COVID FAQS Travel
Travel
Fact Sheet: Permanent Change of Station Restart pdf.
Fact Sheet: Conditions-based Phase Approach to Personnel Movement and Travel pdf.
Q1: Is NPS travel restricted?
A1: Yes. We have received direction from the Secretary of Defense, Secretary of the Navy, and assorted other authorities in the form of Stop Movement orders. Under these orders, until further notice, all official travel must stop (to include PCS and TDY), unless certain conditions are met, with exceptions only for mission-essential travel, humanitarian reasons, or for extreme hardship,
Leave travel for military personnel is also restricted to the local commuting area.
- Per DOD CMO’s Force Health Protection Guidance, Supplement 4, issued March 10, 2020, all returnees from CDC-Level 2 countries must go into 14-day quarantine.
- The CDC currently has a Level 3 notice in effect worldwide, so all returning international travelers must go into 14-day quarantine.
To request a waiver to travel restrictions see the link at: https://nps.edu/web/travel/COVID-Waiver.
Q2: What are the most current travel restrictions for all DOD uniformed and civilian personnel and their sponsored family members not under the responsibility of a US Chief of Mission?
A2: SECDEF Memo on May 22, 2020 Subject: Transition to Conditions-based Phased Approach to Coronavirus Disease 2019 Personnel Movement and Travel Restrictions states:
The link to the 22 May SECDEF memo concerning travel restrictions is at: https://nps.edu/documents/103400247/116146062/SECDEF_Condition-Based+Phased+Approach+to+Personnel+Movement+and+Travel+....pdf/58fef054-2337-209f-b5ac-881335420e82?t=1590618311967
NAVADMIN 168/20 implements the SECDEF policy for the Navy, and provides a COVID-19 Unrestricted Travel Tracker of state/regional color codes (green/red) along with installation-level color codes (green/red). For travel to be unrestricted, the combination of color codes for both the “From” & “To” locations must be all green. E.g, for someone planning travel from NPS to the Washington Navy Yard, the color codes for the From location (NPS) must be green for the state (California) and green for the installation (NSAM), AND the color codes for the To location (Washington Navy Yard) must be green for the state (District of Columbia) and green for the installation (Washington Navy Yard). Any appearance of red within the four dimensions would subject that trip to the Stop Movement Order, and travel would not be permitted without an approved exception.
Pres. Rondeau issued Supplemental Guidance for Temporary Duty Travel of Personnel on 24 Jun 20, to conform NPS travel policy to the SECDEF memo and NAVADMIN 168/20
Supplemental Guidance for Temporary Duty Travel of Personnel.pdf
For the full text of NAVADMIN 168/20, please go to https://www.public.navy.mil/bupers-npc/reference/messages/Documents/NAVADMINS/NAV2020/NAV20168.txt
To view the COVID-19 Unrestricted Travel Tracker, please go to https://www.mnp.navy.mil/group/don-covid-19-travel-tracker. (Access to spreadsheet requires users to log in to My Navy Portal)
DOD CMO’s Force Health Protection Guidance, Supplement 4, issued March 11, 2020, states:
- All returnees from CDC-Level 2 countries must go into 14-day quarantine.
- The CDC currently has a Level 3 notice in effect worldwide, so all returning international travelers must go into 14-day quarantine.
- Individuals pending retirement or separation within the next 60 days are exempt.
Q3: Who is processing changes/cancellations?
A3: Staff at the Travel Office are cancelling pending and previously approved authorization, and will notify all whose trips are cancelled, and those whose trips have been authorized to continue. NPS personnel currently on travel may remain on their trips, however:
Per DOD CMO’s Force Health Protection Guidance, Supplement 4, issued March 10, 2020, all returnees from international travel must go into 14-day quarantine.
Contact SATO directly at (855) 744-4659 to process alterations to itineraries.
Q4: Can I execute my departure transfer as currently planned?
