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Temporary Duty Assignments – Understanding Your Pay & Benefits While on TDY Orders

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TDY is the three-letter acronym that often leaves servicemembers and families confused. Get to know the various types of Temporary Duty Assignment (TDY) or Temporary Assignment Duty (TAD) to keep your finances and sanity from teetering into the red when you are on TDY orders.

Fully  understanding your military assignments and benefits is the benchmark of a seasoned servicemember. Pay increases or decreases, what per diem covers, and whether or not family members could or should accompany are all factors to fully grasp before going TDY.

Three Types of Military Orders

There are three primary types of military orders:

• Permanent Change of Station (PCS)
• Temporary Duty Assignment (TDY)

Of the three, TDY orders are likely the most complex, as they can be issued as an add-on to additional orders like a PCS. In addition to complexity, TDY orders also offer the most flexibility for servicemembers and their dependents to determine how they will handle assignments, placing them in a location anywhere from just a few days to six months.

There are likely dozens of situations where TDY may be issued. Some examples include additional schooling, career specialties that require frequent travel, or completing special assignments for the military. In nature, the assignments are meant to be short in duration and non-permanent.

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Financial Considerations of TDY Orders

The financial characteristics of TDY are perhaps the most important piece to understand. Consider TDY orders to be similar to travel for professional civilian jobs (like conferences). The organization, in this case, the military, will authorize a certain dollar amount per day called “per diem” for everyday expenses such as food, lodging, and transportation. Essentially, additional TDY pay on top of your regular pay is an additional fixed budget given to you per day. It is the servicemember’s responsibility to budget adequately.

You may be eligible for per diem even if you are temporarily assigned in the same state as your current duty station depending on the situation.

While on assignment, it is critical to keep the following receipts so you can have them validated for reimbursement upon return.

• Meal receipts
• Taxi/Uber/shuttle expenses
• Any travel costs like flights, subway, etc.
• Daily mileage totals (if you are traveling in your own vehicle)
• Incidental expenses or any unexpected costs directly related to daily operations

According to the Department of Defense , “A Service member ordered to a U.S. installation must use adequate and available Government quarters.” This means that if lodging is available, you will likely be required to stay in military housing, such as the barracks, or in installation hotels or accommodations. While exceptions to policy (ETP) do happen, it is largely dependent on a host of factors.

Exceptions to Policy (ETP)

Let’s say, for example, that following his commission , a soldier receives TDY orders to Basic Officer Leaders Course (BOLC) which requires a six-month stay. The soldier has a family and would prefer they accompany him to the training and he requests to stay in off-installation accommodations for the duration of the training course.

While it is not guaranteed, this is a strong case for ETP to be considered. Off installation accommodations would offer greater flexibility to find budget-friendly options within per diem that also include benefits such as on-site laundry and kitchenettes.

When overages or excessive fees are incurred or circumstances constitute an exception to policy, the Authorizing Official (AO) will need to pre-approve the charges before they will be reimbursed. You may not be reimbursed if you are not given pre-authorization, so it is essential to communicate prior to making decisions that will incur costs.

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Per Diem – What is Covered on TDY Orders?

Knowing what is not covered in per diem is just as important as knowing what is.

The military will not cover alcohol purchases in stores or in restaurant establishments. If a servicemember chooses to consume alcohol with their meal, a separate receipt would likely be the best choice, additionally, any charges will be the full responsibility of the individual. Additionally, when deciding to consume alcohol, a full understanding of what hours are considered on and off duty is the responsibility of the servicemember.

Family Separation Allowance (FSA) is an additional benefit offered to servicemembers when they are on assignment away from their family greater than 30 days. It is important to note that if a servicemember’s family accompanies the active duty member for the entire duration of the TDY, FSA would not be considered. However, FSA benefits do apply when dependents visit the servicemember for less than 30 consecutive days.

The eligibility for FSA may be extended to National Guard and wounded warriors, depending on the type, length, and restrictions of the TDY assignment.

Meal rates are based upon location, just like in the civilian world. Speaking with the Authorizing Official (AO) before going TDY to get a precise dollar amount for per diem is highly recommended. A portion, but not always the full amount of gratuity is also included in travel-related expenses.

An often-forgotten component of TDY rates includes factoring in “included” meals provided by the conference or government in your stay. If two out of three meals will be provided, rates may be reduced per day as well as any additional meals. Religious or dietary requirements are an exception to the policy if the traveler meets all requirements. All servicemembers should speak with their local Authorizing Official, command, and financial office to ensure they are fully up to speed.

