Information on PCS/moves/moving (DITY, TMO, DLA, storage)

[Swizzle]

I read the same reg you did, and this was all I could find:

3.3.3. Lodging assigns families to CL on a voluntary basis when TLFs are fully occupied or adequate

space is not available in the VQ (general manager will determine if VQ space is suitable for family

and other VQ guests). When the family is referred to CL or makes their own arrangements, lodging

must register them in Epitome as a CL or NA room type reservation.

I fully expect that the lodging manager will declare whatever room they handed you "suitable". Take your $39 per day and your BAH then go rent an apartment instead.

Isn't this because service member requirements in square feet are determined in the front of the regulation, but family members are not?

[guineapigfury]

Isn't this because service member requirements in square feet are determined in the front of the regulation, but family members are not?

I believe so. I could find nothing on square feet per family member in the reg. I've had 2 long TDYs where I brought the family and I chose to stay off base for the purposes of increased QOL and decreased hassle. Good decision each time. For $1170 per month you should be able to find something in most locations. The hotel manager will tell you you aren't permitted to do this. He is wrong.

[magnetfreezer]

Another Q:

What sort of receipts do I need to provide on a PCS when using the blue travel card? Wondering if they'll give me problems for staying in hotels that are not on my "route" but fall within the prescribed travel period. IE - Moving from A to B, but stop at C which is 300 miles out of the way, however still only taking the allocated number of travel days and paying the extra gas out of pocket.

They shouldn't be asking for hotel reimbursement info since they pay you a flat $99/travel day per diem for PCS vs actual lodging up to per diem max for TDY.

[Smokin]

Anyone heard of lodging billeting a family of three into a VOQ?

Sitution: TDY en-route PCS for several months, family on orders, TLF's aren't available

Lodging is trying to place us into a VOQ room with one bed, one hide-a-bed couch, and no kitchen or kitchenette. AFI 34-246, the lodging AFI, doesn't have much on family billeting requirements. Have another reg source or citation?

Have meeting with the lodging manager Tuesday.

When you talk to the manager make sure you stress that you are TDY-enroute. Not 100% sure that it is required, but even SOS with the "accompanied dorms" will put you up in TLF or give you a Non-A if you are TDY enroute.

I did the previously recommended took my $39 a night and rented a month to month furnished apartment during a 4 month TDY-enroute and it worked out fine. Just make sure you don't forget to give them the requisite 30 day notice prior to leaving.

[jake the snake]

I have a question regarding a PCS move, I searched this forum/thread and internet and could not find any similar situations. I have done a Dity Move to DMAFB from LRAFB and used a Yellow truck which was rented from the 23rd-29th. My RNLTD was the 26th and was expected to be inproccessed with the base by the 27th. Due to a down day for the base the inproccessing meeting was moved to tomorrow, which meant I can't take house hunting leave until Tuesday. I have and will need to keep the Yellow truck until the 1st assuming I can get into a place on the first day of house hunting (app for viewing already setup) and move in by the next day. I will then of kept the yellow truck for an additional 3 days and will be charged $100/day. By word of mouth a person told me that the AF will reimburse upto 15 days at (what a coincidence) $100/day. I cannot find any reg regarding this and am worried I'll be throwing $300 towards this DITY move. After tomorrows inproccessing I plan to visit Finance/TMO and fully expect some blank stares of "WTF are you talking about?"

Thank you for any comments.

Did another search and came up with this:

Member extends truck or trailer rental time, keeping personal property

in the Vehicle. (Use of the rental truck or trailer for storage

must not exceed 15 days.)

Edited July 29, 2012 by jake the snake

[xaarman]

Question:

Is there a min time allowed between returning from a deployment and when you leave for a TDY en route to a PCS? Also, are holidays factored into it? It's looking like I may get back in mid Dec and TDY en route class starts Jan 15th. I am concerned because of the Christmas/New Years holidays. Do you think this will be a problem? I am single with no family in the area. Also, I scoured 36-2110 but didn't see anything.

Reposting this so it doesn't get lost...

[Finance_Guy]

After tomorrows inproccessing I plan to visit Finance/TMO and fully expect some blank stares of "WTF are you talking about?"

Did another search and came up with this:

Member extends truck or trailer rental time, keeping personal property

in the Vehicle. (Use of the rental truck or trailer for storage

must not exceed 15 days.)

Sounds like a question for TMO only. Any blank stares?

