# Travel Regulations for Non-Defense Agencies, FTR (PCS Only) Course Canonical URL: ## Overview Learn the current rules and regulations for permanent change of station (PCS) travel for civilian employees in non-DoD agencies from expert instructors. Participants will learn the rules for PCS Service Agreements, travel authorizations, use of Government Travel Charge Card (GTCC), per diem allowances, transportation allowances, international travel, en route travel, house hunting trips, temporary quarters subsistence expense, household goods movement, shipment of privately owned vehicle (POV), residential transactions, miscellaneous expense allowance, relocation income tax allowance, temporary change of station and more. ## What you'll learn - Comply with current Federal Travel Regulations (FTR) as contained in Title 41 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), chapters 300 through 304. - Define and describe Service Agreements, travel orders, and other requirements for moving civilian personnel performing permanent change of station (PCS) moves. - Identify and compute allowances and entitlements for civilian personnel who are performing PCS moves. - Calculate per diem entitlements, reimbursable expenses, allowances for PCS moves, total, and PCS reimbursements in all situations. - Describe and utilize the FTR for the movement of household goods, house hunting trips, mobile home allowances, transporting and storing privately owned vehicles (POVs), residence transactions, miscellaneous expense allowances, and more. - Assist civilian employees in resolving complex travel problems. ## Prerequisites Students should have prior experience with federal budgeting concepts, familiarity with appropriation structures and fund controls, and basic skills in monitoring obligations, expenditures, and financial reporting within a government context. ## Curriculum #### Module 1: Introduction to FTR - Define the purpose and authority of the Federal Travel Regulation (FTR). - Understand the FTR’s paragraph numbering system and how to navigate it. - Identify approving officer responsibilities and application of FTR rules. - Access and apply FTR amendments from official sources. #### Module 2: Service Agreements - Explain the requirements and conditions for PCS-related service agreements. - Understand employee obligations and agency responsibilities. - Identify consequences of violating service agreements. #### Module 3: Permanent Change of Station and PCS Orders - Describe the PCS process and the types of PCS orders. - Recognize the necessary authorizations for PCS moves. - Interpret and apply PCS order requirements to various scenarios. #### Module 4: PCS Per Diem and Travel Rules - Calculate PCS per diem rates for CONUS and OCONUS travel. - Apply travel rules for dependents and multiple travel segments. - Understand reimbursement rules for lodging, meals, and incidental expenses. #### Module 5: House-Hunting Trips (HHT) - Define eligibility for HHT benefits and applicable time limits. - Calculate allowable transportation and subsistence expenses. - Apply rules for separate versus concurrent HHT travel. #### Module 6: Allowance for Temporary Quarters Subsistence Expenses (TQSE) - Understand eligibility for TQSE reimbursement. - Calculate allowable expenses for temporary quarters. - Apply rules for extensions and reductions in TQSE duration. #### Module 7: Allowances for Foreign OCONUS PCS - Identify PCS entitlements for foreign OCONUS assignments. - Apply allowances for housing, cost of living, and hardship pay. - Understand transportation and shipment rules for overseas moves. #### Module 8: Household Goods Movement - Explain rules for moving household goods (HHG) during PCS. - Identify weight limits, carrier options, and reimbursement methods. - Apply storage-in-transit rules for HHG. #### Module 9: Household Goods Storage - Understand long-term storage entitlements for PCS moves. - Apply rules for cost reimbursement and storage extensions. #### Module 10: Mobile Home Allowances - Explain entitlements for transporting mobile homes during PCS. - Calculate allowable costs and applicable restrictions. #### Module 11: POV Transportation - Understand rules for transporting privately owned vehicles (POVs). - Identify allowable costs and conditions for shipment. - Apply storage rules for POVs when applicable. #### Module 12: Residence Transactions - Explain reimbursement rules for selling or purchasing a residence. - Identify allowable and non-allowable costs for real estate transactions. - Apply time limits for residence transaction claims. #### Module 13: Miscellaneous Expense Allowances - Define miscellaneous expense allowances and eligibility requirements. - Apply flat rate and itemized reimbursement methods. #### Module 14: Relocation Income Tax Allowance (RITA) - Understand