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● Extended TDY Assignments. For additional information on TDY trips of 30 consecutive
calendar days or longer made to one destination, see Section 7.
1.3.5 Identifying Trip Purpose Codes
Travelers are required to use one of the following trip purpose codes in ETS:
● Conference Attendance (C). Travel performed in connection with a prearranged
meeting, retreat, convention, seminar or symposium for consultation, exchange of
information or discussion. The traveler must distinguish between conference and training
attendance and use the appropriate purpose code based on what will be done during the
majority of time on TDY travel (see Training Attendance in this section).
● Entitlement Travel (E). Employee or immediate family member travel related to outside
the Continental United States (OCONUS) tour renewal, as applicable.
● Employee Emergency Travel (G). Travel related to an unexpected occurrence, event,
injury or illness that affects the employee directly and personally and that requires
immediate action and attention. For example, a traveler is incapacitated by illness, injury
or death; death or serious illness of a family member; or catastrophic occurrence or
impending disaster that directly affects the employee’s home. This code also includes
travel for medical care, medical attendant transportation and assistance travel for an
employee with special needs while employee is in TDY status away from the official
station.
● Training Attendance (T). Travel in conjunction with educational activities to become
proficient or qualified in one or more areas of responsibility. As defined in 5 United
States Code (U.S.C.) § 4101(4), “training” means the process of providing for and
making available to an employee, and placing or enrolling the employee in a planned,
prepared, and coordinated program, course, curriculum, subject, system, or routine of
instruction or education, in scientific, professional, technical, mechanical, trade, clerical,
fiscal, administrative, or other fields which will improve individual and organizational
performance and assist in achieving the agency’s mission and performance goals.” The
term “conference” may also apply to training activities that are considered to be
conferences under 5 C.F.R. § 410.404, which states that “agencies may sponsor an
employee’s attendance at a conference as a developmental assignment under Section 5
U.S.C. § 4101, when:
o (a) The announced purpose of the conference is educational or instructional;
o (b) More than half of the time is scheduled for a planned, organized exchange of
information between presenters and audience which meets the definition of
“training” in Section 5 U.S.C. § 4101;
o (c) The content of the conference is germane to improving individual and
organizational performance; and
o (d) Development benefits will be derived through the employee’s attendance.
Travelers must distinguish between conference and training attendance and use the
appropriate identifier (see Conference Attendance in this section). Examples include job
required training, internships and forums.
● Mission (Operational) (M). Travel to a particular site in order to perform operational or
managerial activities, or to attend a meeting to discuss general agency operations, review
status reports or topics of general interest. For example employee’s day-to-day
operational or managerial activities, as defined by the agency, to include, but not be
limited to hearings, site visits, information meetings, inspections, audits, investigations
and examinations.