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DOD Plans Return to 'Defense Travel System'

In a memorandum released last month, the Defense Department announced that previous directions to begin using the new MyTravel system have been repealed, and agencies should instead return to using the existing Defense Travel System.  

A webpage gives information about trips to Ramstein, Germany, and Misawa, Japan.

"DOD organizations currently using MyTravel are no longer required to use the system," wrote Gilbert R. Cisneros Jr., undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness, in a memorandum dated May 24. "Additionally, DOD organizations may suspend the planning and implementation of future financial system integrations."  

Both the Defense Travel System, or DTS, and MyTravel, are web-based applications that allow military and civilian personnel within the military services and DOD to plan official government travel.   

The systems automate the booking of flights, lodging and rental cars and also produce official travel orders. When returning from a trip, the systems allow for the documenting of expenses and the generation of vouchers so travelers can be compensated for their expenses.  

The Defense Travel System has been in use within the department for about 25 years. Before that, travel was planned using paper forms and telephones.  

A service member sits at a desk with a laptop and a computer screen.

In August 2018, the department announced it had selected SAP Concur's software as a service product, later branded as MyTravel, to replace DTS.  And in an October 2022 memorandum, Cisneros directed DOD travelers to begin using MyTravel, when possible.   

That direction has now been rescinded. Instead, travelers are instructed to use DTS for all new travel that ends after July 13, 2023.  

Cisneros said DOD will cease MyTravel operations in September 2023.  

Officials within the DOD's Defense Human Resources Activity said continued development of the MyTravel system is no longer in the best interests of the Department.  

Reasons for that include decreases in travel due to COVID-19 , increases in virtual meetings, and a shift in departmental focus to achieving a clean financial audit.  

According to a DOD press release, the department spends about $9 billion annually on travel, with temporary duty travel comprising about 70 percent of all travel vouchers.  

For More Information  "MyTravel" Update      Repeal of Mandatory Use of MyTravel   

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IMAGES

  1. DoD Travel Systems

    defense travel

  2. PPT

    defense travel

  3. Defense Travel Management Office

    defense travel

  4. Defense Travel System Issue

    defense travel

  5. DOD Launches Travel System Prototype

    defense travel

  6. Defense Travel System (DTS) being upgraded to new system by 2025

    defense travel

COMMENTS

  1. Defense Travel System

    DTS is a web-based system that allows military members and DoD civilian personnel to book and manage official travel and expenses. Learn how to use DTS, access travel news and resources, and get reimbursed for your trips.

  2. Defense Travel Management Office

    Find information and resources for DoD travelers, including passport applications, per diem rates, training, regulations, health and safety, and rewards. Note: some passport applications will be inaccessible on March 21, 2024.

  3. Defense Travel System

    This web page explains the terms and conditions of using the Defense Travel System (DTS), a USG-authorized travel management system for official DoD travel. It covers the privacy and ethics policy, the data protection and security measures, the user agreement, and the routine uses of DTS data and information.

  4. Passport

    Passport is a USG Information System for authorized travelers to access travel services and information. You need a password or a CAC/PIV card to log in or register.

  5. DoD Booking Systems

    Defense Travel System. In the Defense Travel System, or DTS, users can search for airline, hotel, and rental car reservations, check per diem rates, and prepare personal travel documents or, with the proper permissions, documents for others. Travelers can also use DTS to manage their personal profile and travel preferences, prepare local travel ...

  6. PDF Defense Travel System (DTS) Guide 1: Getting Started

    Defense Travel Management Office 3 travel.dod.mil Chapter 1: System Introduction The Defense Travel System (DTS) is a fully integrated, electronic, end-to-end travel management system automating temporary duty (TDY) travel for the Department of Defense (DoD). It allows travelers to create

  7. PDF DoD Defense Travel System (DTS) Best Practices Guide

    3.6 Finance Defense Travel Administrator. A Finance Defense Travel Administrator (FDTA) is a person in the budget, resource management, accounting, or finance field that is responsible for assisting in the management and support of DTS at the organizational level as designated by the responsible commander.

