Special Authorizations

Rental Cars

When requesting a rental car for an Annual Tour (AT), Individual Reservists (IRs) must also complete the AT Special Request form Rental Car Justification Worksheet. For Military Personnel Appropriation (MPA) man-days, the rental car must be specifically listed on the Fund Cite Authorization Letter (FCAL).

In/Around Travel at Duty Location

Privately-owned vehicle/conveyance (POV/POC) vicinity travel is travel performed in and around the immediate vicinity of the temporary duty (TDY) location and must be authorized in the order.

Vicinity travel must be itemized on the travel voucher. The member must furnish actual distance traveled, dates for round trips daily between lodging and place of duty, as well as trips to dining establishments when suitable dining is not near lodging or duty. If a member traveled the same trip more than once, he/she may list the item once, showing how many trips were made (i.e. 3 trips from billeting to duty at 5 miles round trip).

A member who travels by commercial means is entitled to reimbursement of the actual and necessary expenses incurred for: taxi cabs, metro fares and other fares paid for local public transportation.

NOTE: If a member is NOT authorized vicinity travel on orders, the orders approving official (AO) must sign in the approving official signature block of the DD Form 1351-2. The AO must add the “vicinity travel is authorized to perform mission required duties” remark in Block 29.

Registration/Conference Fees

When requesting conference fees for orders, Individual Reservists (IRs) must be prepared to include the conference documentation that lists the total registration/conference fee and identifies the number and types of meals and/or nights lodging that the fee includes when filing for reimbursement.

Actual Expense Allowance (AEA)

Actual Expense Allowance (AEA) reimburses the member for the actual cost of food and/or lodging when exceeding the maximum per diem allowance. Detachment company commanders (CCs) have approval authority for AEA expenses for IRs, up to 150% of the normal allowance and is a rare exception due to extenuating circumstances. This is not a continuing blanket approval for travel to high cost areas or to cover expenses caused by personal convenience or preference. Ignorance of per diem rates is not a consideration, and each request is carefully reviewed to ensure no alternative was available.

Requests for AEA Prior to Tour
Applications for AEA should be submitted in addition to the Air Reserve Order Writing System-Reserve (AROWS-R) request and contain the following information:
- Specific reason for travel
- Whether meetings with technical, professional, or scientific organizations are involved
- Whether international conferences or meetings are involved
- Names and titles of foreign governmental contacts, if any
- Proposed itinerary showing complete identification of places to be visited, the length of duty at each place, and inclusive dates of travel
- Information as to any special arrangements which have been made such as provisions for use of special government quarters, messes, open messes, motels, restaurants, etc.
- Current daily locality per diem rates projected or actual daily costs and the difference between the two - Reasons normal accommodations within the prescribed per diem allowance will not suffice and efforts made to obtain accommodations within the per diem rate
- Name and phone number of individual who may be contacted concerning this request

Requests for AEA after tour
For AEA requests after travel has been performed, IRs must submit an OF 1164, Claim for Reimbursement for Expenditures on Official Business, to the Detachment CC, with the questions above answered and copies of any appropriate receipts attached. These claims may also be approved with a Memorandum for Record (MFR) signed by the Det CC submitted with the DD Form 1351-2. Approved forms should be forwarded for payment to IR Travel. Any formal training requests, not unit funded, must be approved by HQ AFRC/A1KE through the Detachment CC. Contact the Detachment CC with any questions regarding reimbursement.

Variations

Variations allow a reservist to travel to more than one duty location within the originally approved time period on an order. The requests must be approved prior to publishing the order. If variations are authorized for MPA tours it must be authorized on the Manpower Military Personnel Appropriation Man-Day Management System (M4S) allocation and listed on the Fund Cite Authorization Letter (FCAL). Variations are not authorized for Verbal Orders of the Commander (VOCO) orders. Each location must be listed as a separate stop in the duty location section of the orders request within AROWS-R. Contact the Detachment CC with any questions about variations authorization.

Dual lodging

Dual lodging may only be authorized/approved in limited circumstances when it is necessary for a traveler to retain lodging at one TDY location (Location A) for other than personal convenience and procure lodging at a second TDY location (Location B) on the same calendar day. Dual lodging exists to cover lodging expenses that arise because of unexpected circumstances beyond the member’s control during TDY travel. Dual lodging must be approved after the fact by an amended order or by the AO on the travel voucher. Any period of dual lodging reimbursement is limited to a maximum of seven consecutive days.

Orders Navigation


TYPES OF ORDERS
Annual Tour Orders
- Deadline for submission
- Annual Tour Special Request (ATSR) Form
- IDTs in Conjunction
MPA Orders
- Fund Cite Authorization
- M4S Task ID
RPA Orders
- ADT Orders
- ADOS Orders
- School Tours
TDY Orders
- Requesting TDY Orders
PCS Orders
- Household Goods
Verbal Orders of the Commander (VOCO)
- VOCO Process
Telecommuting Orders
- Telecommute Agreement
- How to Request Telecommute Orders
 

ORDERS WRITING CELL

The Orders Writing Cell (OWC) is responsible for processing of AROWS-R orders request for Individual Reservist (IR’s) on various MPA/RPA tour types. The OWC role is to review the request for accuracy, validate if the member requires any waivers, and process orders request appropriately in accordance with the JTR and any other Laws/Regulations/Policies.