Going TDY can provide an interesting change of pace and has the potential to put some extra cash in your pocket depending on your budget and personal preferences. If you are someone who likes to cook for yourself in a kitchenette you can save some money. But if you are expected to attend formal functions, eating out often, TDY can get expensive. With a little planning, your TDY experience can be a good one.

About Post Author

Samantha Peterson

Samantha Peterson is a regular contributor for military publications such as The Military Wallet, Military Families Magazine, We Are The Mighty and more. She feels passionately about telling compelling stories and crafting captivating narratives. Living life one PCS at a time, she’s travel schooling her children while tackling careers in the nonprofit and environmental sector all as military life allows.

Featured In: Samantha’s writing has been featured in We Are The Mighty, Military Families Magazine, InDependent, Reserve + National Guard Magazine, and other publications.

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Military TDY: What it is, How it Works, and What to Expect

Table of Contents

What is military tdy, how does military tdy work, what to expect during military tdy.

Military TDY is a common term used in the United States military to refer to temporary duty assignments that require service members to leave their home station and travel to a different location for a short period of time. In this article, we'll take a closer look at what military TDY is, how it works, and what service members can expect when they are assigned to TDY.

Military TDY, or Temporary Duty, is a type of assignment that requires service members to travel away from their home station for a period of time ranging from a few days to several months. TDY can be for a variety of reasons, including training, special assignments, temporary duty with other units or organizations, or for mission-related travel.

Military TDY can be initiated by a service member's unit, a higher headquarters, or by a specific mission requirement. Once a service member is selected for TDY, they are typically provided with orders that outline the purpose of the TDY, the location they will be traveling to, the duration of the assignment, and any other special instructions or requirements.

When traveling for TDY, service members are typically provided with transportation to and from their TDY location, as well as lodging, per diem for meals, and any other necessary support. While on TDY, service members are expected to perform the duties assigned to them and follow all applicable military regulations and policies.

When assigned to TDY, service members can expect to be away from their home station for the duration of the assignment. Depending on the location of the TDY, service members may be required to travel by commercial airline, military aircraft, or ground transportation. Upon arrival at their TDY location, service members will typically check in with their sponsor or point of contact and receive a briefing on the local area and any specific requirements or restrictions.

Service members will be responsible for performing the duties assigned to them during the TDY, which may include training, operational missions, or support functions. While on TDY, service members are expected to maintain a professional appearance and conduct themselves in accordance with military regulations and policies.

Military TDY is a common type of assignment in the United States military that requires service members to travel away from their home station for a temporary period of time. TDY can be for a variety of reasons, including training, special assignments, and mission-related travel. Service members selected for TDY can expect to receive orders outlining the purpose, location, and duration of the assignment, as well as any special instructions or requirements. While on TDY, service members are expected to perform the duties assigned to them and follow all applicable military regulations and policies.

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What does TDY stand for?

Tdy stands for temporary duty yonder (military slang).

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Military TDY: Temporary Duty Assignment Explained

The U.S. Armed Forces issue different types of military travel orders to personnel.

Your military travel orders pertain to changes in your duty location and the duration, and may also impact your military pay.

Military TDY (Temporary Duty) is one common type of military travel order .

Get all your questions answered about Temporary Duty (TDY) status and what you can expect to experience with this type of order.

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Table of Contents

What is TDY?

The U.S. Military has three primary types of military travel orders:

• Permanent Change of Station (PCS)
• Temporary Duty (TDY)
• Deployments Orders

It is important to keep in mind that the three types of military assignment orders are not the same and each has its own characteristics.

Your military orders may affect how long you serve at the post, the specific location, and special duty pay.

Temporary Duty (TDY) is defined by the Department of Defense as:

Duty at one or more locations, away from the permanent duty station (PDS), under an order, providing for further assignment or pending further assignment, to return to the old PDS or to proceed to a new PDS.

Military branches under the U.S. Armed Forces have different references for Military TDY, like TAD (temporary additional duty) or TCS (temporary change of station).

However, they all mean basically the same thing that your military orders are temporary.

The primary difference between Military TDY and other orders is that it grants authorization for a service member to perform work away from the permanent duty station.

The Department of Defense requires the label Military TDY (or one of its variants) to approve travel pay, per diem, and coverage of other expenses to assist the soldier.

