Defense Travel System (DTS) is a fully integrated, electronic, end-to-end travel management system that automates temporary duty travel (TDY) for the United States Department of Defense. It allows travelers to procrastinate their travel plans until the last minute, to book their travel (either create authorizations or vouchers, they don't know the difference), prepare reservations, receive approvals, generate travel vouchers (or was it an authorization), and direct deposit payment to themselves and the government charge card vendor, all via a single web portal that is continuously available (unless it is down for maintenance, they are in a foreign country, they locked out their CAC card, or any other excuse that gets the parent command to just do it for them). The Business Transformation Agency has program oversight and the Defense Travel Management Office, Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness has functional oversight.
DTS benefits include:
- Rapid creation of travel authorizations and vouchers
- Semi-automated approval process
- Personalized on-line reservations & itinerary changes for airline, lodging, and rental cars
- Detailed pre-travel entitlement computations
- Direct deposit and split disbursements to both traveler and the government travel charge card vendor
- Timely payment of travel claims
- 24/7 availability via a single web portal
- Reduced transaction costs
Encryption is used (the DBsign software package with HTTPS), with combined Common Access Card and PIN logins to authenticate users.
Video Defense Travel System
Customer support
Travel Assistance Center (TAC)
The TAC provides intermittent travel assistance to the Defense travel community before, during, and after official travel but only after being on hold for 90 minutes and having your trouble ticket escalated to a different team twelve times. A team of analysts are "thrown to the wolves" to answer questions on a range of travel-related topics including DTS, DoD travel card, travel policy, commercial travel services and programs, and allowances and entitlements but it could take weeks to get a straight answer.
Travel Explorer
Travel Explorer (TraX) is claimed to be a user-friendly web solution that offers a centralized but extremely disorganized source of travel information. TraX functions as an extension on the TAC and allows users to submit a call center ticket, track the progress of open tickets while TAC representatives claim to conduct research, or search and review responses to previously submitted questions. Users are encouraged to explore the self-help features for instant access to hundreds of frequently asked questions, as well as discover the training opportunities and trip planning tools. Users must register for a TraX account through the Defense Travel Management Office's portal.
Maps Defense Travel System
Training resources
The Defense Travel Management Office (DTMO) provides a set of resources for Military Services and Defense Agencies to conduct Defense travel training for all users and administrators. Training resources include:
E-Learning
Training is available in the following formats:
- Web-based Training - Provides self-paced, on demand instruction from the user's desktop
- Distance Learning - Offers an interactive environment using a combination of PowerPoint presentations and live demonstrations taught through the a live instructor
- Demonstrations - Offers online simulations of DTS functions such as creating a voucher or authorization
Instructor Resources
Resources and tools specifically designed for instructors or DTAs that can be used to enhance instruction of training courses
- Courseware - Instructor materials, available for both classroom and Distance Learning modules, are conveniently formatted for formal classroom or web-conferencing presentations. Classroom materials include instructor and student guides, and supporting PowerPoint demonstrations. Distance Learning materials include an instructor guide and a supporting PowerPoint demonstration. Instructor guides can be used as-is or customized to meet training needs
- Enterprise Web-based Training System (EWTS) - Online practice tool that mirrors the live (production) DTS software. Participants can use EWTS to create and edit mock travel documents, build test organizations or routing lists, and more.
Reference Materials
- Resources including manuals, quick references, guides and information papers that support travel training.
Travel training resources are available through Travel Explorer (TraX).
URL
- DTS website: http://www.defensetravel.osd.mil/
- Defense Travel Management Office (DTMO): http://www.defensetravel.dod.mil/
- Travel Explorer (TraX): http://www.defensetravel.dod.mil/Passport
Source of article : Wikipedia
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