[jake the snake]

I received many blank stares from both the Airmen working the TMO office. The only regs I could find supporting my problem are from Navy documents and an old Air Force article that did not site where it got its info from. I'm probably going to let this one be a loss and focus on all the ground training I have to do. I'll just pretend that $400 I lost was all from a awesome night at the $trip Club or Casino. The TMO service was great at DM I just do not want to cause any more trouble for them, my Dity move paper work was already a pain in the butt for them due to being told I could do one thing and then showing up to find out what I did was way way wrong.

Edited August 9, 2012 by jake the snake

[Fuzz]

I'm going TDY enroute to Malmstrom here in a couple months and my wife and I were planning on living in base housing. Our plan was to have her move to MT a couple weeks before i finished at Kirtland and get the house all set up and whatnot.

When we called up the housing office there today they said that I would physically have to sign into the base in order for her to be given a house, even though she has power of attorney. Is the housing guy wrong or can she get a house before i get to the base.

Looking to see if there is any work around to this. Going to Altus and then McChord and I'm looking to send my wife ahead to get job, but housing is telling me we can't get a house until I in-process there.

[Fuzz]

Update to my previous post.

I found this in the AFI 32-6001: FAMILY HOUSING MANAGEMENT:

3.3.3. A family member, with a POA duly executed by the member, may apply for and be assigned housing at the gaining installation when the member departs an accompanied tour and performs temporary duty (TDY) enroute to the PCS location.

So how would I go about getting my BAH for that the gaining location, since what I read in the JFTR states that BAH only starts once I arrive at the base. I found Toro's post earlier in this thread about talking to someone at AFPC, is there another way to go about it?

[Nineline]

Update to my previous post.

I found this in the AFI 32-6001: FAMILY HOUSING MANAGEMENT:

3.3.3. A family member, with a POA duly executed by the member, may apply for and be assigned housing at the gaining installation when the member departs an accompanied tour and performs temporary duty (TDY) enroute to the PCS location.

So how would I go about getting my BAH for that the gaining location, since what I read in the JFTR states that BAH only starts once I arrive at the base. I found Toro's post earlier in this thread about talking to someone at AFPC, is there another way to go about it?

AFAIK, you don't get BAH if you're assigned housing.

-9-

[Fuzz]

Yes but my BAH allotment will still be paid off of END's Rate whereas McChord's BAH is $500 more, not looking to pay that out of pocket.

[Nineline]

Alright.. let's start over. Do you wish to stay in base housing at McChord or do you wish to stay off base?

If you wish to stay in base housing, you will get END BAH until your wife uses the POA and is assigned housing. Once housing is assigned, you will no longer get BAH. (Unless McChord is doing that whole privatized housing BS, where you do get BAH but your privatized "rent" is the exact amount of your BAH.)

If you wish to stay off base, you will get END BAH until you (not your spouse) arrive. Once you arrive, you will begin receiving McChord BAH. The reasoning is that BAH is your allowance, not your spouses, and is determined when you show up. Reason #69 why having a TDY enroute sucks financially.

-9-

[Toro]

I tried to do something similar with my family. My help actually came from an individual at AFPC - she worked her channels and got me a letter entitling me to OHA and COLA based on the day my family arrived (not my later PCS arrival date). PM me if you want her name and email.

Here's the post you referred to. It's been a while and I don't remember the individual's name, but my situation had extenuating circumstances - I was in Saudi with a PCS to Germany, but I was trying to get my family there prior to my PCS date because I had minimal time to get a house before I had to turn right back around and go TDY again after I arrived. The question I was responding to was also referring to an overseas PCS. I don't know that you would have the backing to plead your case, but you could try.

As mentioned, you need to clarify whether you want on or off base housing (you will only get BAH for off base housing). Off-base you can get a house. Most times the housing office wants you to check in before you sign a lease, but if you contact them and explain your situation, they should be able to give you their newcomer's brief over the phone. If you're looking for on-base, you can put your info into their system to get on the waiting list, and you will have a higher priority when you show up (as opposed to somebody who just shows up wanting a house).

[xaarman]

Question:

Is there a min time allowed between returning from a deployment and when you leave for a TDY en route to a PCS? Also, are holidays factored into it? It's looking like I may get back in mid Dec and TDY en route class starts Jan 15th. vMPF says outprocess 1 Jan. I am concerned because of the Christmas/New Years holidays. Do you think this will be a problem? I am single with no family in the area. Also, I scoured 36-2110 but didn't see anything.

Anyone?

[Fuzz]

Alright.. let's start over. Do you wish to stay in base housing at McChord or do you wish to stay off base? .....(Unless McChord is doing that whole privatized housing BS, where you do get BAH but your privatized "rent" is the exact amount of your BAH.)

