, from applying with Command approval.
    b. Eligible members shall have an active GTCC account in good
standing, in accordance with REFs (D) and (E) and shall ensure the
GTCC is loaded into the E-Gov Travel System (ETS) user profile.
IDT-TRP approved members may use the GTCC to secure the government
contract airfare by calling SATO and shall not use the GTCC for any
other travel expenses.
    c. Phase 3 participants are members in paygrades E6 and below
assigned to a Station within the following Districts: D1, D5, and
D7. All members eligible during Phase 1 and 2, remain eligible
during Phase 3.
    d. All other members of the SELRES remain ineligible for IDT-TRP
during Phase 3.
    e. A member's assigned duty station must be located 150 miles or
more, one way, from their primary residence, as recorded in Direct
Access, and as calculated by the Defense Table of Official Distances
(DTOD) using Permanent Change of Station/Temporary Duty route type.
A list of potentially eligible members, and their DTOD mileage, at
the units listed in paragraph 4.c. is posted on the COMDT (CG-R82)
SharePoint site in paragraph 7.
    f. Members who meet the eligibility requirements above (4.a.
through 4.d.) and desire to participate in IDT-TRP must coordinate
with their Command to receive authorization from COMDT (CG-R82)
prior to participation. The procedures required to request
authorization are outlined on the COMDT (CG-R82) SharePoint site
in paragraph 7. Requests for IDT-TRP authorization may be submitted
beginning on the date of this message.
    g. Members that meet all eligibility requirements above (4.a
through 4.d.) but are not listed on the COMDT (CG-R82) SharePoint
site in paragraph 7, are encouraged to coordinate with their Command
to identify and correct any discrepancies in Direct Access, then
follow the procedures required to request authorization outlined on
the COMDT (CG-R82) SharePoint site in paragraph 7.
    h. Waivers to eligibility criteria will not be considered during
Phase 3.
5. Reimbursement:
    a. In accordance with REF (F), reimbursement for travel costs
will not exceed $500 per round-trip. ETS does not have the
capability to automatically cap reimbursement, members must not
claim more than $500 in reimbursable expenses. Travel claims
exceeding maximum reimbursement will be subject to recoupment of
funds. Only actual costs and fees incurred as a result of travel
between a member's primary residence and their permanent duty
station may be paid as a reimbursable expense. Authorized expenses
are listed in the IDT-TRP Guide which is located on the COMDT
(CG-R82) SharePoint site in paragraph 7.
      (1) POV: If a privately owned vehicle (POV) is used,
reimbursement is at the "other mileage rate" for the official
distance to and from the IDT location and for any parking fees and
highway, bridge, and tunnel tolls.
      (2) Meals: The intent of meal reimbursement is to reimburse
members for meals consumed during transit between their primary
residence and assigned duty station. To ensure program success and
continued expansion, members should only claim meals actually
consumed during travel periods. Meal reimbursement requires an
itemized, legible receipt with the date and is based on the actual
meal cost, including tips and taxes but excluding alcoholic
beverages, up to the maximum locality meal rate and incidental
expenses (M&IE) rate for the duty location. Members entitled to
IDT subsistence allowance as part of drill pay, who travel on a
duty day, may not request reimbursement for the same meal(s) in
the IDT-TRP local travel claim.
    b. Members approved during Phase 3 are limited to reimbursement
for 4 round trips in FY24. Approved members are authorized to file
for reimbursement upon receipt of approval email from IDT-TRP.
Retroactive travel claims are not authorized. Phase 3 members are
encouraged to apply early to maximize reimbursement potential.
Eligible members approved during Phase 1 are limited to 12 round
trips in FY24. Eligible members approved during Phase 2 are limited
to 7 round trips in FY24.
    c. All IDT-TRP claims will be processed using ETS. The current
ETS process for IDT-TRP uses local travel claims and has greatly
improved the end-user experience. All IDT-TRP travel claims shall
use the local travel claim process with the exception of previously
approved authorizations for Phase 1 members. A step-by-step guide
for members and AOs outlining the reimbursement process and
timelines can be found in the IDT-TRP Guide located on the
COMDT (CG-R82) SharePoint site in paragraph 7.
    d. In accordance with REF (E) members are required to submit
IDT-TRP travel claims in ETS no more than three days following
completion of round-trip travel. AOs shall take appropriate action
on travel claims within two working days of receipt.
      (1) Failure to submit local travel claims within 45 days of
travel will result in loss of eligibility for reimbursement for that
roundtrip. Travel claims submitted after 45 days shall be denied by
the AO.
      (2) All IDT-TRP vouchers must be approved by the AO no later
than 25 September 2024 to allow for financial closeout procedures.
Local travel claims and final vouchers not submitted and approved by
the AO by the published FY closeout deadline will not be eligible
for reimbursement.
      (3) Travel completed on or after 11 August 2024 must comply
with the deadline in paragraph 5.d.(2), which will be less than 45
days.
    e. Individual units are responsible for ensuring IDT-TRP claims
are submitted and approved in a timely manner. Approved IDT-TRP
members who abuse the system by filing multiple late and/or false
claims will be removed from IDT-TRP.
    f. Reimbursement will continue at the discretion of
COMDT (CG-R82) and may be restricted at any time due to budget
constraints.
6. Eligibility criteria will be reviewed and released via ALCOAST
annually. Members that continue to meet eligibility criteria must
re-apply each FY.
7. COMDT (CG-R82) SharePoint Site:
(Copy and Paste URL Below into Browser)

https://uscg.sharepoint-mil.us/sites/CGR/SitePages/CG-R82.aspx

8. POC: Questions about the IDT-TRP should be directed to the
Reserve Resource Management Division (CG-R82) at IDTTravel@uscg.mil.
9. CAPT Scott Toves, Acting, Assistant Commandant for Reserve
(CG-R), sends.
10. Internet release is authorized.