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                              August 18, 1997
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                             GSBCA 13792-RELO


                     In the Matter of ROBERT E. JACOB

     Robert E. Jacob, Bulverde, TX, Claimant.

     Fred Portillo and Charles Stockwell, Defense Finance and
Accounting Service, Denver Center, Denver, Colorado, appearing for 
the Department of the Air Force.

WILLIAMS, Board Judge.

     Claimant, Robert E. Jacob, a civilian employee of the
Department of the Air Force, seeks temporary quarters subsistence
expenses (TQSE) for ten days in the amount of $500.63 incident to
his permanent change of station from California to Texas.  The
Defense Finance and Accounting Service, Denver Center, denied
reimbursement because claimant was on annual leave during the days
at issue and was also residing in his old permanent residence in
the area of his old permanent duty station.

     For the reasons stated below, we deny the claim.

                                Background

     On May 10, 1993, claimant was issued travel orders incident to
his permanent change of station from Mather Air Force Base,
California, to Randolph Air Force Base, Texas.  He was authorized
TQSE for sixty days.

     The agency allowed claimant his first thirty days of TQSE, but
disallowed TQSE for ten days of the second thirty-day period,
July 21 through July 31, due to the fact that claimant was on
annual leave during that time.  In support of his claim, claimant
stated:

     My current residence is in the area of Randolph and
     should not be disallowed.  It was also accepted for the
     previous month as my temporary residence.  Part of the
     reason I was away from San Antonio, my permanent quarters
     was to return to my former residence in Folsom,
     California, to make repairs to same and straighten out
     some misunderstandings with our real estate agent.

                                Discussion

     Payment of subsistence expenses of an employee and his
immediate family while occupying temporary quarters is authorized
by 5 U.S.C.  5724a(a)(3) (1988), as implemented by the Federal
Travel Regulation, 41 CFR, ch. 302.

     Under 41 CFR 302-5.2(a) (1992), a transferred employee may be
reimbursed subsistence expenses for himself and his immediate
family for up to sixty days while occupying temporary quarters. 
The regulations provide that temporary quarters are to be regarded
as an expedient to be used only for so long as necessary until the
employee can move into permanent residence quarters.  The
regulations expressly provide that "[o]ccupancy of temporary
quarters shall not be approved for vacation purposes or other
reasons unrelated to the transfer."  41 CFR 302-5.2(d); Larry C.
Larson, B-230390 (Sept. 13, 1990).

     Because claimant admittedly seeks TQSE for his vacation, which
is expressly prohibited by regulation, the agency had no choice but
to deny his claim.

                                 Decision

     The claim is denied.




                                   ______________________________
                                   MARY ELLEN COSTER WILLIAMS    
                              Board Judge