Baseops | About | Links | Contact Baseops | Aviation Jobs | Military Calling Cards | Military Pay | Pilot Forum

Per Diem During Deployments
Excerpts from your Joint Federal Travel Regulation

This page is discusses: OCONUS Perdiem Rates, TDY for >12 hours but <24, and Missed Meals
Want more detailed & comprehensive Finance information?  Visit the Military Finance Center

This section details OCONUS per diem rates.

U4125 PER DIEM UNDER THE LODGINGS PLUS SYSTEM

(b) OCONUS

1. applicable locality rate (see http://www.dtic.mil/perdiem/ ), (use $3.50 for the incidental expense rate instead of the incidental expense rate for the locality concerned when adequate Government quarters are available on the U.S. installation to which the member is assigned TDY), or 

2. the standard GMR for meals in a Government mess plus $3.50 for incidental expenses. This rate applies each day that: 
a adequate Government quarters are available on the U.S. installation to which the member is assigned TDY, 
b the use of a Government mess is directed, 
c the Government mess is available for all three meals on the installation to which the member is assigned TDY, and 
d the member is not traveling. 

3. the PMR plus the incidental expense rate. The PMR applies each day that: 
a adequate Government quarters are available on the U.S. installation to which the member is assigned TDY, 
b at least one meal is available and directed in a Government mess on the U.S. installation to which the member is assigned TDY, and 
c the member is not traveling.

NOTE: The incidental expense rate OCONUS is the applicable rate (see http://www.dtic.mil/perdiem/), or $3.50 when the member is TDY to a U.S. installation and Government quarters are available. There are two exceptions: 

1. The order-issuing official can determine $3.50 to be adequate when the member is not lodged on a U.S. installation. The OCONUS incidental expense of $3.50 may be authorized and must be stated in the travel order.

2. The order-issuing official can determine that the $3.50 is not adequate on a U.S. installation and authorize/approve the applicable locality incidental expense rate (see http://www.dtic.mil/perdiem/). Payment of the locality incidental expense rate must be stated in the travel order.   

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This section details TDY for more than 12 hours.

d. TDY of More Than 12 Hours But Not Exceeding 24 Hours.

Per diem under this subparagraph is determined by allowing 75% of the M&IE rate for the location of the TDY assignment prescribed in Appendix B, or Appendix D. If more than one location is involved and the member isn’t required to obtain lodging, the per diem allowance is calculated using the highest M&IE rate. If the member must obtain lodging, the rules for travel of more than 24 hours as prescribed above apply. No deduction for meals is made. Per diem isn’t authorized under this subparagraph when travel is performed in the local area

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This section defines the "local area".
PART F: LOCAL TRAVEL IN AND AROUND PDS OR TDY STATION 

U3500 GENERAL 

A. Authorization/Approval. 

Service-designated officials may authorize/approve reimbursement for transportation expenses necessarily incurred by members conducting official business in the local area of their PDSs and TDY stations as prescribed in this Part. These expenses are those not specifically included in travel under orders as provided in Chapter 4 or in Parts B through E of this Chapter.

B. Local Area. 

The local area is the area: 

1. within the duty station limits (permanent or temporary) and the metropolitan area around that station which is ordinarily served by local common carriers; or 

2. within a local commuting area of the duty station, the boundaries of which are determined by the order-issuing official or as prescribed by local Service directives; or 

3. separate cities, towns, or installations adjacent, or close, to each other, between which the commuting public travels during normal business hours on a daily basis.

An arbitrary distance radius shall not be established to define a local commuting areas (59 Comp. Gen. 397 (1980)).
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This section defines missed meals. U4400 GOVERNMENT MESS

A. Mess Available. 

Government mess must be used to the maximum extent practicable by members quartered on-base.

B. Mess Not Available. 

A Government mess is not available:

1. when Government lodgings on the installation are not available to a member while on official travel (see par. U1045); 

2. on travel days; or 

3. when an order-issuing official determines: 

a. the use of the mess adversely affects mission performance; 

b. there's excessive distance between the mess and place of duty, and/or the mess and place of lodging; 

c. transportation is not reasonably available between the mess and place of
duty, and/or the mess and place of lodging; or 

d. duty hours and mess operating hours are not compatible.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This section details missed meal reimbursements.
U4510 REIMBURSEMENT FOR OCCASIONAL MEALS AND QUARTERS

A. General. 

A member is entitled to reimbursement for meals and/or quarters as provided in
subpar. B when the order-issuing official determines the member is required to: 

1. procure quarters from commercial, Government or nonappropriated fund
sources; 

2. use Government quarters and pay a service charge; 

3. retain quarters at a prior TDY location when the retention is authorized/approved by appropriate authority; or 

4. procure meals from commercial or nonappropriated funds sources; 

and, the member is in a status listed below: 

1. par. U4000 (members traveling together under orders directing no/limited reimbursement travel);

2. par. U4102-D (within PDS limits only for members escorting arms control inspection team/members while engaged in activities related to the implementation of arms control treaty or agreement during the in-country period referred to in the treaty or agreement); 

3. par. U4102-E (TDY within the local area of the PDS (Outside the PDS limits)); 

4. par. U4102-F (round trips within 12 hours); 

5. par. U4102-G (group travel status); 

6. par. U4102-J, K, and M (TDY or training duty aboard a vessel); 

7. par. U4102-L (field duty); 

8. par. U4125-A3e (Essential Unit Messing); 

9. par. U5108-D (transportation mode directed to first duty station upon
enlistment, reenlistment or induction); 

10. par. U5120-D (PCS with TDY at a location near (but outside the limits of) the old or new PDS; 

11. par. U7025 (travel incident to application processing); 

12. par. U7125-D (bedpatient or inpatient); or 

13. par. U7150-E2g (lodging and meal expense at point of delay for SROTC members performing travel to/from field training/practice cruises and delayed through no fault of their own at a location where no Government quarters/mess are available).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

New information regarding missed meal reimbursements.

JFTRVol1 U4125 A3
Box lunches, in-flight meals and rations furnished by the Government on military aircraft are not a Government mess for per diem computation purposes. The meal rate established by the order cannot be reduced after-the-fact except for a deductible meal (Government meals paid for by the traveler and consumed in a Government mess are not deductible meals, see par. U4125-A3g). However, order-issuing officials/ schoolhouse commanders may amend the orders to direct an immediate or future meal rate change.

g. Deductible Meals. 

The PMR prescribed in subpars. U4125-A3b(1)(a)3 and (b)3 above applies on any day when one or two deductible meals are provided. A deductible meal is a meal: 

(1)made available pursuant to an agreement between a Uniformed Service and any organization, if the order directs use of the facility providing the meal(s); 
(2) included in a registration fee ultimately paid by the Government; 
(3)furnished at no cost to the member by a school while attending a course of instruction if the cost of the meal is ultimately paid for by the Government; or 
(4)furnished by the Government at no cost to a member. 

The following are not deductible meals:

(1)box lunches, (which include such things as C Rations, K Rations, MRE's) - except when MRE's and/or other box lunches are the only method of providing adequate subsistence to members, 
(2)in-flight meals, 
(3)rations furnished by the Government on military aircraft, 
(4)Government meals paid for by the traveler and consumed in a Government mess, 
(5)meals furnished on commercial aircraft, or 
(6)meals provided by private individuals. 

Knowledge is Power.
Want more detailed & comprehensive
Military Finance information? 
Visit our Military Pay Section.

Military Calling Cards | International Calling Cards | International Phone Cards | ASVAB | Military Airfare Discounts