  8. Defense Travel Management Office

    Official website of the Defense Travel Management Office (DTMO), the single focal point for commercial travel within the Department of Defense. An official website of the United States government

  9. DOD Plans Return to 'Defense Travel System'

    The Defense Travel System is a web-based application that allows military and Defense Department civilian personnel to plan official government travel. "DOD organizations currently using MyTravel ...

  10. Joint Travel Regulations

    Joint Travel Regulations. The Joint Travel Regulations (JTR) implements policy and law to establish travel and transportation allowances for Uniformed Service members (i.e., Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Space Force, Coast Guard, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Corps, and Public Health Service Commissioned Corps), Department of Defense (DoD) civilian ...

  11. Defense Human Resources Activity > Headquarters > Defense Travel System

    Defense Travel System (DTS) A seamless, paperless, automated system, DTS is the Department of Defense's (DoD) official travel system, streamlines the entire process involved in global travel. General information . DTS Web site DTS information, news, answers to frequently asked questions, and more. (Note: A Common Access Card is required to log ...

  12. Defense Travel Management Office

    Defense Travel Management Office | Home

  13. Defense Travel System

    Ext: Defense Lodging System (DLS) is currently: Operational. Ext: Archiving Services (DMDC) is currently: Operational. Featuring the best practices in industry and plug-and-play components, Defense Travel System streamlines the entire process involved in global Department of Defense (DoD) travel.

  14. Policy & Regulations

    Government Travel Charge Card Regulations. Outlines policies for military and civilian cardholders. Policies and laws governing official travel on behalf of the U.S. Department of Defense.

  15. Support

    Contact the Travel Assistance Center (TAC) If you still need help, it's time to contact the TAC. Check to see if your issue can be handled by Live Chat. Chat is available Monday - Friday, 8AM-6PM ET. Login to TraX and click Travel Assistance to create a help ticket or check the status of an existing ticket. Call 1-888-HELP1GO (1-888-435-7146 ...

  16. Travel Assistance Center

    The Travel Assistance Center (TAC) provides DoD-wide support for issues unresolved or unaddressed at the local level. Staffed by a team of trained analysts, the TAC offers escalated assistance across the spectrum of defense travel including help with DTS issues, Commercial Travel Programs, and Travel Policy. The TAC surveys users to measure the ...

  17. eLearning

    eLearning includes web-based and distance learning courses accessible through TraX, DTMO's training application inside Passport. To access TraX, you must have a Passport account. Passport is the single sign-on portal to permission-based applications related to DoD commercial travel.

  18. DoD Booking Systems

    Defense Travel System. In the Defense Travel System, or DTS, users can search for airline, hotel, and rental car reservations, check per diem rates, and prepare personal travel documents or, with the proper permissions, documents for others. Travelers can also use DTS to manage their personal profile and travel preferences, prepare local travel ...

  19. Training

    The Defense Travel Management Office (DTMO) provides a comprehensive set of resources to conduct training. They include eLearning, reference materials, and instructor resources. A training search lookup tool allows you to view all training resources.

  20. Constructed Travel

    The Constructed Travel Worksheet is used to compare costs between travel modes. Once completed and uploaded in DTS, an Authorizing Official (AO) uses information from the worksheet to determine the authorized travel mode and establish any limits on reimbursement. The same worksheet is used for pre-travel and post-travel constructed comparisons ...

  21. PDF Department of Defense

    December 27, 2023. This page is left blank intentionally. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE DEFENSE TRAVEL SYSTEM REGULATIONS. 0301 GENERAL. 030101. Overview. In accordance with DoD Instruction 5154.31, Volume 3, it is Department of Defense (DoD) policy that DTS is the single online travel system used by the DoD.