Since the assignment is temporary, the service member can expect a shorter stay than a permanent station assignment, however, the length of the orders may vary.

The individual details of TDY orders are fleshed out with each commitment.

The specifics of your Military TDY outline expected duration, amount of travel pay, coverage of expenses, housing and food support, transportation, and other forms of assistance.

How long is a TDY?

Military TDY is temporary for military orders, so the length is generally not longer than 180 days.

Temporary duty orders may range anywhere from a few days to a half year.

Long-term TDY is any orders which specify longer than 30 days.

TDY per diem rates depend on the location you have orders for. It will also include reimbursement for lodging, meals, and incidentals. 

Use this calculator to determine how much you can expect to receive. 

Military TDY is a stark contrast from Permanent Duty Assignments and Deployments, which have commitments of several months or years.

The Department of Defense authorizes TDY through Joint Travel Regulations.

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Is TDY considered a deployment?

Technically there is a difference between a temporary duty assignment (TDY) and Deployment, even though they are both military orders.

Deployments are similar to military TDY, except that the service member is assigned to a specific operation.

Therefore, deployments usually reference combat operations that take place overseas.

When most civilians think of military orders, they commonly associate everything with being deployed, though that’s not always the case based on the actual military definition.

Deployment refers to assigning military personnel from a home station to somewhere outside the continental United States.

Mobilizations are also classified as deployments under the Department of Defense guidelines.

How does a TDY differ from a deployment?

The biggest difference between deployments and temporary duty assignments is the length of the orders.

Military TDY is short-term, with even longer stints requiring less than a half year of commitment.

On the other hand, deployments are typically longer and involve assignments outside the United States.

Additionally, deployments involve assignments to specific operations and usually in combat situations.

However, both types of military orders have similarities.

For example, military personnel must leave their home station for a different location under each type of order.

Military TDY is not always as serious as deployments.

For instance, a temporary duty assignment could mean nothing more than attending school, conferences, or a military-sponsored event.

Or it could pertain to a regular part of military duty where frequent travel is mandatory and the service member hopes to receive some form of compensation for their travel exs.

There are cases where military personnel earn TDY status even when working in the same geographic area as the home base to justify lodging and meal expenses associated with the duty.

Soldiers also rely on military TDY for house hunting and other searches when considering a new permanent change of station or out-processing from military service.

Can I go with my husband/wife on a TDY?

One of the many perks of temporary duty assignments is that you can occasionally bring along the family.

The same is not true of deployments where it would put your spouse or other family members in danger.

If given the chance to bring along a spouse for your temporary duty assignment, you should welcome the opportunity, but keep in mind that pier diem rates are only calculated for the service member.

Military personnel often spend months away from family and friends, so having a unique opportunity like this to spend with a loved one is rare and special.

MilitaryShoppers.com put together a great resource on the topic.

It explains the pros and cons of tagging along with a significant other while he or she is on TDY.

The most important thing to keep in mind is that while you can live with your spouse while on temporary duty assignment, his or her time is still limited and it might drain your budget quickly.

Other than that, it’s an enticing opportunity to catch up after potentially months of separation.

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Will I get paid extra during a TDY?

Despite having to leave your home station, there is nothing more rewarding than a little extra pay in freedom.

It is exactly what temporary duty assignments provide to service members.

In fact, the reason that military personnel may request or seek TDY is the opportunity to put more in their wallet.

Military TDY usually grants per diem pay, which helps cover lodging, meals, and incidental expenses.

You get a set per diem pay regardless of what you actually spend each day on daily expenses.

As a result, if you budget accordingly, you can earn extra cash by pocketing whatever per diem you don’t spend on daily living expenses.

What kind of accommodations can I expect during a TDY?

The accommodations of temporary duty assignments are nothing to brag about yet offer incentives that most military personnel don’t get to enjoy.

For example, the potential opportunity to take your significant other along with you when TDY is a major advantage for some.

Military personnel may get the opportunity to stay at furnished apartments or long-term stay hotels.

Long-term stays help save you money on your per diem since you can cook your own meals as opposed to dining out all of the time.

Furnished apartments may also include laundry and other housing services to save even more money.

Service members on TDY may also request a cash advance of 60-80% of the total value.

It helps cover move-in costs as opposed to spending out of their own pocket.

Some military organizations deem anything over 30 consecutive calendar days. 

