11.2 Official Travel Expenses and Allowances (AFH-1 Section 12B)

11.2 Official Travel Expenses and Allowances (AFH-1 Section 12B)

Quick Answer: Official PCS or TDY, including professional military education and training, is often reimbursable if you follow the rules accurately and on time. File DTS or DD Form 1351-2 within five business days of return, settle by electronic funds transfer, and use split disbursement to pay the GTCC. Per diem is prescribed meals and incidentals plus actual lodging not to exceed the location cap. TLE is CONUS PCS lodging on a travel voucher; TLA is OCONUS PCS lodging in military pay on the LES. Per diem dollars are in the JTR, not in AFH 1.

Section 12B is ADTC B for SSgt and TSgt. 12A required the card; 12B tests how you travel, how you file, and what happens if the card goes past due.

Authorized expenses and the JTR pointer

Members travel for PCS or TDY, including PME and training. Costs are often reimbursable only when regulations are followed accurately and timely. Mixed modes, transoceanic limits, and locality rates live in the Joint Travel Regulation.

Permanent change of station allowances

Individually billed account (IBA) government travel charge card use is authorized and highly encouraged for all PCS-related expenses.

PCS advance payments cover extraordinary relocation expenses not covered by other entitlements: up to three months of basic pay, less mandatory deductions and current debts. E-3 and below need immediate commander approval. Anyone requesting repayment beyond 12 months or more than one month's basic pay also needs that approval; periods beyond 12 months are only for financial hardship.

A member may ship household goods within weight limits that normally depend on grade and number of dependents. Dislocation allowance is a Secretary of Defense rate, paid to members with dependents when dependents relocate household goods with the PCS, and to members without dependents not assigned permanent government quarters at the new station. Unaccompanied baggage by commercial air is capped at 1,000 pounds net. When authorized, one privately owned vehicle may ship on overseas PCS. U.S.-certificated air carriers are required for government-funded commercial air unless unavailable. Personally procured transoceanic travel is not reimbursed. Dependent travel by privately owned vehicle earns monetary allowance in lieu of transportation plus flat-rate per diem.

Temporary lodging expense (TLE) helps defray added living expenses on CONUS PCS arrival or departure and is paid on a travel voucher. Temporary lodging allowance (TLA) does the same outside the CONUS and is paid in military pay and reflected on the LES. Mixing those two payment paths is a standard PFE trap.

Filing the claim: DTS, five days, and long TDY

File a Defense Travel System (DTS) voucher or DD Form 1351-2 within five business days of return to the permanent duty station. Signature means the claim is accurate, true, and complete, with liability for a false claim. Electronic funds transfer is mandatory. Split disbursement will be used to pay the GTCC vendor. TDY of 45 days or more requires an interim voucher or scheduled partial payments every 30 days. Extended TDY does not excuse on-time GTCC payment.

Temporary duty entitlements

Per diem defrays quarters, meals, and certain incidentals. Travelers receive a prescribed meals-and-incidentals amount plus actual lodging not to exceed the location maximum. Rates depend on the TDY location and on government quarters and dining. Look up the current cap in the JTR; AFH 1 does not print 2026 hotel-dollar tables. Use the commercial travel office to arrange official travel. If authorized to travel at personal expense, reimbursement is limited to what the government would have incurred.

TDY, PCS, and GTCC at a glance

Government travel charge card rules NCOs must enforce

Unless otherwise exempted, all DoD personnel must use the government travel charge card (GTCC) for all official-travel expenses, including lodging, transportation, local ground, rental cars on orders, and local travel. An agency program coordinator (APC) is designated in writing by a commander or director. While in official travel status, the card may cover non-reimbursable incidentals (rental movies, personal calls, exercise fees, beverages not on a separate room or meal bill), but all charges are paid by split disbursement.

ATM advances will not be obtained earlier than three working days before scheduled travel and are limited to meals, incidentals, and miscellaneous expenses. ATM fees are part of the incidental portion of per diem, not separately reimbursable. Use the GTCC on PCS. Notify the losing APC before departure and the gaining APC upon reporting; the losing APC sets mission critical status and a deactivation date from the report-no-later-than date. Pay the bill in full. Use the card only in official travel status; misuse is administrative or disciplinary.

Delinquency clock: 31 days past due = suspended. 61 days = due-process letter warning of salary offset unless paid within 30 days or a reduced payment plan is accepted. First late fee at day 75 (two cycles plus fifteen days). 96 days = vendor sends the account to DFAS for salary offset (fees not reimbursable). 181 days = charged off, no reinstatement even if later paid in full.