Posted on Mar 2, 2020
Do you receive reimbursement for drill travel (TDY), and are the numbers correct?
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Has anyone run the numbers on travel pay and found that they are incorrect? Mileage pay is set at $ $0.575 which means my full 600 mile trip should get me a reimbursement of about $345. However, they arbitrarily send me $119 for reimbursement. This happens to the other travelers in my unit as well. If anyone has any explanation, or points of contact for this, it would be quite helpful. (This is mileage for driving a POV - Air Force Reserve).
Posted 6 y ago
Responses: 7
Reimbursement for IDT travel is limited to $300 total (gas, food and lodging). Mileage for IDT is limited to $0.18 per mile, not the TDY rate of $0.575 (IDT is not TDY).
IDT travel reimbursement is also limited to critical shortage AFSCs (yours is on the list).
The latest I could find was this, set to expire in 2018,
https://www.arpc.afrc.af.mil/Portals/4/DRIO/AFRC-CY18-IDT-Travel-Reimbursement-Program-Guide.pdf
But there is probably a new one somewhere if you are still getting travel for home station IDT.
If there is a convenient way to fly to IDT, you can use up to $300 for that with a little more advance effort on your part.
IDT travel reimbursement is also limited to critical shortage AFSCs (yours is on the list).
The latest I could find was this, set to expire in 2018,
https://www.arpc.afrc.af.mil/Portals/4/DRIO/AFRC-CY18-IDT-Travel-Reimbursement-Program-Guide.pdf
But there is probably a new one somewhere if you are still getting travel for home station IDT.
If there is a convenient way to fly to IDT, you can use up to $300 for that with a little more advance effort on your part.
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If they can’t figure it out or get it fixed then keep track of your mileage and then claim the rest as a deduction since you were not reimbursed for it by Uncle Sam.
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How are you calculating your mileage? Are you using Google with your HOR to your base? I know for us in the ANG, it is based on zip code for HOR to zip code of your assigned based.
SGM Jeff Mccloud has a great resource that explains how ARPC calculates your reimbursement, what you can and can't claim, etc. It is also can be found in "JTR, para. 032304 and 37 USC 452 (b) (9)."
Inactive Duty Training (IDT) Reimbursements are completely different from Temporary Duty Assignments (TDY) reimbursements. If you look at DFAS, mileage rates for 2020 are IDT - $0.17/mile and TDY - $0.575/mile (car). For 2019, IDT - $0.20/mi and TDY - $0.58 (so you will see a drop in your reimbursement this year).
SGM Jeff Mccloud has a great resource that explains how ARPC calculates your reimbursement, what you can and can't claim, etc. It is also can be found in "JTR, para. 032304 and 37 USC 452 (b) (9)."
Inactive Duty Training (IDT) Reimbursements are completely different from Temporary Duty Assignments (TDY) reimbursements. If you look at DFAS, mileage rates for 2020 are IDT - $0.17/mile and TDY - $0.575/mile (car). For 2019, IDT - $0.20/mi and TDY - $0.58 (so you will see a drop in your reimbursement this year).
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LTC (Join to see)
exactly. not sure where within the zip code they base their calculations but it appears that they take the shortest distance possible. In my case, my HOR is on the northernmost edge of the zip code and my assigned base is at the southernmost edge of its zip code. So even though it is 106 miles from my HOR to the armory, I only get credit for driving 84.
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2d Lt Cinthia W.
LTC (Join to see) - If I remember correctly from speaking with my finance office, they go from the central most point of the zip code? But then again, I have also heard that it is edge to edge which would make the most sense, least amount of money spent.
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SrA (Join to see)
I see... I guess they're using the "PCS MALT" Rate instead of TDY for reimbursement calculations. The numbers make more sense now. Thanks 2d Lt Cinthia W.
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2d Lt Cinthia W.
SrA (Join to see) - PCS MALT is completely different, since you are a traditional reservist, you wouldn't qualify for PCS. That's a permanent change of station-monetary allowance in lieu of transportation. This would be classified as "Other Mileage Rate", stated on page 6 of the attachment.
Good news is that the max reimbursement limit was increased from $300 to $500. "Member is authorized travel expenses NTE $500 for travel to and from Inactive Duty Training according to JTR, Paragraph 032304."
You can download the current guidance through the link below, this is for CY2020. Let me know if the link doesnt work, I can try to PM you the guidance.
https://www.arpc.afrc.af.mil/Portals/4/DRIO/Travel/CY20%20IDT%20Travel%20Reimbursement%20Program%20Guide.pdf?ver=2020-01-15-165209-333
Good news is that the max reimbursement limit was increased from $300 to $500. "Member is authorized travel expenses NTE $500 for travel to and from Inactive Duty Training according to JTR, Paragraph 032304."
You can download the current guidance through the link below, this is for CY2020. Let me know if the link doesnt work, I can try to PM you the guidance.
https://www.arpc.afrc.af.mil/Portals/4/DRIO/Travel/CY20%20IDT%20Travel%20Reimbursement%20Program%20Guide.pdf?ver=2020-01-15-165209-333
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is there not a unit closer to your home? 300 miles one way seems an awful long way to drive for E4 drill pay. We have guys in my unit that travel that far but they are all E8s or Majors.
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Updated reimbursement:. $500 total for IDT. Mileage is set at $.16/mile. Whomever it is that processes your vouchers and approves your DTS, get with them for clarification
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SGT (Join to see)
SFC Livingston is there an NGB Policy / Memo / or Regulation for this?
Or is this dictated differently for each state? Or is this only available to Reserve Components?
Or is this dictated differently for each state? Or is this only available to Reserve Components?
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MSG (Join to see)
SGT (Join to see) for NG, I'm not sure. Again, you'll need to get in touch with your DTS reviewer and/or Operations section
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The limit was raised to $500. Most of the units that I attended Battle Assembly were well the 150 mile threshold to receive IDT reimbursement.
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