Is there a current regulation for distance having to drive to drill and what is due the service member?

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 31 Jan 2018 10:29:12 -0500

Unit has relocated 3 hours away. Some SM have significant drive time. Was there not a regulation that stated over 50 miles lodging was required? Some soldiers are looking at 400 mile round trip.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 31 at 2018 10:40 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 31 Jan 2018 10:40:01 -0500

There is no lodging requirement per se, but Lodging in Kind (LIK) is a benefit that is available as long as there is funding and comes with it's own local guidance and regulations. Independent Duty Travel (IDT) is another bucket of funding available. Being outside of commuting distance (50mi) would authorize one night and 150mi two. That said a unit move that puts a hardship on soldiers should be escalated all the way up the chain of command. I imagine this didn't happen overnight. What guidance was given in the months leading up to this?

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 31 at 2018 10:49 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 31 Jan 2018 10:49:30 -0500

The "Lodging Requirement" can be fulfilled with simply a cot in the drill hall if there aren't funds for lodging. The big take away if the unit is beyond reasonable commuting distance is that soldiers can submit a 4187 requesting transfer to a closer unit and command cannot deny it. I had to go through this battle back in 2010 with a unit that was an 8 hour drive each way.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 31 at 2018 11:01 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 31 Jan 2018 11:01:35 -0500

This move has been in the works for over a year. I was not part of the unit during the transition or talks. I am coming in as a newly hired RNCO. Ready to go to bat or do what I can for my troops.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 31 at 2018 11:35 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 31 Jan 2018 11:35:59 -0500

SGT Private RallyPoint Member last I knew it was up to the MSC if they utilized the Lodging in King (LIK) that provides Soldiers a hotel room (could be shared with like gender and rank) for 50 miles or more for one night and two nights if over 150 miles (not 100% on that number). Some also offer money for travel up to $300, but I do not remember the details on that. But like all things it is dependent on funds. It was started originally for those who were cross-leveled for deploying units and were involuntary deployers to support them while they went to drill and training with units that are potentially states away.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 31 at 2018 11:38 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 31 Jan 2018 11:38:51 -0500

If the unit or even higher level command(s) have a Lodging In Kind policy, then the Soldiers can utilize this if they meet the distance requirements.....and if there is funds.....and if there is a Government Purchase Card holder. What the distance is for each Soldier to be authorized a hotel room will be based on the local policy. For example let's use a MUTA 4 BTA, the 807th MCSD LIK policy is that 51-99 miles are given 1 night. 100 and higher is given 2 nights. For a MUTA 6 BTA, 51-99 are given 2 nights, same as 100-149. 150 and higher are given 3 nights.

Response by SGT Lee Jamison made Jan 31 at 2018 1:39 PM

SGT Lee Jamison — Wed, 31 Jan 2018 13:39:02 -0500

My unit before transition had a policy for these things although the funds were never “available” for soldiers to utilize the policy. Instead they opened the armory to the soldiers and let them sleep there. After our transition that practice is still in effect.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 31 at 2018 1:51 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 31 Jan 2018 13:51:06 -0500

As most have stated, if there is funding, lodging in kind should be provided for any service member over 50 miles. Unless this was some unit that these soldiers were just in love with I would start looking for a unit closer to home and transfer.

Response by LTC Fred Eisert made Feb 1 at 2018 3:06 PM

LTC Fred Eisert — Thu, 01 Feb 2018 15:06:46 -0500

I have never heard of an Army Guard unit providing lodging other than a tent or an armory. The Air Force side normally provided a hotel for their folks over 50 miles. I was always over 100 miles and just paid for a hotel room. I did the armory for years, but that wasn't conducive to much rest at night. Maybe a little pressure on your command to help these soldiers out. Can't be good for retention.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 10 at 2018 4:36 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 10 Apr 2018 16:36:02 -0400

32 CFR 100.6.
(e)Reasonable commuting distance. The maximum distance a member of a Reserve component may travel involuntarily between residence and drill training site, in accordance with § 100.5(b)(1). This distance may be within:

(1) A 100-mile radius of the drill site that does not exceed a distance that can be traveled by automobile under average conditions of traffic, weather, and roads within 3 hours. This applies only to those units that normally conduct four drills on 2 consecutive days during the training year, if Government meals and quarters are provided at the base where the unit drills. (The provisions of this paragraph shall apply only to those individuals enlisting, reenlisting, or extending their enlistments after November 1, 1972.)

(2) A 50-mile radius of the drill site that does not exceed a distance that can be traveled by automobile under average conditions of traffic, weather, and roads within a period of 1 1/2 hours.

I don't know about National Guard units though.