I. ESTABLISHMENT AND PURPOSE
A. ESTABLISHMENT
Pursuant to an agreement between the Secretaries
of the Uniformed Services and the Department of Defense and Department
of Defense Directive 5154.29, this Charter is promulgated to establish
a joint Department of Defense Per Diem, Travel, and Transportation Allowance
Committee, (hereinafter referred to as the "Committee") and to assign
its objectives and scope of activity.
B. PURPOSE
The primary purpose of the Committee is to ensure
that uniform travel and transportation regulations are issued pursuant
to Title 37, United States Code, other applicable laws, and decisions
of the Comptroller General of the United States, for members of the
seven Uniformed Services (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast
Guard, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and Public Health
Service). In connection with civilian employees of the Department of
Defense, the primary purpose of the Committee is to issue uniform regulations
implementing the Federal Travel Regulations (FTR), Statutory requirements,
Executive orders, and decisions of the Comptroller General of the United
States. The objective of these regulations shall be, to the fullest
extent permitted by law, fair and equitable reimbursement of uniformed
members and civilian personnel.
C. SCOPE OF ACTIVITY
1. The Committee shall operate under the policy guidance
of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Force Management Policy), the
Secretary of Defense designee for coordinating travel and transportation
matters. Changes in policy which increase or decrease allowances for
a substantial number of personnel, involve substantial additional expenditures
of funds, or create new basic entitlements, are referred to ASD (FMP)
for policy approval prior to promulgation.
2. When the implementation of a proposed Joint Federal
Travel Regulation (JFTR) change would be impracticable for a non-DoD
Service, a separate change applicable to that Service only will be published
in the JFTR.
3. The Committee's responsibility in prescribing
uniform travel and transportation regulations involves the following
entitlements:
a. Uniformed Service members per diem, travel, and
transportation allowances;
b. Station allowances (Overseas Housing Allowance,
Interim Housing Allowance, Temporary Lodging Allowance, and Cost of
Living Allowance);
c. Variable Housing Allowance; and
d. Department of Defense civilian employee entitlements
authorized by the Federal Travel Regulations.
In addition to responsibility for these entitlements,
the Committee has oversight responsibility to ensure uniform application
of travel and transportation allowances .
II. ORGANIZATION
A. The Committee shall be composed of a Chairman,
and a member from the Departments of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Transportation,
Commerce, and Health and Human Services. The Deputy Assistant Secretary
of Defense (Military Personnel Policy) shall be the permanent Chairman.
The Secretary of each Military Department will appoint a Deputy Assistant
Secretary to be a member of the Committee. The Chief of Personnel, U.S.
Coast Guard, will represent the Secretary of Transportation; the Surgeon
General of the United States will represent the Secretary of Health
and Human Services; and the Director of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration Corps will represent the Secretary of Commerce.
B. Each Committee member, except the Chairman, shall
have an equal vote in matters pertaining to members of the Uniformed
Services. The Committee Chairman shall vote only in case of a tie. In
matters pertaining to civilian employees of the Department of Defense,
only the Army, Navy, and Air Force members of the Committee shall vote,
with each having an equal vote.
Committee members shall designate an alternate to
represent their Departments during their absences. The action of the
alternate shall be binding upon the Committee member and his or her
Department. The Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense
(Civilian Personnel Policy) shall advise the Chairman on DoD civilian
employee matters.
III. ADVISORY PANELS
A. A Military Advisory Panel (MAP) and a Civilian
Advisory Panel (CAP) are hereby established. The MAP shall consist of
a representative from each of the seven Uniformed Services. The CAP
shall consist of a civilian representative from each of the Department
of Defense Services, and a representative from the Office, Secretary
of Defense. Each member of the respective Panel shall have an equal
vote.
B. The MAP and CAP shall generate and evaluate issues
pertaining to per diem, travel, and transportation allowances; station
allowances; variable housing allowances. In addition, they shall periodically
assess the adequacy of current travel policy and regulations in providing
fair and equitable treatment for uniformed and civilian personnel represented
by the MAP and CAP who travel and develop proposed solutions for Committee
review and decision.
IV. COMMITTEE STAFF
The day-to-day operations of the Committee shall
be conducted by a Committee staff under the direction of a Director,
who shall be a Colonel or Captain (Navy). Military positions will normally
be rotated triennially among the Army, Navy, and Air Force.
V. COMMITTEE COUNSEL
The position of Legal Counsel to the Committee is
hereby established. The Counsel may be either military or civilian and
will provide legal support to the Committee.
VI. ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
The Department of the Army is the Administrative
Agent for the Committee and shall provide all administrative support
required by the Committee.
VII. ORGANIZATION AND FUNCTIONS MANUAL
Detailed organization and functions of the Committee,
Committee Staff, Committee Counsel, and Advisory Panels are contained
in a Per Diem, Travel, and Transportation Allowance Committee Organization
and Functions Manual. This manual and all future changes thereto will
be staffed with Committee members through the MAP and CAP.