For this reason, it allows partial reimbursement of living expenses prior to concluding the assignment.

Military TDY, or temporary duty assignments, refer to relatively short-term military travel orders away from a home station.

Temporary duty assignments range from a couple of days to under six months.

Military TDY is a good thing for soldiers despite the travel arrangements, as it helps cover lodging, food, and transportation regarding the orders.

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Protecting the Secrecy of the Mission: A Review of Douglas Valentine’s new Novel TDY

[ TDY is a new novel by Douglas Valentine, author of the nonfiction bestsellers The CIA as Organized Crime: How Illegal Operations Corrupt America and the World , Operation Phoenix: America’s Use of Terror in Vietnam, and five other books. As many know also, TDY stands for “temporary duty yonder,” as in military-related temporary travel or other assignments at locations other than the traveler’s permanent duty station.

Based on real-world accounts, TDY is an action-adventure story told by Pete, a young Air Force photojournalist. In early 1967, Pete is fooled into volunteering for a secret and perilous mission into Southeast Asia. During the mission he learns the true meaning of good and evil, while nearly losing his life in the process.

TDY, reviewed here by Bill Tremblay, provides insight into, among other things, the pervasive secrecy surrounding missions and how the “need-to-know” protocol keeps actors in the dark. Lew Millet, who ran the Phoenix program in II Corps for a year, had a deputy — a lieutenant commander named Connie O’Shea — who sent the on-patrol photos to Valentine.—Editors]

Early on in this “based-on-a-true-story” book, Pete, the central character and narrator, makes clear that something ominous lies ahead when he says wistfully:

“I wish I could tell you more about Rusty, José, and Taurus. I wish I could fully develop their characters and entertain and enlighten you with snippets of our repartee. But we never had any clever conversations, and after our initial introduction we stood there looking at each other, not knowing what to say … In fact, just as Taurus and José started unpacking … the guards came by and told Rusty and me to return to our room and wait for further instructions.”

This is just the first of a series of surprises that Pete experiences as he travels further into what he had thought was an ordinary 30-day temporary duty assignment—a surprise which brings up the old military truism that one should never volunteer.

By the time Pete and the photo-techs and their protective security team approach the C-130 that will fly them to their own heart of darkness, surprise becomes shock as they enter a plane whose windows have all been painted black.

Those of you who have read works by Doug Valentine such as The Hotel Tacloban will recognize a key theme that appears in TDY as well: secrecy. It has often been observed that secrecy and democracy do not mix.

True democracy requires transparency; But when an organization like the Central Intelligence Agency comes into being, it unleashes an anti-democratic element into the inner workings of the nation.

What is intriguing in reading TDY is that, though these four enlisted men are required to refrain from any fraternization, they manage to become more fully self-aware and connected—including the manner of their deaths during a secret mission in the spring of 1967 when the wars in Southeast Asia are escalating to their horrible climax. How the men conduct themselves during the mission, in effect, helps them reveal and uncover who they really are—though for all but a few, this is a prelude to their end.

The elements of this book fit together like the layers of an onion, each one surrounding and making opaque the layers beneath.

It’s like a detective story, a Vietnam War version of Chinatown with its twists and turns, all of which are part of protecting the secrecy of the mission while leaving the American public in the dark.

Four otherwise rather unremarkable guys are brought together in the jungles of Indochina for a secret mission that includes use of “state of the art” photographic and sound-recording equipment. At first, it appears they will be flown to the Philippines for a Photo/Recon mission, but that’s only one part of the mystery. The Security Team that makes certain that the Recon Team never gets to know one another constitutes a kind of flak jacket; it protects the technicians from dangers that are unknown and keeps them deceptively at ease before they are instructed to lay an ambush for North Vietnamese Army (NVA) regulars and complete the rest of their dangerous task.

In spite of the psychological manipulation, the overall mission leader, a man known only as “the Major,” stands out as an extraordinary character. He has all the leadership qualities and skills needed to organize this incursion in an undisclosed area of Southeast Asia where the recon technicians will photograph and sound-record an event planned and orchestrated by the MACV (Military Assistance Command—Vietnam) pitting one element of the U.S. national defense establishment against another. To carry out the mission, the Major recruits Montagnard tribesmen through a blood ritual. He also guides a security team armed with enough firepower to take down an entire company through dense jungle to a mountain plateau fifteen kilometers away. The plateau is both a poppy plantation and an airfield for the surreptitious cargos of an Air America C-123.