Order requests will need to have a detailed explanation for the request along with the support documents to assist with processing the request. Per DAFMAN 36-2136 and the IR Guide, orders request must be submitted at least 30 days before the tour start date. If the orders request is within the 30 days window, a Late Order Submission Memo for Record (MFR) by the member’s supported commander, first Colonel (O-6) or above in their chain of command, or civilian equivalent and uploaded with the orders request in myFSS.

Additionally, all Annual tour requests must be submitted by 31 May each year. This is to ensure they are published by 30 June each year per DAFMAN 36-2136. If you are in a situation where it is after 1 June and you haven't put your AT orders request into AROWS-R yet, you'll need to complete this MFR and have it signed by your Active Duty CC or Unit Colonel (0-6), Det CC and approved by the HQ RIO/DO prior to participating on the orders.  These requests can be disapproved at any indorsement level due to submission after 31 May or funding constraints.

OWC will review the orders request and respond with an appropriate action or comments within 4 business days. (dependent on the tour start date) Member's overall readiness should be green.

BENEFITS BREAKDOWN FOR 29, 30, AND 31 DAY ORDERS

Benefit Category Required Order Length Governing Law (U.S. Code) Joint & Departmental Policy
Short Tour Pay Processing (TODC System) 29 days or less 37 USC §204(a) (pay entitlement); 10 USC §101(d)(2) (tour-length definition) DoD FMR Vol 7A; AFMAN 65-116; DAFMAN 36-2136; HQ RIO Order-Based Pay Policy
Long Tour Pay Processing (Pre-Certification) 30 days or more 37 USC §204(a); 10 USC §101(d)(2) DoD FMR Vol 7A; AFMAN 65-116; DAFMAN 36-2136; HQ RIO Order-Based Pay Policy
Leave Accrual 30 days or more (consecutive); rate 2.5 days/month 10 USC §701(a) (incl. "more than 29 days" Title 32 clause); §701(i) (RC carryover) DoDI 1327.06; DAFI 36-3003
TRICARE Prime (Active Duty & Family) 31 days or more (order for more than 30 consecutive days) 10 USC §1074(a) (member); §1076/§1079 (family); §101(d)(2) (definition) 32 CFR Part 199
Line-of-Duty Medical Care (Short Tours) 30 days or less — conditions incurred/aggravated in LOD 10 USC §1074a DoDI 1241.01
BAH Type I & OHA (Locality-Based) 31 days or more (30 or less = flat BAH RC/Transit, unless contingency) 37 USC §403; §403(g) (RC rate) JTR, Chapter 10; DoD FMR Vol 7A, Chapter 26
Family Separation Allowance (FSA) Continuous duty away from dependents more than 30 days 37 USC §427(a)(1)(C) DoD FMR Vol 7A, Chapter 27
TRICARE Reserve Select (TRS) Suspended while on AD orders of more than 30 days (member covered as AD instead) 10 USC §1076d (TRS program itself — suspension rule is regulatory, not statutory) 32 CFR §199.24; TRICARE policy
Dental Care More than 30 days → Active Duty Dental Program; 30 or less → LOD care only 10 USC §1074/§1074a (see also §1145(a)(3)) TRICARE Dental Program policy
TAMP (180-Day Transitional TRICARE) Separation from AD of more than 30 days ordered under §12304b or a §101(a)(13)(B) mobilization authority 10 USC §1145(a)(2)(B) 32 CFR §199.3
Death Gratuity / SGLI No tour-length threshold 10 USC §1475; 38 USC §1965 et seq. DoD FMR Vol 7A, Ch 36; VA SGLI policy


 

myFSS Orders Request
- Link
- Quick Guide
- Requesting orders

AROWS-R Information
- Tracking your orders
- Printing your orders

Order Modifications
- Reasons for a modification
- How to request a modification or cancellation
- Submitting date change mods to RPO

Routing Information
- How is an order routed?
- When is it routed?
- Online Training
- ATSRF
- Sanctuary Waiver
- Fund Cite Authorization Letter
Transportation
- Modes
- Justification
- Corporate Limits/Commuting
- Travel Days

Per Diem
- Government Lodging
- Government Meals
- Non-Availability

Special Authorizations
- Rental Cars
- In/Around Travel
- Registration/Conference Fees
- Actual Expense Allowable (AEA)
- Variations
- Dual Lodging
Certifying Short Tours
- AROWS-R TODC - member
- AROWS-R TODC - certifier
- Troubleshooting

Certifying Long Tours
- Pre-Certification
- Final Certification
- Submission Instructions
Laws/Regulations/Policies (LRPs)

Orders Guidance
- Links
- Contacts for Orders Writers


 

Guides


Quick Guides page graphic link
 

Graphic link The Guide for Individual Reservists page