In keeping with the National Guard tradition of maximizing State and Federal resources while supporting legislative offices' and military Services' requirements, the National Guard Legislative Liaison (NGB-LL) office examines all Congressional travel and orientation flight requests for military aircraft to ensure they meet documented, lawful criteria. Per Department of Defense Directives (DoDD), Department of Defense Instructions (DoDI), and senior leader guidance, Congressional travel and orientation flight requests must meet several provisions for NGB-LL to recommend them for final approval from the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Legislative Affairs (OASD-LA).

Transportation Flight:

DoDD 4515.12 allows for the Secretary of Defense or the Secretaries of the Military Departments to extend invitations for sponsored non-reimbursable travel to Members of Congress and their staff. The Military Department assigned the travel request recommends OASD-LA requests for sponsored non-reimbursable travel, with OASD-LA holding final approval authority.

All transportation flight requests must be routed through the legislative liaison office of the Military Department assigned sponsored non-reimbursable travel. Transportation flight request from the Army must be routed through the Office of the Chief Legislative Liaison (OCLL) and Air Force request through the Secretary of the Air Force Legislative Liaison (SAF-LL).

Please note that DoDD 4515.12 does not provide the Chief of the National Guard Bureau (CNGB) the authority to extend transportation flight requests. Thus, NGB-LL cannot recommend transportation flight request for approval.

Orientation Flight Request:

According to DoDD 4515.12 and DoDI 4515.13, orientation flights are defined as continuous flights in DoD-owned aircraft performed within the local flying area and terminating at the point of origin. Orientation flights will not be conducted to provide transportation. Orientation flights may be provided to Members of Congress and their staff to familiarize them with topics that fall within their scope of responsibilities (capabilities demonstrations, airspace and/or training range tours, etc.).

All orientation flight requests from States must be routed through NGB-LL for coordination with OASD-LA. NGB-LL can only recommend approval for orientation flights; OASD-LA is the final authority for approval. For specific requirements and template, click the link below.