I'm currently weighing my options, the problem is McChord has privatized housing so if my wife goes up before me and gets a house on base I owe the housing company the McChord rate BAH ($1500) but I'll only be receiving $900 based on END. So that's why I asked about Toro's post about getting the BAH started when his family arrived.

Reason #69 why having a TDY enroute sucks financially.

1st actual PCS (base to base) and this is becoming more evident by the day.

[Finance_Guy]

I received many blank stares from both the Airmen working the TMO office. The only regs I could find supporting my problem are from Navy documents and an old Air Force article that did not site where it got its info from

Confirmed with our MAJCOM TRANS POCs that in the past you could claim the cost of the rental truck as storage but that was changed about 4 years ago. Now you can only be reimbursed for certain storage in a commercial storage facility.

I think this may be the article you found the info from:

http://www.militaryavenue.com/Langley+Air+Force+Base/479/Articles/Self-Moves+DITY-17294.aspx

[Toro]

Is there a min time allowed between returning from a deployment and when you leave for a TDY en route to a PCS? Also, are holidays factored into it? It's looking like I may get back in mid Dec and TDY en route class starts Jan 15th. vMPF says outprocess 1 Jan. I am concerned because of the Christmas/New Years holidays. Do you think this will be a problem? I am single with no family in the area. Also, I scoured 36-2110 but didn't see anything.

A long time ago as the UDM, I remember that the ART program would throw up flags when folks were scheduled to PCS within (I think) three months of returning from deployment - the commander needed to approve. The reg you want is AFPD 10-4, but it doesn't specify anything about a return time with relation to PCS. The closest it has is "10.3. Assignment Process. The USAF assignment process will be managed to coincide with the AEF battle rhythm to the maximum extent possible. The assignment process will formally track AEF deployments on individual personnel records and provide visibility of individuals to all commanders."

In case you haven't already done so, work with your commander.

[jake the snake]

Confirmed with our MAJCOM TRANS POCs that in the past you could claim the cost of the rental truck as storage but that was changed about 4 years ago. Now you can only be reimbursed for certain storage in a commercial storage facility.

I think this may be the article you found the info from:

http://www.militarya...DITY-17294.aspx

Finance Guy

Thank you very much for asking your TRANS POC and posting your findings and yes, that link to the Langley article was the one I found that initially supported my claim.

[scudrunner12]

Hey Finance_Guy,

If I turned in DITY paperwork at the end of June and still haven't been paid, should I be concerned? I know it can take 4-6 wks, but is there some follow up I'm missing. All my other DITYs were paid within 3 wks. Just wondering if there is some status website out there; like the one I look at to see 7 of my air medals in 'Pending' status....

sc12

[Finance_Guy]

Hey Finance_Guy,

If I turned in DITY paperwork at the end of June and still haven't been paid, should I be concerned? I know it can take 4-6 wks, but is there some follow up I'm missing. All my other DITYs were paid within 3 wks. Just wondering if there is some status website out there; like the one I look at to see 7 of my air medals in 'Pending' status....

sc12

There is no way to check it since DITYs/PPMs haven't been added to DTS. Therefore you have the option of visiting TMO or Finance in person, via email or by phone. However your base does it. Most likely I'd start at finance first. We've heard Ellsworth is behind but not by 2 months.

[Finance_Guy]

Latest guidance on BAH waivers/policy from AF/A1PA. Mostly relates to PCS moves.

BAH_Waiver_Guide.pdf

[whatup123]

Anybody have any experiences with TMO regarding their final PCS? Do they really hold to their no further than one's home of record clause?

[Finance_Guy]

Anybody have any experiences with TMO regarding their final PCS? Do they really hold to their no further than one's home of record clause?

Are you asking about separation or retirement? In retirement you select a home of selection which can be pretty much anywhere in the U.S. Separations are limited to home of record or place of entry on AD. For Separation, Uncle Sam is responsible only to get you back to where you entered AD. Why would they be responsible for anything further? Stay to retirement and they will, but not for separations

FG

[HeyWatchThis]

Hey Finance_Guy,

If I turned in DITY paperwork at the end of June and still haven't been paid, should I be concerned? I know it can take 4-6 wks, but is there some follow up I'm missing. All my other DITYs were paid within 3 wks. Just wondering if there is some status website out there; like the one I look at to see 7 of my air medals in 'Pending' status....

sc12

I would call finance...I just recently PCS'd too.......You know how you had to fill out two vouchers, one for finance and one for TMO? Well, apparenlty finance/Ellsworth is only capable of processing one voucher at a time (verbatim answer from my finance shop) it took almost 2 months for them to pay out both my vouchers because once they finally process the first one, their "clock" resets for when they have to process the second one.....