Do You Get Per Diem on Deployment?

Per diem is a daily allowance provided by the government to cover lodging, meals, and incidental costs incurred by service members while on official travel. This financial support helps offset out-of-pocket expenses when individuals are away from their permanent duty station. The specific amount of per diem received can vary significantly based on the travel location and the nature of the assignment. This article clarifies how per diem applies to military deployments, detailing eligibility, rate determination, covered expenses, and payment processes.

Per Diem Eligibility During Deployment

Service members often question whether they receive per diem during a military deployment. Generally, per diem is not provided when the government furnishes all essential needs, such as lodging and meals. This is common in many deployment scenarios where service members reside in government-provided barracks or tents and eat at dining facilities (DFACs) or are issued MREs.

However, specific circumstances can authorize per diem during a deployment. If a service member is on temporary duty (TDY) away from their main deployed location, or if a mission requires commercial lodging and meals due to the unavailability of government amenities, per diem might be authorized. The distinction between a long-term operational deployment and temporary duty within that deployment is important. Eligibility for per diem is always determined by specific orders and Department of Defense (DoD) regulations, outlined in the Joint Travel Regulations (JTR).

Per diem is separate from other forms of compensation like Combat Zone Tax Exclusion (CZTE) or Hostile Fire Pay (HFP). These are distinct benefits designed to compensate for hazardous duty or service in designated combat zones, not for daily expenses. Even when full lodging and meals are provided, service members deployed to OCONUS locations may still receive a daily incidental expense allowance, typically around $3.50, while CONUS locations are around $5.00. This small allowance covers minor daily costs not directly tied to lodging or meals.

Determining Per Diem Rates

Per diem rates are not uniform across all locations and can change over time. These rates are established by different government bodies depending on the travel destination. For travel within the Continental United States (CONUS), the General Services Administration (GSA) sets the per diem rates. For non-foreign areas outside the Continental United States (OCONUS), including locations like Alaska, Hawaii, and U.S. territories, the DoD’s Defense Travel Management Office (DTMO) determines the rates.

International foreign area rates are set by the U.S. Department of State. These varying rates are designed to reflect the actual cost of living and expenses in different geographic areas. For instance, rates can range from a standard CONUS rate of approximately $178 per day to over $1,000 per day for certain OCONUS locations.

When some expenses, such as lodging or meals, are provided by the government, a “partial per diem” or “proportional meal rate” may apply. This means the per diem rate is reduced to account for the expenses already covered. Service members can find current per diem rates on the GSA website for CONUS travel, the DTMO website for non-foreign OCONUS travel, or through the Defense Travel System (DTS). Rates are updated annually, effective October 1st, aligning with the federal fiscal year.

What Per Diem Covers

Per diem is designed to cover certain categories of expenses incurred during official travel. It comprises two primary components: lodging and Meals and Incidental Expenses (M&IE). The lodging portion is an allowance intended to reimburse the cost of accommodation, up to a set maximum rate for the specific location. Service members are reimbursed for the actual cost of lodging, provided it does not exceed the locality’s maximum allowance.

The M&IE component is a combined allowance for food, non-alcoholic beverages, and other miscellaneous daily expenses. Incidental expenses include fees and tips given to service staff (e.g., porters, baggage carriers, hotel staff), laundry, dry cleaning, and ATM/bank fees. Per diem is not intended to cover all personal expenses a service member might incur, but rather costs directly associated with official travel.

Receiving Per Diem Payments

Once eligibility for per diem is established, service members receive payments through official travel systems. The most common system used by the Department of Defense is the Defense Travel System (DTS), which streamlines the entire process from authorization to reimbursement. After completing the authorized travel or deployment period, service members must submit a travel voucher to claim their authorized per diem.

This claim is filed using a DD Form 1351-2, “Travel Voucher or Subvoucher,” which details the travel itinerary and expenses incurred. The submission of this form, along with required supporting documentation like lodging receipts, is a necessary step for processing the reimbursement. Payments are made via direct deposit to the service member’s designated bank account, often within a few days to a couple of weeks after the voucher has been submitted and approved. Service members should retain all receipts, especially for lodging, as they may be required for verification purposes.