Software streamlines travel process

  • Published
  • By Army Sgt. 1st Class Doug Sample
  • American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON (AFPN) --  A new software program being tested by defense travel system officials will make arranging, paying and reimbursing official government travel a speedy, seamless and almost paperless process, according to officials.

A software program, called the "Enhanced Jefferson," is transforming the way the Department of Defense does temporary-duty travel, said Army Col. Larry Schaefer, travel system director.

"The whole idea is that we are automating the TDY process for all of the Department of Defense," he said.

The program allows the system to operate similar to many online travel Web sites by providing government

travelers information for selecting airlines, rental cars and lodging.

In addition, Schaefer said it allows government travelers to complete their travel vouchers and compute costs of travel online from their workstation.

Using digital signatures for security, travelers can log onto a Web site and begin the authorization process. They select the type of travel, input departure and return dates, and make their travel arrangements, he said.

The system automatically calculates per diem rates, to include meals and incidental expenses based on the destination of travel, he said. Upon return, travelers can add additional expenses such as parking fees and mileage reimbursements.

Schaefer said that because the online version already has the traveler's information, "you can literally file a voucher within minutes."

The program is an improvement on the paper process, which he said has been a cumbersome process that often times included "40 or 50 steps." By comparison, the new process has just seven steps.

"Travelers will see that they get paid much quicker," he said. "Instead of the cumbersome manual processes of today, that require some significant amount of time, everything is done automatically, and (it) saves time."

The program is being tested at 20 pilot sites and awaiting final DOD approval before it can be used by all travelers, Schaefer said.

Pilot sites include Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D.; Beaufort Marine Corps Air Station, S.C.; Fort Campbell, Ky.; Camp Pendleton, Calif.; Fort McPherson, Ga.; Vance AFB, Okla.; and Defense Security Cooperation Agency, Arlington, Va.

The new system is expected to be in place DOD-wide by the fall 2006, Schaefer said.

The Web site can be found at http://www.defensetravel.com.