Wanting some clarification on how things are going to work from here on out.

Background: TSgt on unaccompanied one-year tour at Osan. Brought "500 pounds" (actually closer to double that but they didn't separate pro-gear when they packed it even though I told them what was and wasn't pro-gear) to a dorm room. Got approved to live off-base and moved self to an apartment in town. Received DLA and MIHA because I moved out of the dorm less than 60 days after arriving on base. Wife and three kids here non-command-sponsored. Rest of household goods in storage by last base in California, paying out of pocket so as to not lose follow-on orders to Germany. Car with family in New Jersey.

Question: What are my rights in handling my trip to my next base with respect to co-ordinating the TMO shipment out of California?

I was told that because I have consecutive overseas tours, the Air Force will pay to fly me to my home of record (New Jersey) between the assignments. Would they plan my trip so I can have enough layover in California to supervise the TMO shipment from my storage unit? If not, what are my options? Can I purchase the ticket myself and get reimbursed for the amount they would have paid? Where is my family authorized to fly from? Where am I allowed to ship my car from?

With all due respect, I'm looking for straight answers and not "This is what happened to us..." or "My best friend's cousin's dog's groomer's sister's brother-in-law said..." References to appropriate regs would be especially appreciated.

Thanks.

Well, sorry I can't give you regs. I can only tell you what we found out when leaving North Dakota in December-- where our stuff is also in storage at our cost.

They will fly you back to your home of record to get your stuff packed up and shipped by TMO without it costing you leave time. You will want to have your orders sent to TMO at your last base so they can schedule packing/pick up dates. Then after you have that arranged, you'll want to go and have them buy your tickets. Your wife and kids can get their flights scheduled through them, as well, but they will only pay for the cost of flying from your last base to Germany. So, if they fly straight from here, it will probably all be covered. If they want to go back to NJ with you, it will probably cost them to fly back to the states, and then the government will pay for the tickets out of the states. There are several places you can take your car to be shipped over, but I only know a couple on the west coast. No help there.

We had LOTS of questions before Matt moved over here. We were told they would pack up our stuff and we could pay to store it, then they changed their minds. We thought that would be much easier, and cheaper, for them. They could have it all packed and ready until they actually had to move it to the next base, and they wouldn't have to pay for Matt to fly back to the states to have it packed up. Instead, we packed it and stored it. Then we are having friends back in North Dakota open our storage locker and watch them re-pack everything, and we are having Matt's parents drive our car to the port in SF to be shipped.

Oh... and we were never told they would pay to send Matt to his home of record-- only back to our last base. But, you can just get the tickets yourself and be reimbursed up to a certain amount. Then you can schedule whatever days you want and take as much leave as you want.

Sorry I'm not too much help. I hoped I helped a little, though.

Okay... I talked to DH some more and he said he has all the regs on his flash drive. So, I can either email you guys the regs or we can just plug that flash drive into your home computer and transfer the files over. After what we went through with TMO and finance in December, Matt's been reading up so we don't get lied to again. :)

The JFTR is a HUGE regulation... good luck with that!

Not only is the JFTR a regulation that must be consulted, there is also an AF and PACAF supplement. I will do some research on this. I know that the answer is, but just want to verify with the books.

Fishe, any luck finding what you went diving into the books for?

Had a soju moment and forgot all about this. I am on leave right now, but going to work this week. Will check into it for you.

About ready to start my long trek to Kunsan at the beginning of the month (Jul).

Yeah, the JFTR is huge, but believe it or not, it is packed with a bunch of stuff that doesn't apply to your situation. Like field orders, or premium travel for civilian administrators for DODDS, or how to ship a military working dog with it's own accompanied handler.
So you go to the index, and lo and behold, you find the page or two that deals with what you're looking for.
Ctrl+f: it's your friend, and it knocks that big, bad JFTR down to size for you...

What?! The world doesn't revolve around me?!