Can a National Guardsman who is on active duty orders, currently living in local area, move outside local area and receive per diem?

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 30 Oct 2020 19:50:02 -0400

I have a NG Soldier who currently lives in the local area. He is about to move outside of the local area this weekend (I was not notified of the move). Is the Soldier entitled to start receiving per diem and lodging? I have heard a vague story about a unit in my state getting in trouble for allowing guard members to move out of the local area and start receiving per diem while on AD orders.

I have been looking through the JTR but cannot find anything that addresses this situation. Can someone point me to a regulation or other resource that covers this? I will contact USP&FO Monday, but I wanted to try to get an answer this weekend.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 30 at 2020 8:10 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 30 Oct 2020 20:10:13 -0400

They can move out of the local area but any allowance they currently are receiving will remain the same and they will not receive any additional entitlements. this is all covered in the JTR.....

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Oct 30 at 2020 9:33 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Fri, 30 Oct 2020 21:33:38 -0400

His entitlements are based on his place of duty. It's on him if he wants to move out of locality. If I was stationed at Ft Riley and want to move 100 miles away from the post, I will not receive extra entitlements because it was my choice to move out of locality.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 30 at 2020 9:58 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 30 Oct 2020 21:58:47 -0400

Sir, all of the Soldier’s entitlements are based off the duty location not where he lives. If he moves away from the duty area he is not going to receive anything extra. As a former Finance NCO I would strongly advise the Soldier not to do that. It’ll be a waste of time. Also, the move will also be in his own dime. So I would really ask him if it’s worth it after telling him all of this Sir.

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 30 at 2020 10:12 PM

SGM Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 30 Oct 2020 22:12:08 -0400

No.
If his orders say something like "report to: (unit name) 5636 E McDowell Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85008", that is the place of duty, not a TDY location.
If the orders authorize travel, the Soldier is authorized to travel from his HOR or from that place of duty to any TDY location.

He cannot receive per diem or claim travel expenses to travel to his place of duty.
If the new commute is going to be a hardship, he should have his orders amended to end next week.
AGRs are PCS'ed to their duty location. When a unit gets funds to put an MDAY on long operational support orders (1-12 months) the intent is to employ an MDAY who lives within reasonable commuting distance to that unit, because there is no PCS or per diem authorized for employing an MDAY at his home unit.
If they choose to accept the orders beyond a reasonable commute distance, the commute cost is on them.

Response by CPT Catherine R. made Oct 30 at 2020 11:00 PM

CPT Catherine R. — Fri, 30 Oct 2020 23:00:27 -0400

Home of record the day the orders are cut. Nothing changes from the entitlement side. If he came off orders and restarted new ones after his address was officially changed then he can change entitlements.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 30 at 2020 11:08 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 30 Oct 2020 23:08:17 -0400

I appreciate the feedback, but I may not have been clear in my original post. The NG Soldier is currently activated for DSCA operations. Those activated members who live within a 50 mile radius of our base go home in the evening. Those who live outside of 50 miles of our base receive per diem and are put up in a hotel (there is no housing on our NG post).
The Soldier in question currently lives within the 50 mile radius, but is moving outside 50 miles this weekend. In this case, I wanted to find out if he will be entitled to begin receiving the same pwr diem and lodging entitlements as those who reside outside of 50 miles.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Oct 30 at 2020 11:17 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Fri, 30 Oct 2020 23:17:19 -0400

Crap I am confused now. What do his orders say? Is he getting big BAH now? If he is getting BAH then I don't see why he should get per diem for moving far from his place of duty.

Now MDAY soldiers can receive per diem if they are on TDY status.