It is not this reviewer’s job to offer spoilers on the intricacies of what happens during this secret mission. But it is possible to suggest the significance of the whole structure of the narrative. There is a parallel to be found in Charles Baxter’s 1997 study, Burning Down the House: Essays in Fiction , which makes the claim that Richard Nixon’s memoirs are the most important influence on contemporary American fiction because of (1) Nixon’s inability to take responsibility for his crimes, (2) his insistence on the absolute “deniability” of his actions, and (3) his blustering attempts to place the blame for Watergate on others. If the traditional function of the novel has been to reveal or suggest meanings, then what happens to the novel when the characters are toxic narcissists? It’s not that there is no motive to unravel; rather, there is only one, a hollow self-aggrandizement. The raison d’être for the nation becomes the political rehabilitation and survival of its imperial President.

In Valentine’s story, selfishness and deniability—the essential characteristics of any CIA activity—are mission-critical.

Deniability is the “sinkhole of meaning,” at least in existential terms. The meaning of one’s life can be measured by the choices one makes, and willingness to admit to and make amends for one’s mistakes. In The Hotel Tacloban, Doug Valentine’s father is willing to take responsibility for the choices he made, but the U.S. government takes away his choices and their meanings in order not to endanger peace with Japan after World War II. He is threatened with a life sentence in Leavenworth if he reveals his part in the murder of an officer of the British Army in a prisoner-of-war camp in the Philippines.

The military record of Doug’s father was erased and replaced by a sanitized version; the same happens to “Pete.” He is threatened with assassination to keep the secret of the CIA’s involvement in illegal missions and in the drug trade in Southeast Asia—drugs that make their way back to the streets of cities in the United States.

The people of the United States are not trusted with knowing the truth about what the agencies, entrusted to protect the people, feel they must do to fulfill their goals.

Meanwhile, the whole basis of the United States as envisioned by the revolutionaries who founded the country—that policies should be based on clear, accurate information and that there be reasonable, measured evaluations of the challenges that face the nation—gets replaced by rumor, innuendo, and propaganda that evoke people’s basest fears. Pete is left with nothing but the memories of the deaths of the Major and the U.S. and Montagnard crews and a cryptic excuse that “the Agency has its own way of getting things done.” That is, absent a complete and convincing set of evidence, the U.S. military establishment isn’t going to press charges.

In effect, TDY enacts a very special kind of mission—the robbery not of one’s private property but the potential meaning of life. Life is reduced to the narrow parameters of the secret mission that Pete carries out but then must “forget” so that the mission can be “deniable” in order to protect the organization he agreed to work for. What he is left with, if anything, is some reflections on human perfidy and weakness. For his role in the cover-up, he received a $2,500 bonus as a down payment on a Ford Mustang which Pete imagines as his girl magnet that will fulfill his lust for money and ultimately sex—a bargain for which, as he looks back, was what he risked his life for.

Pete mourns the lives of those of his teammates who did not survive the mission and whose “evidences” were placed in a cardboard box and stored in a warehouse outside of Langley, Virginia. Inside that box may also be Pete’s memories. He may come to realize that the “no fraternization” rule has left him with no painful goodbyes to his team members because he never really knew them. The compensatory hope lies in the reflection that eventually the truth does come out in the form of a cautionary tale: First the fiction, then the reality.

TDY , by Douglas Valentine. Clarity Press: Atlanta, 2020. ISBN: 978-1-949762-20-4. 129 pps. Ppbk.

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Bill Tremblay is an award-winning poet with nine full-length books spanning from 1971 to the present day. He is also the author of a novel, The June Rise , which is the story of Antoine Janis who married Red Cloud’s sister, First Elk Woman, and who helped the Oglala Sioux to survive the Plains Indian Wars.

As a novelist, editor and reviewer, Tremblay’s work has appeared in eight full-length volumes of poetry including Crying In the Cheap Seats  (University of Massachusetts Press),  The Anarchist Heart  (New Rivers Press),  Home Front  (Lynx House Press),  Second Sun: New & Selected Poems  (L’Epervier Press), and  Duhamel: Ideas of Order in Little Canada  (BOA Editions, Ltd.).