the purpose of RITA in offsetting tax liability from relocation benefits. - Calculate RITA amounts based on eligible reimbursements. - Apply timelines and documentation requirements for RITA claims. #### Module 15: Temporary Change of Station - Define temporary change of station and its applicable entitlements. - Understand rules for travel, per diem, and allowances under TCS. ## Schedule - Jul 14, 2026 – Jul 16, 2026 — Live Online - Sep 15, 2026 – Sep 17, 2026 — Live Online - Dec 2, 2026 – Dec 4, 2026 — Live Online ## Instructors ### Alan B. Robinson — Instructor Mr. Robinson is a seasoned legal and federal employment expert with over two decades of experience. He recently retired from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, where he spent 11 years as Deputy Director/Director for the Office of Outreach, Diversity, and Equal Opportunity (ODEO) and 8 years as Chief of Employee and Labor Relations. In these roles, he provided extensive guidance on federal employment matters, showcasing his deep expertise in labor relations and diversity initiatives. A graduate of the University of Virginia with a B.A. in Government, Mr. Robinson earned his Juris Doctorate from the University of Maryland School of Law. He is licensed to practice law in Maryland and the District of Columbia. Before his federal service, he built a robust legal career, starting as a law clerk for the Baltimore City Orphan’s Court, followed by 10 years as a civil defense litigator with a D.C. law firm, and later operating his own solo practice for 5 years. His private practice focused on representing federal agencies, employees, municipalities, and private entities in employment-related cases before the EEOC, Merit Systems Protection Board, and various courts. Currently, Mr. Robinson shares his wealth of knowledge as an adjunct instructor with the Graduate School USA and serves as a registered arbitrator for the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). His extensive background in law, federal employment, and diversity makes him a valuable resource in his field. ### Kent Miller — Instructor Kent D. Miller, Jr., MBA, CDFM-A, is a highly accomplished financial management expert and educator with over 40 years of experience in both the public and private sectors. A retired U.S. Army officer, Kent has held leadership roles such as Controller/CFO for the U.S. Army Missile Command and Program Manager/Financial Analyst for the Assistant Secretary of the Army. His expertise spans budgeting, cost analysis, managerial accounting, and financial systems implementation. Notably, he managed a $9 billion organization, supervised a financial staff of 150, and developed funding requirements and congressional testimony for senior Army leadership. Kent’s career also includes consulting and training, where he has developed over 50 courses and taught more than 20,000 students from federal agencies and contractors. As an adjunct instructor at Graduate School USA since 2005, Kent specializes in financial management training for federal employees. His courses cover a wide range of topics, including appropriations law, budget formulation and execution, and performance-based budgeting. Kent’s teaching is informed by his extensive experience in planning, programming, and budgeting, as well as his work in reengineering processes to achieve cost savings. He is also a Certified Defense Financial Manager with Acquisition Specialty (CDFM-A) and has been recognized for his leadership in professional organizations such as the Society of Defense Financial Management and the Association of Government Accountants. ### Alan McCain — Curriculum Program Manager Alan McCain is a retired combat veteran who served as both an Air Force enlisted member and a Navy officer. He brings over 30 years of experience spanning federal and commercial budgeting, auditing, programming, operations, global logistics support, supply chain and inventory management, as well as major IT acquisition. He possesses extensive, hands-on budget and audit experience across Federal, State, and Local government operations, including work within the Executive Office of the President and the Departments of State, Defense, Homeland Security, Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, and Education, as well as the Office of the Mayor of Washington, D.C., among others. Alan’s consulting background includes strategic planning and business development with the District of Columbia government, multiple federal agencies, Lockheed Martin, KPMG, and PricewaterhouseCoopers. He is a Certified Government/Defense Financial Manager (CGFM/DFM), holds a Teaching Certification from Harvard University’s Bok Center for Teaching and Learning, and earned an Executive MBA in International Business from The George Washington University. ## Pricing **Tuition:** $1199