What you need to know
Respite Journeys (Remote Locations) is available to all Regular Service personnel, Full Time Reserve Service (Full and Limited Commitment) and Additional Duties Commitment personnel who are permanently assigned to either the Scottish Outer Islands or Diego Garcia. Any accompanying immediate family on the assignment are also entitled to this allowance.
It is important that you have read and understood JSP 752 Tri-Service Regulations for Expenses and Allowances (chapter 9, section 2) before proceeding.
If you’re permanently assigned to a location that the MOD deems remote or inhospitable, you’re eligible to take occasional respite breaks – and you can use this allowance to contribute towards the cost of your travel.
The allowance can be used to cover the cost of one return journey per year for you and your accompanying immediate family if you’re serving in Diego Garcia or four return journeys if you’re serving in the Scottish Outer Isles. Your Service will provide a flight ticket for you and your immediate family, but you can travel by ferry if that’s cheaper.
If you're serving in the Scottish Outer Isles, because of the particular challenges of travelling (long ferry journeys and very limited air options), you also may claim up to 3 night’s Night Subsistence.
Children who attend boarding or day school and whose parents receive Continuity of Education Allowances, including those eligible for School Children’s Visits and Continuity of Education Allowance (Guardians) are ineligible for this allowance.
What you need to do
- Apply for authority to travel - You should apply for authority to travel on JPA to generate an authorised journey number. To do this:
- logon to JPA
- click JPA Self Service -Employee, Armed Forces
- click JPA Journey Application Claim
- click Self Service Journey Claim
The Journey Application history will be displayed.
- click Balances to proceed to the Current Journey Balances
- select the appropriate journey type (you may only have 1 option showing) and press Continue
- select Persons Travelling by clicking the Select box next to their name
- click Continue
- use the drop-down menus to select Outbound/ Inbound leg
- use the drop-down menus to select Method of Travel e.g. air, bus, car, ferry, passenger in car, train
- use Add Journey Leg to insert next stage of travel.
JPA cannot process half journeys (one way only), therefore when a half warrant (one way only) has been used you should contact your Unit HR Admin who can adjust your balance accordingly.
Where GYH(O) entitlement is to be split over 2 journeys on occasions when the Service Person is unable to accompany family members to the UK (for Service reasons) and provided travel is to the same qualifying address you should contact your Unit HR Admin who can adjust your balance accordingly.
Manually submitted claims or claims for GYH (EY)(OA) must also be adjusted manually by the Unit HR Admin − JSP 752 Part 2 Chapters 5 & 6 refers.
- click Continue when all legs complete
You will now see a review of your journey application.
- note down the Journey Number
When the journey application is approved the journey number will be required to make your claim using JPA iExpenses.
- click Continue to submit your journey application
You will see a Confirmation page, again showing your Journey Number.
- click Exit to close the screen
If you have forgotten to note the Journey Claim details or would like an update on your request, go back into Self Service Journey Claim where this screen will show your Journey Number and current Status.
2. Arrange travel
To arrange tickets for your journey, you should then speak to your Unit HR Admin or Personnel Office or travel centre.
3. Book accommodation if appropriate
If you are travelling from the Scottish Outer Isles, any accommodation must be booked using American Express Global Business Travel.
Follow the guidance to claim subsistence for food and accommodation costs.
