Can someone help me with TDY en route OCONUS to CONUS with dependents? Can I bring my dependents to my TDY en-route if I pay out of pocket?

2017-12-13T14:47:28-05:00

I have done 3 Consecutive Overseas Tours (COTs), and am returning to the U.S. for Satellite ILE followed by a Master's. We also have a brand new baby (I am amazing with timing).

Does anyone have recommendations for taking family along on a TDY en-route? I know technically they should go to my next duty station, but due to some other issues I would prefer if we go down to my TDY together, and we won't get orders until the very last minute. I presume I would pay out of pocket for a furnished apartment somewhere, or does satellite ILE not allow that and mandate staying in the BOQs (I am going to Fort Gordon)?

Can UAB be shipped to an extended TDY en-route, or does everything go to the next duty station? I can't find the answers I am looking for in the JTFR.

Sorry for the extended questions, just trying to wrap my head around this, as I have never done TDY en-route before.

Thanks in advance

Response by MAJ Byron Oyler made Dec 13 at 2017 4:59 PM

2017-12-13T16:59:35-05:00

You can just about always take your family TDY with you, housing will be the big question. I came from Hawaii to the CCC course and my wife and new baby shared the hotel with me however since then they started double bunking people and it would not have worked. How long will you be at satellite ILE and master program? I can almost guarantee there is a policy out there, either local or big army that attends to the housing they put you up in. Critical care students at BAMC are currently placed in apartments off post for 18weeks. My suggestion, do you have a liaison name for the ILE course you are attending, they should have these answers, if not you could try the local S-3 that cut your orders, or call housing at the school location.

Response by Lt Col Jim Coe made Dec 14 at 2017 11:34 AM

2017-12-14T11:34:36-05:00

Been there, done that. Yes, you can take your dependents to your TDY location. The cost will be on you. The Service will do all kinds of gyrations when you file your dependent's travel voucher to calculate whether they get mileage including the "detour" to your en-route TDY location or not. If you rent an apartment at your TDY location, you will probably be reimbursed only for your authorized "lodging" cost at your TDY location. If the rent is lower than the lodging amount then you'll get the lower amount. Your dependents will get travel pay only for the number of days necessary to travel from your Port of Debarkation in CONUS to your permanent station.

I had unaccompanied baggage shipped to the location where I told the Air Force my dependents would be staying (my in-laws house) before I secured housing at my accompanied overseas location. Coming back to CONUS we shipped UAB to a warehouse near our CONUS location. They delivered it once we found quarters in Florida. There's people at Personal Property at USTRANSCOM who can answer the questions. Should be a phone number in the personal property system.

Getting the orders done to authorize everything legally possible is key to making the move as hassle free as possible. Get authorization to reside off-post during training, get authorization to ship UAB, make sure authorization for dependent travel is in orders or on separate orders for the dependents, make sure "house hunting" enroute is in orders (saves leave days), get authorization to ship a vehicle if needed, get authorization to store UAB and household goods at PCS location. Have variations in itinerary and delays authorized. Get mileage authorized as advantageous to the government.