Preparation
Air Force TDY Checklist for Your First Trip
Prepare for your first Air Force TDY with a checklist for orders, DTS, lodging, transportation, documents, packing, and connecting with classmates.
Prepare with confidence
A better start to your next TDY.
Practical guides to travel preparation, allowances and connecting with your class before arrival.
Preparation
How to Find Classmates Before Your Air Force School Starts
Find classmates before SOS or another Air Force school using official messages, unit introductions and class groups, with practical questions to get started.
Schools
Going to Squadron Officer School: How to Prepare Before You Arrive
Prepare for resident SOS at Maxwell: confirm your class, eligibility, travel, lodging, computer access and first-day requirements before you arrive.
Per diem
Air Force TDY Per Diem Explained
Understand Air Force TDY per diem, hotel reimbursement, meals and incidentals, travel-day rates, and why your DTS payment may differ from your estimate.
Per diem
Why Your TDY Meal Rate Is Lower Than Expected
Understand government and proportional meal rates, meals provided, travel days, and what to document when your TDY dining arrangements change.
Lodging
Your TDY Hotel Costs More Than the Allowance
Hotel over your TDY lodging allowance? Learn what to check, when actual expense allowance may apply, and what to gather before requesting approval.
Travel changes
Driving Instead of Flying to TDY
Considering driving instead of flying to TDY? Understand cost comparisons, mileage limits, authorized travel days, and what to resolve before departure.
Receipts
TDY Receipts and Expenses Checklist
Know which TDY receipts to save, how lodging and meal documentation differ, and what to do when a receipt is missing before submitting your voucher.
Vouchers
How to Submit a DTS Voucher After Your TDY
Submit your DTS voucher after TDY: update actual expenses, attach receipts, check per diem and card payments, sign, and track the review process.
Travel card
DTS Split Disbursement and Your GTC: Where Your Reimbursement Goes
Understand how DTS splits reimbursement between your GTC and bank, review payment amounts, and resolve a remaining travel-card balance.
Lodging
Hotel Taxes and Fees: What Counts Toward Your TDY Lodging Allowance?
Separate TDY hotel taxes, mandatory fees and room costs. Learn domestic versus foreign tax rules, approval limits and what to keep for your voucher.
Lodging
Can You Stay Off Base on TDY?
Check required TDY lodging, nonavailability documentation and reimbursement limits before booking an off-base hotel for your Air Force assignment.
Per diem
How to Look Up and Estimate Your TDY Per Diem
Find the official TDY per diem rate for your location and dates, then estimate lodging and M&IE with a worked example and checks for DTS differences.
DTS authorization
How to Create Your First TDY Authorization in DTS
Prepare your first DTS authorization with a checklist for itinerary, reservations, expenses, funding, review, approval and airline ticketing.
Per diem
Do You Get Per Diem on Weekends During TDY?
Learn how TDY weekend per diem depends on travel status, leave, meals and where you stay, including personal outings and returns home.
JTR
How to Find the TDY Rule You Need in the JTR
Find the JTR rule for your TDY question using the right edition, paragraph, table conditions and official examples, then ask a focused travel-office question.
Lodging
Can You Bring Your Spouse or Pet on TDY?
Plan a TDY with a spouse or pet by checking assignment restrictions, lodging rules, access and personal costs before making reservations.
Travel changes
Rental Cars on TDY: Authorization and Getting Around
Plan TDY transportation, request rental-car authorization and understand vehicle size, insurance, fuel, shared cars, tolls and parking conditions.
Travel changes
Adding Personal Leave Before or After a TDY
Plan leave before or after TDY by separating official and personal travel, checking cost comparisons, arranging bookings and reviewing per diem dates.
Travel card
Getting Paid During a Long TDY: Scheduled Partial Payments
Prepare for a long TDY with DTS scheduled partial payments: eligibility, approval, payment checks, trip changes and final voucher reconciliation.