Renewal Agreement Travel (RAT)
Renewal Agreement Travel (RAT) is managed by the Renewal Agreement Travel (RAT) & Educational Travel (EdT) Branch. The branch is responsible for supporting Outside Contiguous United States (OCONUS) employees and authorized dependents returning home between tours of duty.
RAT/Ed travel orders and flight reservations are facilitated by the Resource Management (RM) RAT/EdT Branch. The RAT/EdT Branch utilizes the Defense Travel System (DTS) to process travel orders and make flight reservations for upcoming RAT/EdT. The RAT/EdT Branch employees serve as liaisons with Civilian Human Resource Agency (CHRA), the Travel Management Companies (TMC), and DoDEA employees to ensure proper execution of RAT in accordance with governmental regulations.
The RAT/EdT Branch supports DoDEA employees with the following tasks:
- Educate DoDEA employees by providing travel instructions
- Create DTS travel orders
- Book flight reservations in DTS
- Review, amend, and cancel DTS authorizations for RAT
- Provide written Approving Official authorization for self-procurement of airfare based on the cost analysis by the Branch Specialist
- Enter and process vouchers for travel reimbursement and reconciliation
- Manage RAT Debt Collections
Systems used for Renewal Agreement Travel
- TOPS – Online portal to request a RAT Travel Authorization (DD Form 1614)
- DTS RAT/EDT Authorizations - Resource Management Service Request – Online portal to request travel orders and flight reservations.
- DTS - Department of Defense Travel website for creating travel orders, booking flight reservations in DTS, and settling of travel vouchers.
- DoDEA Administrative Instruction 5050.05 - DoDEA Renewal Agreement Travel Program
- JTR – Joint Travel Regulations for DoD Travel
- DSSR – Department of State Standardized Regulations for Educational Travel
- Info Sheet - Renewal Agreement Travel (RAT)
- Info Sheet - RAT and EdT Voucher
Required documents for Renewal AgreementTravel
- Travel Authorization - (refer to DoDEA employee “How to submit a RAT/EdT request for travel” for guidance)
- TOPS – DD1614
- DoDEA Form 5050 – Travel Reservation Request
- Travel Voucher – (refer to RAT/EdT Voucher info sheet and “Review and Sign DTS Voucher” info sheet for guidance)
- E-ticket receipt or flight invoice
- Receipt for any expense over $75/USD
- Receipt for accompanied/unaccompanied baggage (any dollar value)
For assistance with TOPS please contact CHRA.
For questions or assistance with your DTS RAT travel orders and or vouchers please communicate directly with your assigned RM specialist through your service now platform.
It's never too early to start planning for your RAT. Upon approval of DD Form 1614 in TOPS, a RM RAT and EdT Branch Specialist is assigned to facilitate communication and travel coordination with each employee. Please refer to the “how to” guide above on submitting requests for RAT/EdT.
The Branch Specialists will make flight reservations in DTS in accordance with the Travel Management Service (TMS). Travelers are not authorized to self-procure without prior written Approving Official authorization, that is provided by the Branch Specialist.
A Branch Specialist engages with employees after approval of the DD Form 1614 in TOPS, to draft travel arrangements in the DTS. Please refer to the “how to” guide above on submitting requests for RAT/EdT. Flight reservations are established in the DTS and must be in accordance with the Travel Management Service (TMS). Once travel arrangements are established, the DTS reservation is approved, allowing flight reservations to be ticketed.
RAT eligible educators may begin travel no sooner than the following dates (unless specifically stated otherwise on the TOPS authorization DD Form 1614.
- Europe and Pacific - 5/22/25
- SHAPE - 5/28/25
- AFNorth - 6/2/25
- Bahrain – 6/1/25
- Garmish – 5/28/25
GS employees may elect to take RAT anytime during the calendar year and are not restricted by the above dates, however only after the completion of the effective transportation agreement.
Yes, the sponsoring employee must exercise RAT for any authorized dependent to travel.
One-way travel is only authorized under certain circumstances.
Luggage and UAB allowances are authorized by the JTR. For more information reference the JTR 055006 (Baggage Transportation).
Lodging is not authorized unless the only air transportation itinerary provided by the TMC (SATO, OWT) requires an overnight (Cuba travelers are provided 1 night of lodging as AMC flights are the only option on/off the island). Rental cars are not authorized unless previously approved on the travel order.
Yes, all RAT orders require reconciliation attesting the travel occurred.
Vouchers are submitted via the RM Global Service Desk. Please refer to the RAT and EdT voucher info sheet above for guidance.
En route stops are NOT authorized. Travelers are authorized the most direct roundtrip transportation to and from the closest commercial transportation terminal from the PDS OCONUS to the sponsoring employee’s HOR or authorized alternate location, whichever is least expensive.
Open-jaws tickets are NOT authorized. Open-jaws is an airline ticket where the departure and/or arrival cities are different for the outbound and return flights.
