Travel Pay

OVERSEAS PAY

OCONUS Allowances

Soldiers in Vicenza and Camp Darby receive monthly allowances based on rank, housing, dependents, and jump status.

Overseas Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) – Click here for current rate

• COLA helps offset higher prices of goods and services overseas. All Soldiers will receive COLA. The rate is based on rank, length of service, and number of dependents (up to 5). Soldiers in barracks receive a reduced COLA.

Overseas Housing Allowance (OHA) – Click here for current rate

• OHA is only provided to those in private rentals. This rate fluctuates monthly based on the exchange rate. It has 3 components: rental, maintenance, and move-in allowances. See a detailed breakdown of OHA.

Parachute Duty Pay (Only Eligible Soldiers) – Click here for current rate

• This rewards Soldiers for continuing to perform parachute duty. Soldiers with current jump orders receive jump pay.

Family Separation Allowance (FSA) – Click  here for current rate

• FSA compensates Soldiers for added expenses incurred in the event of a forced family separation.

What’s the value of your dollar?

Participate in annual OHA surveys in May and COLA surveys (every 3 years) in October at USAG Italy. Your answers decide future allowance increases or decreases!

Check Orders for Tour & Family Travel

Some allowances depend on the type of tour your Soldier will serve and the type of family travel that is authorized.

¹ OHA is only for Soldiers in private rentals; begins as of move-in date.
² BAH ends as of Soldier flight date, regardless of family travel timing.
³ Soldier will receive “without dependent” rate until family arrives.
¹¹ FSA is paid in full upon family arrival overseas. From date of family travel authorization, FSA will end when family arrives or in 60 days.
²² Soldier will receive “without dependent” rate.
³³ FSA will be paid on monthly basis only if CS is denied due to EFMP.

NOTE: Unaccompanied Soldiers ≤E6 will reside in Barracks until family arrives, ≥E7 will get TLA and search for Housing. This can varry for Camp Darby soldiers and airmen. Contact your sponsor for more information.

TRAVEL REIMBURSEMENTS

Travel Allowances: Keep the Receipts!

During in-processing your Soldier will fill out a Travel Voucher for certain reimbursable expenses. Funds are direct deposited in 10 days to GTCC or bank account.

Submitted on Travel Voucher

Dislocation Allowance (DLA) Rate: DLA covers part of the cost of moving. DLA is based on rank and dependents. Soldiers in barracks don’t get DLA. Click here for current rate.

Temporary Lodging Expense (TLE): TLE reimburses up to 5 days of CONUS gov’t lodging & meals within vicinity of current duty station during a PCS. Click here for current rate.

Meals & Incidentals (ME/I): You’ll get 2 days (flight day & arrival day) of ME/I. Soldier, Spouse and Dependents 12+ receive 75% of ME/I rate. Dependents under 12 receive 50% of Soldier’s ME/I. Click here for current rate.

Reimbursable Expenses (Check with TMO for details): Reimbursable expenses include flights, mileage and tolls to go to airport or ship POV, or approved excess baggage fees. Keep receipts. Expenses associated with rental cars or pet travel (vet, pet hotel fees) are not reimbursed.

Temporary Lodging Allowance (TLA) Rate 

TLA reimburses Soldiers for OCONUS gov’t lodging and meals during a PCS. TLA is a separate reimbursement based on paperwork submitted to Finance or on-post Inn (Vicenza) /Casa Toscana (Camp Darby). Click here for current rate. 

HOW DO WE PAY FOR ALL OUR TRAVEL?

If your family needs financial assistance to help pay for travel expenses before your Soldier is reimbursed, check out these options:

Government Travel Charge Card (GTCC)

All Soldiers on official government travel will be issued a GTCC through their gaining unit for permissible expenses (see Appendix G of JTR Regulations) while on official travel orders. GTCCs may not be used while on leave status.

GTCCs have no interest for 60 days. Unpaid GTCC bills have a $29 late fee and can impact a Soldier’s personal credit score. Consult the unit’s travel card manager for details.

Army Emergency Relief (AER ) Visit ACS for info

AER can provide financial assistance to Active Duty Soldiers, retirees, and their spouse and dependents for relocation travel, funerals, car repair, utilities, medical care, etc. Visit AER at ACS for info. Assistance includes:

• Interest-free loan (monthly repayment required)
• Grant (no repayment required)
• Combination of interest-free loan and grant

Base Pay Advance

Review all options before taking a PCS pay advance. Within 60 days of arrival, Soldiers may qualify for an advance of  up to 1 month of disposable pay (after allotments, taxes, and deductions). This must be paid back within 12 months.

TLA REIMBURSEMENT PROCESS

Reimbursement Process

• Off-Post Lodging TLA Reimbursement
  • Replace item #1 regarding 15-night SNA for “Statement of Non-Availability from Ederle Inn/Casa Toscana is required to cover for the period of TLA claimed. This is required to stay in off-post lodging.”
  • Item #3
    • Replace “every 10 nights” to “every 15 nights”
    • Replace “receipt must be same as Statement from Inn/Casa…” to “receipt must be covered within the same period of time as SNA from Inn/Casa…”
• Ederle Inn/Casa Toscana TLA Reimbursement
  • Need to separate process for Ederle Inn (Vicenza) and Casa Toscana (Darby)
  • Remove section that states Finance will pay hotels directly.
  • Casa Toscana
    • Hotel Bill is paid in full every 15 nights.
    • Casa Toscana submits paid receipt and cover sheet to Camp Darby Housing Office for TLA Authorization Memo.
    • Housing Office will submit TLA Authorization Memo and Hotel Receipt to Finance via email.
    • Finance Office will request TLA Cover Sheet (to be completed for each 15-night period), Orders, Smart Voucher (for arrivals) and scanned Passports or Birth Certificates for Dependent Children (to verify age for reimbursement).
  • Ederle Inn
    • Hotel Bill is paid in full every 15 nights.
    • SM is responsible for submitting receipt to Housing Office for TLA Authorization memo.
    • SM is responsible for submitting TLA packet to Finance for every 15-night period. Documents required:
      • TLA Authorization Memo, Paid Hotel Receipt, Orders, Smart Voucher (arrivals only), and scanned copies of Passports or Birth Certificates for Dependent Children (to verify age for reimbursement).
      • TLA Cover sheet will be completed at Finance Office for each submission.
  • Note: TLA is paid to SM through their LES, and they are responsible for closing out any balance on payment card.