He was Editor-in-Chief of  Colorado Review for 15 years, served as a member of the Program Directors Council of the Associated Writing Programs (AWP) and is the recipient of the John F. Stern Distinguished Professor award for his thirty years teaching in and directing the M.F.A. Creative Writing Program at Colorado State University. He also received fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Fulbright Commission for a Lectureship in American Literature in Portugal, and the artists’ colony at Yaddo.

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What Does TDY Stand for in the Military? – Military Jargon Explained

Written by Everett Bledsoe / Fact checked by Brain Bartell

Have you ever heard of TDY in the military? It is among the many acronyms used by service members but is not as easily deciphered as others. So, what does TDY stand for in the military?

If you do not already know what TDY means in the military, you are in luck! Because today, we will be looking at TDY meaning in the military context.

TDY is short for temporary duty assignment, which is a type of order. Find out more as you continue to read. Go on!

Table of Contents

TDY: Temporary Duty Assignment in the Military

As mentioned earlier, TDY means temporary duty assignment, which is one of the three types of orders that military personnel can be given during his or her time of service. The other orders include PCS and TAD. However, we can visit these concepts another day.

Temporary duty essentially refers to duties that are carried out away from a personnel’s permanent or designated duty station. Usually, the time for TDY is up to 179 days.

There are many different reasons or purposes for TDY. Below are just six possible scenarios:

• A personnel going for advanced military education (Ie. The Navy Chief Petty Officer Training or Airman Leadership School)
• A personnel is going for a special professional conference.
• A personnel is assigned to another location to temporarily support an undermanned unit.
• A personnel is assigned to another location to temporarily participate in an activity or exercise.
• A personnel flying for missions from a stateside base to an overseas one.
• Emergency medical responders or evacuation teams moving to an operating location to provide assistance.

TDYs are available in all of the military branches. So, the answer to “What does TDY stand for in the Air Force?” is the same for the Navy, Marines, Army, etc.

However, each branch does have other subcategories of orders that are somewhat similar to TDY. For instance, the Navy has TAD, which is temporary additional duty, and the Army has TCS or temporary change of station. The Marines also have a long-term TDY specifically for duty that lasts longer than 30 days.

Nevertheless, in a nutshell, TDY refers to temporarily authorized duty in a location other than the personnel’s assignment of duty station. When the duty completes, the personnel will return to his or her original base unit of assignment.

They are necessary because the DoD or the Department of Defense has to justify any expenses, per diem, and travel pay to a particular location. A personnel’s pay and allowances are also directly influenced by whether or not their status is TDY.

Although seemingly similar, TDY is not the same as a deployment. When deployed, military personnel are assigned to be a part of a certain operation. Typically, it is an overseas combat operation.

For example, the US Air Force routinely deployed personnel, for contingency operations, to Afghanistan, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, etc. Like TDYs, however, upon completion of a deployment, the personnel returns to his or her originally assigned base or duty station.

Congrats! Now, you no longer have to mull over the question “What does TDY stand for in the military?” If you have any other thoughts on this topic, leave us comments! We are always happy to engage with our readers.

Read more : LMI meaning in military.

I am Everett Bledsoe, taking on the responsibility of content producer for The Soldiers Project. My purpose in this project is to give honest reviews on the gear utilized and tested over time. Of course, you cannot go wrong when checking out our package of information and guide, too, as they come from reliable sources and years of experience.

Temporary duty assignment

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A temporary duty assignment (TDA), also known as "temporary additional duty" (TAD), "temporary duty travel" (TDT) or "temporary duty yonder" (TDY), refers to a United States Government employee travel assignment at a location other than the employee's permanent duty station. This type of secondment is usually of relatively short duration, typically from two days to two months in length. Not all agencies use this designation. A temporary duty assignment can be to any location, be it 50 or 5,000 miles away, and some government agencies including the Defense Department , mandate they be less than six months in duration. [1] Those agencies that do not mandate a six-month limit consider longer durations to be a Permanent Change of Station (PCS).

Temporary duty and rotation for US troops during World War II

Temporary duty assignments usually come with per diem pay, covering lodging , meals , and incidental expenses. [2] Many employees value the per diem aspect of a TDA, since that money is guaranteed, even if they spend less than their allotted daily value. However, some agencies handle the lodging per diem separately from the meals and incidentals, and employees may not make money by staying at cheaper accommodations, or putting more than one person in a room. Typically, an employee may request a cash advance of 60-80% of the total value of the meals and incidental expenses before the TDA per diem takes place, in order to prevent the employee from having to use his or her own money, or putting money on a personal credit card. Government travel cards are also typically available, though these sometimes carry restrictions on the types of goods or services that can be purchased with them.

