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Military TDY: Temporary Duty Assignment Explained

The U.S. Armed Forces issue different types of military travel orders to personnel.

Your military travel orders pertain to changes in your duty location and the duration, and may also impact your military pay.

Military TDY (Temporary Duty) is one common type of military travel order .

Get all your questions answered about Temporary Duty (TDY) status and what you can expect to experience with this type of order.

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Table of Contents

What is TDY?

The U.S. Military has three primary types of military travel orders:

• Permanent Change of Station (PCS)
• Temporary Duty (TDY)
• Deployments Orders

It is important to keep in mind that the three types of military assignment orders are not the same and each has its own characteristics.

Your military orders may affect how long you serve at the post, the specific location, and special duty pay.

Temporary Duty (TDY) is defined by the Department of Defense as:

Duty at one or more locations, away from the permanent duty station (PDS), under an order, providing for further assignment or pending further assignment, to return to the old PDS or to proceed to a new PDS.

Military branches under the U.S. Armed Forces have different references for Military TDY, like TAD (temporary additional duty) or TCS (temporary change of station).

However, they all mean basically the same thing that your military orders are temporary.

The primary difference between Military TDY and other orders is that it grants authorization for a service member to perform work away from the permanent duty station.

The Department of Defense requires the label Military TDY (or one of its variants) to approve travel pay, per diem, and coverage of other expenses to assist the soldier.

Since the assignment is temporary, the service member can expect a shorter stay than a permanent station assignment, however, the length of the orders may vary.

The individual details of TDY orders are fleshed out with each commitment.

The specifics of your Military TDY outline expected duration, amount of travel pay, coverage of expenses, housing and food support, transportation, and other forms of assistance.

How long is a TDY?

Military TDY is temporary for military orders, so the length is generally not longer than 180 days.

Temporary duty orders may range anywhere from a few days to a half year.

Long-term TDY is any orders which specify longer than 30 days.

TDY per diem rates depend on the location you have orders for. It will also include reimbursement for lodging, meals, and incidentals. 

Use this calculator to determine how much you can expect to receive. 

Military TDY is a stark contrast from Permanent Duty Assignments and Deployments, which have commitments of several months or years.

The Department of Defense authorizes TDY through Joint Travel Regulations.

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Is TDY considered a deployment?

Technically there is a difference between a temporary duty assignment (TDY) and Deployment, even though they are both military orders.

Deployments are similar to military TDY, except that the service member is assigned to a specific operation.

Therefore, deployments usually reference combat operations that take place overseas.

When most civilians think of military orders, they commonly associate everything with being deployed, though that’s not always the case based on the actual military definition.

Deployment refers to assigning military personnel from a home station to somewhere outside the continental United States.

Mobilizations are also classified as deployments under the Department of Defense guidelines.

How does a TDY differ from a deployment?

The biggest difference between deployments and temporary duty assignments is the length of the orders.

Military TDY is short-term, with even longer stints requiring less than a half year of commitment.

On the other hand, deployments are typically longer and involve assignments outside the United States.

Additionally, deployments involve assignments to specific operations and usually in combat situations.

However, both types of military orders have similarities.

For example, military personnel must leave their home station for a different location under each type of order.

Military TDY is not always as serious as deployments.

For instance, a temporary duty assignment could mean nothing more than attending school, conferences, or a military-sponsored event.

Or it could pertain to a regular part of military duty where frequent travel is mandatory and the service member hopes to receive some form of compensation for their travel exs.

There are cases where military personnel earn TDY status even when working in the same geographic area as the home base to justify lodging and meal expenses associated with the duty.

Soldiers also rely on military TDY for house hunting and other searches when considering a new permanent change of station or out-processing from military service.

Can I go with my husband/wife on a TDY?

One of the many perks of temporary duty assignments is that you can occasionally bring along the family.

The same is not true of deployments where it would put your spouse or other family members in danger.

If given the chance to bring along a spouse for your temporary duty assignment, you should welcome the opportunity, but keep in mind that pier diem rates are only calculated for the service member.

Military personnel often spend months away from family and friends, so having a unique opportunity like this to spend with a loved one is rare and special.

MilitaryShoppers.com put together a great resource on the topic.

It explains the pros and cons of tagging along with a significant other while he or she is on TDY.

The most important thing to keep in mind is that while you can live with your spouse while on temporary duty assignment, his or her time is still limited and it might drain your budget quickly.

Other than that, it’s an enticing opportunity to catch up after potentially months of separation.