A4: In general, no. PCS travel has been suspended; the COS, DOS, and Pres. Rondeau are reviewing requests for exception case-by-case, and may submit selected requests to CNO for consideration.
Q5: What do I do if I receive notification that my AMC Port Call is canceled?
A5: For a canceled AMC Port Call, NAVPTO will notify the MBR via email and issue commercial GOVAIR travel instead.
To email NAVPTO Bangor WA: W_CNI_BREM_NAVPTO-Bangor_US@navy.mil.
Q6: If my travel is canceled, can I recover my fees and charges?
A6: Cancellation charges are expected. AO authorization for reimbursements are dependent upon where the decision to cancel was made, for pre-emptive cancellations, and the issuance of travel advisories for certain areas. Directed cancellations because of a travel advisory restricting travel to the TDY location or from the direction of management are reimbursable.
Q7: May I request Advanced or Delayed Dependent Travel Secretarial Approval
(ADT/DDT) to have my family remain CONUS as preventive measure against
COVID-19 if my orders direct PCS to the affected countries?
A7: No guidance currently exists for COVID-19 ADT/DDT requests. Coordinate with detailers to request permission to change ORDMODs from Accompanied to Unaccompanied.
PERS-451H manages ADT/DDT requests for Secretarial Approval. Justification is required for BAH based on Dependent Location, and the requirements IAW JTR 100902 and OPNAVINST 7220.12-5b must be met. MBRs who do not meet the requirements must get Secretarial Approval for BAH-Dependent Location if requesting that DEPNS remain CONUS if under Accompanied Orders to an OCONUS location.
Q8: Can I travel in premium accommodations to minimize my exposure to others?
A8: Premium class travel is approved at the DNS level but is limited to medical needs and special needs, mission requirements/availability, Congressional travel, and factors unrelated to the COVID-19 situation. Approval takes at least 45 days.
Q9: Is NPS discouraging families from joining reporting students?
A9: Yes. Within CONUS, travel is discouraged outside of the local commuting area. From OCONUS, PCS is suspended, and anyone arriving in the US from anywhere in the world should self-quarantine.
NPS cannot require families to self-quarantine, but can restrict their access to the campus, and students (if not already subject to quarantine due to their own travel) would be subject to quarantine as a result of their contact with them.
Q10: May I drive my POV to my TDY location and receive reimbursement for the total
miles driven, not limited to the cost of what the Government would have paid for an
airline ticket?
A10: In the event that travel is authorized, regardless of COVID-19, the rules of “constructed travel” still apply to official travel. Reimbursement in excess of what the Government would have paid for POV mileage in excess of 400 miles one-way or 800 miles round-trip may only occur if the POV cost is less than the Government procured airline costs and avoided costs, if the mission cannot be accomplished by commercial means (i.e. no airline or rental cars are available), or if there is a mission requirement that cannot be otherwise met without the traveler using his/her POV.
Q11: Is lodging reimbursable within my PDS if I am required to self-quarantine to prevent
community spread?
A11: Lodging within the PDS, or other location because of quarantine is not reimbursable. Household members are advised to follow the guidance provided by the CDC.
Q12: On official travel, are hygienic products purchased as preventative measures to
COVID-19 reimbursable travel expenses?
A12: Products purchased related to COVID-19 are personal expenses, not reimbursable travel expenses, unless they are necessary to the mission. If so, they may be reimbursed via a SF 1164 or through similar means.
Q13: Has the State Department issued any new travel restrictions or advisories?
A13: The State department has issued a Level-4 advisory for all travelers coming stateside from overseas:
Q14: In what areas locally is travel authorized?
A14: Effective March 16, and continuing through subsequent directives, SECDEF and the DON have issued travel restrictions that authorize leave for service members, DOD civilians and their families within the local area, defined as the counties of Santa Cruz, Santa Clara, San Benito and the portion of Monterey County extending down to the southern extremity of the city limits of King City, California.
Q15. Are there any exemptions to the Stop Movement Order?