Some locations have furnished apartments for long-term stay. These apartments have fully equipped kitchens so TDA recipients have an option of cooking rather than eating out all the time, and some may have free washing machines and clothes dryers .

Some government agencies consider any assignment over 45 days as an extended TDA, which allows the employee to get reimbursed for part of the expenses before the end of the assignment. [3] [4]

External links [ ]

• Information about Government Per Diem
• GSA 2011 Per Diem Rates CONUS & OCONUS

References [ ]

• ↑ Army Regulation 614–11: Temporary Duty (TDY)
• ↑ GSA Per Diem FAQ
• ↑ http://www.defensetravel.osd.mil/ppWBT/traveler_before/extended_TDY.htm
• ↑ Extended TDY - Details , NSSC Customer Service, NSSC Customer Satisfaction & Communications Office

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Important Terminology  

ACS - Army Community Services - an organization that provides various comprehensive services for military families.

AO - Area of Operation - the location where the service member is housed on deployment. 

CAO - Casualty Assistance Office/Officer - This team can consist of a Chaplain and members from the Rear Detachment who come to notify a military spouse when their service member is seriously injured or killed in action (KIA).  

CYS - Child and Youth Services provides programs and services for children of eligible military and civilian families.

Deployment - the act of sending troops onto duty. Deployments have varying lengths depending on the situation, MOS (military occupation specialty= job), and duty stations.

Family Care plan - a plan that is created by the Service member to handle certain affairs such as children, finances, and housing.

JAG - Judge Advocate General - military law.  

MOS - military occupational specialty code - service member's job in the military.  

Military orders -  documents that detail a military service member's duty station, school location, training, or deployment.  ***NOT ALL SERVICE MEMBERS ARE INITIALLY GIVEN PHYSICAL ORDERS FOR DEPLOYMENT.

OPSEC - operational security.

POA - power of attorney. 

Rear Detachment (Rear D) - a selective group from the unit that maintains the unit at the duty station, does not deploy or consists of soldiers that have returned early from deployment. 

TDY - temporary duty yonder - temporary duty assignment.

XO/CO - Executive officer or Commanding officer; CO is in charge of a company, battalion, or brigade. XO is second in command-leader of a battalion - second in command

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Military TDY: An In-Depth Look at Temporary Duty Assignments

Temporary Duty (TDY) is a fundamental component of military life, yet its nuances are not widely understood outside the military community. In this article, we'll unravel the details of Military TDY, discussing its nature, purpose, and the accommodations service members can avail during these assignments.

Understanding Military TDY

TDY, an acronym for "Temporary Duty," is a term used in the United States military to refer to a service member's temporary assignment to a location other than their permanent duty station. These assignments can range anywhere from a few days to several months, depending on the nature of the task. TDY assignments are a regular part of military life and can serve various purposes, from attending a training course or conference to participating in specific missions or projects.

The Purpose of TDY Assignments

The principal aim of TDY assignments is to fulfill temporary requirements or skill gaps that cannot be met by personnel at the permanent duty station. These assignments allow the military to efficiently allocate resources and personnel based on the changing needs and demands of different locations and tasks. Additionally, TDY assignments provide service members with opportunities for professional development and exposure to different aspects of military operations.

TDY Benefits and Per Diem Allowances

To compensate for the costs associated with temporary relocations, the military provides service members with TDY benefits, often in the form of per diem allowances. These allowances are designed to cover the expenses of lodging, meals, and incidental costs incurred during the TDY assignment. The rate of per diem varies depending on the location of the assignment and the duration of the TDY. It's important to note that these allowances are separate from the service member's regular pay and allowances.

TDY Accommodations and Housing

When on a TDY assignment, service members have various housing options available to them. These range from staying on base in military quarters to off-base options such as hotels, furnished apartments, and private accommodations. The choice often depends on the availability, duration of the assignment, and personal preference. Many service members are opting for private accommodations, such as those offered by Downtown Military Living, as these often provide more comfort, privacy, and a home-like environment.

The Challenges and Opportunities of TDY Assignments

While TDY assignments can be challenging due to the temporary nature of the relocation and the potential for disruption to family life, they also present opportunities for personal and professional growth. Service members have the chance to experience different locations, work on diverse tasks, and connect with colleagues from other units. Despite the challenges, many service members view TDY assignments as a rewarding and integral part of their military career.