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Will I get paid extra during a TDY?

Despite having to leave your home station, there is nothing more rewarding than a little extra pay in freedom.

It is exactly what temporary duty assignments provide to service members.

In fact, the reason that military personnel may request or seek TDY is the opportunity to put more in their wallet.

Military TDY usually grants per diem pay, which helps cover lodging, meals, and incidental expenses.

You get a set per diem pay regardless of what you actually spend each day on daily expenses.

As a result, if you budget accordingly, you can earn extra cash by pocketing whatever per diem you don’t spend on daily living expenses.

What kind of accommodations can I expect during a TDY?

The accommodations of temporary duty assignments are nothing to brag about yet offer incentives that most military personnel don’t get to enjoy.

For example, the potential opportunity to take your significant other along with you when TDY is a major advantage for some.

Military personnel may get the opportunity to stay at furnished apartments or long-term stay hotels.

Long-term stays help save you money on your per diem since you can cook your own meals as opposed to dining out all of the time.

Furnished apartments may also include laundry and other housing services to save even more money.

Service members on TDY may also request a cash advance of 60-80% of the total value.

It helps cover move-in costs as opposed to spending out of their own pocket.

Some military organizations deem anything over 30 consecutive calendar days. 

For this reason, it allows partial reimbursement of living expenses prior to concluding the assignment.

Military TDY, or temporary duty assignments, refer to relatively short-term military travel orders away from a home station.

Temporary duty assignments range from a couple of days to under six months.

Military TDY is a good thing for soldiers despite the travel arrangements, as it helps cover lodging, food, and transportation regarding the orders.

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Military TDY: What it is, How it Works, and What to Expect

Table of Contents

What is military tdy, how does military tdy work, what to expect during military tdy.

Military TDY is a common term used in the United States military to refer to temporary duty assignments that require service members to leave their home station and travel to a different location for a short period of time. In this article, we'll take a closer look at what military TDY is, how it works, and what service members can expect when they are assigned to TDY.

Military TDY, or Temporary Duty, is a type of assignment that requires service members to travel away from their home station for a period of time ranging from a few days to several months. TDY can be for a variety of reasons, including training, special assignments, temporary duty with other units or organizations, or for mission-related travel.

Military TDY can be initiated by a service member's unit, a higher headquarters, or by a specific mission requirement. Once a service member is selected for TDY, they are typically provided with orders that outline the purpose of the TDY, the location they will be traveling to, the duration of the assignment, and any other special instructions or requirements.

When traveling for TDY, service members are typically provided with transportation to and from their TDY location, as well as lodging, per diem for meals, and any other necessary support. While on TDY, service members are expected to perform the duties assigned to them and follow all applicable military regulations and policies.

When assigned to TDY, service members can expect to be away from their home station for the duration of the assignment. Depending on the location of the TDY, service members may be required to travel by commercial airline, military aircraft, or ground transportation. Upon arrival at their TDY location, service members will typically check in with their sponsor or point of contact and receive a briefing on the local area and any specific requirements or restrictions.

Service members will be responsible for performing the duties assigned to them during the TDY, which may include training, operational missions, or support functions. While on TDY, service members are expected to maintain a professional appearance and conduct themselves in accordance with military regulations and policies.

Military TDY is a common type of assignment in the United States military that requires service members to travel away from their home station for a temporary period of time. TDY can be for a variety of reasons, including training, special assignments, and mission-related travel. Service members selected for TDY can expect to receive orders outlining the purpose, location, and duration of the assignment, as well as any special instructions or requirements. While on TDY, service members are expected to perform the duties assigned to them and follow all applicable military regulations and policies.

Hello! I am an avid military enthusiast and analyst. With a deep passion for military history, strategy, and technology, I like to provide insightful perspectives on global conflicts and defense mechanisms for OnlineMilitaryEducation.org.

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What Does TDY Stand for in the Military? – Military Jargon Explained

Written by Everett Bledsoe / Fact checked by Brain Bartell

Have you ever heard of TDY in the military? It is among the many acronyms used by service members but is not as easily deciphered as others. So, what does TDY stand for in the military?

If you do not already know what TDY means in the military, you are in luck! Because today, we will be looking at TDY meaning in the military context.

TDY is short for temporary duty assignment, which is a type of order. Find out more as you continue to read. Go on!

Table of Contents

TDY: Temporary Duty Assignment in the Military

As mentioned earlier, TDY means temporary duty assignment, which is one of the three types of orders that military personnel can be given during his or her time of service. The other orders include PCS and TAD. However, we can visit these concepts another day.