A15: Exemptions include:
Travel associated with uniformed personnel recruiting and accessions activities, to include accessions, basic training, advanced individual training, and follow-on travel to the first duty station. The Military Departments will notify SECDEF prior to reducing or suspending recruiting, accessions, basic training, or advanced individual training.
Travel by patients, as well as their authorized escorts and attendants, for purposes of medical treatment. Travel by medical providers for the purposes of medical treatment for DoD personnel and their families is also authorized.
Travel for Global Force Management (GFM) activities (defined as deployments/redeployments ordered in the GFM Allocation Plan and Combatant Command Assigned Force Demand tasking, including Service internal rotations to support, and TDY used to source ordered capabilities). Such travel to execute Operations, Activities, and Investments or Service-related training will be coordinated between the Combatant Command, the Joint Staff, and the appropriate Military Depa1tment. All GFM-scheduled deployments/redeployments of U.S. Navy vessel and embarked units and personnel is authorized, provided they are in-transit and have met the 14-day restriction of movement provided for under reference (e), and any applicable subsequent guidance.
Travel by authorized travelers who departed their permanent duty station and are "awaiting transportation," and by authorized travelers who have already initiated travel (including intermediate stops). Such travelers are authorized to continue travel to their final destination on approved orders.
Travel by authorized travelers whose TDY ends while this directive is in effect. Such travelers are authorized to return to their permanent duty station.
Travel authorized by the Commander, U.S. Transportation Command
(USTRANSCOM), to continue execution of the Joint Deployment and Distribution Enterprise as required to project and sustain the Joint Force globally. This includes forces (aircrews, vessel crews, and mission essential personnel) ordered on prepare to-deploy orders alert status, air refueling, global patient movement, mortuary affairs support, inland surface, sea and air sustainment missions, support to other U.S. Agencies (as approved by SECDEF), and moves of personnel and equipment that support USTRANSCOM's global posture requirements.
Travel by individuals pending retirement or separation. Specific to Service members, travel is authorized to take transition leave. All other leave not associated with transition leave is governed by existing travel restrictions.
Travel by those under authority of a Chief of Mission and authorized by that Chief of Mission.
Travel to and from Professional Military Education programs
Travel associated with formal, entry-level civilian accession programs, such as government-funded internships and fellowships
Travel by civilian employees complying with overseas tour rotation agreement requirements.
Q16: Are there any waivers to the current Stop Movement Order?
A16: Waivers may be granted in writing in cases where the travel is: (1) determined to be mission-essential; (2) necessary for humanitarian reasons; or (3) was warranted due to extreme hardship. Waivers will be executed on a case-by-case basis, must be determined to be in the best interest of the U.S. Government, and coordinated between the gaining and losing organizations. Mission-essential travel refers to work that must be performed to ensure the continued operations of mission-essential functions, including positions that are deemed key and essential, as determined by the responsible DoD Component.
Approval authority for waivers belongs to:
The Combatant Commander if the individual is assigned or allocated to a Combatant Command;
The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff if the individual is assigned to the Joint Staff;
The Secretary of the Military Department concerned for personnel under his/her jurisdiction;
The Chief of the National Guard Bureau (NGB) for all personnel assigned, attached, or allocated to the NGB and, for travel using Federal funds, all travel by title 32 and title 5 personnel assigned throughout the National Guard; and
The Chief Management Officer for personnel in the Office of the Secretary of Defense, Defense Agencies, DoD Field Activities, and any other DoD entities not listed above.
Authority to approve waivers may be delegated in writing no lower than the first general or flag officer or member of the Senior Executive Service or equivalent in the traveler's chain of command or supervision. Delegations previously authorized remain in effect until those delegations are rescinded or superseded. References in prior delegations to "member of the Senior Executive Service" are deemed to include equivalent personnel.
Requests for exception should be submitted using the form at this link: https://nps.edu/web/travel/COVID-Waiver
Q17: Where can I find links to the current travel policy/guidance documents