Military TDY is a dynamic and multifaceted aspect of military life, offering both challenges and opportunities for service members. Understanding the intricacies of TDY assignments, including the provisions for TDY allowances and accommodations, can help service members and their families navigate these temporary relocations more effectively. Whether you're a service member preparing for a TDY assignment or a civilian seeking to understand more about military life, we hope this article has provided valuable insights into the world of military TDY.

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Commentaires

Jotting This Down So I Don't Forget

Temporary Duty Yonder

The military term for a long stint elsewhere is TDY, which the armed forces like to joke stands for “Temporary Duty Yonder.” I’m not even sure what it really stands for, TBH. There I go with the acronyms again!

I went to Washington for most of November, coming off a blistering week-and-a-half reporting in advance of — and during —President Trump’s epic trip to Asia. (Nothing substantive was really achieved for the US but he commanded a lot of attention and resources in the region.) Thankfully, our afternoon program, All Things Considered , sent me a producer for the Asia trip — Becky — and we reported at a breakneck pace while sneaking in delicious meals. From the Tokyo leg, I came to Seoul for one day with Trump and covered a bunch of right-wing Koreans who welcomed him , then grabbed my baby and a suitcase and got on a plane to Washington. Then, Becky and I had to re-live Wednesday, November 8 due to the time difference. The first Wednesday November 8 was already exhausting; you can imagine having to do it again, but in Washington. I ended my second Wednesday November 8th with my former editor, Uri, at the “sad Hilton Garden Inn” bar, which is really, really sad. But I enjoy the kitsch of it.

I have spent too much time writing about the sad Hilton Garden Inn bar.

During said time in America, this what I remember: I interviewed the surgeon general , the former FCC Chairman , the head of Canada’s only HIV/AIDS treatment hospital , David Brooks, EJ Dionne, NPR’s East Africa correspondent Ofeibea Quist-Arcton three separate times about the fall of Zimbabwe’s Robert Mugabe, NPR’s media correspondent David Folkenflik about more sexual harassment trouble at NPR , author Megan Hunter about her dystopian novella , comedian Hari Kondabolu about what’s wrong with  The Simpson’s  character Apu, my friend Megan Garber about why women don’t speak up about sexual harassment, wrote and put into the world longer-length pieces about the meaning of statues in the ongoing Korea-Japan conflict and the decline of the golf industry in Japan , and narrated as my cohost Ari put leftover Thanksgiving stuffing into a waffle iron.

I ate dinner and drank cocktails with so many old friends because I tried to do a different dinner reunion each night. This made for meaningful conversations and catchups and meetings of new family members (babies and children, natch).

CNN also flew me up to New York one Sunday morning to do Fareed Zakaria’s show from the actual set, which was fun because I missed my Council on Foreign Relations orientation and I got to apologize to the CFR president about it in person (he was fine so long as I paid my dues) and before I went home Friend Kat came to meet up for about 20 minutes before I trained it back to DC.

There was other stuff, too, but this blog is full of contemporaneous (and therefore incomplete) accounts.

Notes of extreme gratitude go to:

• Sudeep and Hun. My friend Hun gathered up baby things so that Luna would have a car seat and bouncer and Bumbo seat and pack n’ play while she was with me during TDY. Then she dropped off said stuff at Sudeep’s, who then pre-furnished my AirBnB with the baby items so that they were there and waiting for us when we arrived. How amazing are these people!?

• Marcus, who, upon learning I’d be coming to town, decided to host a dinner at his home for me and my friends. WHAT?! His house is decked out in fabulous modern Chinese art from his stints in Hong Kong and Shanghai, and every piece had an incredible story. His wife Maggie made paella in those glorious cast-iron skillets that are actually meant-for-paella, and the dinner included my work spouse for life, Matt, singing us some numbers from his New York Times -themed musical that is in the works. (I am not joking.) This night was really fantastic.
• David, who was in Seoul with me with the President and invited me over to Thanksgiving at his house when he found out I’d be without my family this year. Luna, her helper Yani and I joined in and it ended up being just like the Thanksgivings in my own Asian-American family: loud, lots of code-switching, food and taking pictures of food.

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Elise, I’m a regular listener of ATC on NPR and really enjoyed listening to you while you were hosting the show. You have a great voice for radio!!! I certainly hope you come back!!!

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"Temporary Duty"

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