Temporary duty essentially refers to duties that are carried out away from a personnel’s permanent or designated duty station. Usually, the time for TDY is up to 179 days.

There are many different reasons or purposes for TDY. Below are just six possible scenarios:

• A personnel going for advanced military education (Ie. The Navy Chief Petty Officer Training or Airman Leadership School)
• A personnel is going for a special professional conference.
• A personnel is assigned to another location to temporarily support an undermanned unit.
• A personnel is assigned to another location to temporarily participate in an activity or exercise.
• A personnel flying for missions from a stateside base to an overseas one.
• Emergency medical responders or evacuation teams moving to an operating location to provide assistance.

TDYs are available in all of the military branches. So, the answer to “What does TDY stand for in the Air Force?” is the same for the Navy, Marines, Army, etc.

However, each branch does have other subcategories of orders that are somewhat similar to TDY. For instance, the Navy has TAD, which is temporary additional duty, and the Army has TCS or temporary change of station. The Marines also have a long-term TDY specifically for duty that lasts longer than 30 days.

Nevertheless, in a nutshell, TDY refers to temporarily authorized duty in a location other than the personnel’s assignment of duty station. When the duty completes, the personnel will return to his or her original base unit of assignment.

They are necessary because the DoD or the Department of Defense has to justify any expenses, per diem, and travel pay to a particular location. A personnel’s pay and allowances are also directly influenced by whether or not their status is TDY.

Although seemingly similar, TDY is not the same as a deployment. When deployed, military personnel are assigned to be a part of a certain operation. Typically, it is an overseas combat operation.

For example, the US Air Force routinely deployed personnel, for contingency operations, to Afghanistan, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, etc. Like TDYs, however, upon completion of a deployment, the personnel returns to his or her originally assigned base or duty station.

Congrats! Now, you no longer have to mull over the question “What does TDY stand for in the military?” If you have any other thoughts on this topic, leave us comments! We are always happy to engage with our readers.

Read more : LMI meaning in military.

I am Everett Bledsoe, taking on the responsibility of content producer for The Soldiers Project. My purpose in this project is to give honest reviews on the gear utilized and tested over time. Of course, you cannot go wrong when checking out our package of information and guide, too, as they come from reliable sources and years of experience.

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Life in the Military

Duty Stations & Deployment

After service members complete Basic Training and hone their skills during Advanced Training , like AIT, “A” School and “C” School, they’ll move on to apply their specialties where they’re needed at their first duty station. Each assignment involves a “movement order,” and there are three types: permanent change of station , temporary duty and deployment .

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Permanent change of station, temporary duty.

Permanent change of station (PCS) is a long-term assignment or transfer of an active-duty service member to a permanent duty station (PDS) location that typically lasts between two and four years. This can be from one state to another within the U.S. or even to another country . 

Duty stations are typically bases or other installations where service members both live and perform their work. Though service members can sometimes choose from several preferred duty stations, the needs of the Military are often the deciding factor. 

Moving between duty stations can be a big life step for many individuals. If this is the case, knowing a few helpful tips can make this transition more comfortable.

Temporary duty (TDY) is when a service member is temporarily stationed at one or more locations away from their permanent duty station (PDS). It can also be referred to as temporary change of station (TCS) or temporary additional duty (TAD). After completing TDY, a service member will return to the original PDS or proceed to a new one. The duration of a TDY assignment can be anywhere between 30 days and six months.

Deployment is the movement of military units or individual service members to locations outside of the continental U.S. and its territories for the purposes of accomplishing specific missions. Contrary to popular belief, not all deployments are combative in nature. Service members can also make an impact by being deployed on peacekeeping missions, citizen evacuations, joint training exercises and even bolstering security at U.S. high commissions and embassies abroad. 

Deployment can last from anywhere between 90 days and 15 months, and there are no limits to the number of times that active-duty members can be deployed.

Deployment: From Notification to Movement

Deployment is a multi-stage process that typically consists of three phases: 

• Warning order: This is a formal and official government alert sent to Service branches that their help is required. From here, Services “prepare to deploy” by identifying personnel to satisfy the mission requirements, conducting health tests, getting their equipment ready and more.
• Notice to deploy: This formal deployment notification follows the warning order and carries the details of the type of unit to be deployed, the destination and the time of deployment.
• Movement: This is when the convoys/units begin their journey toward their deployment destination.

Depending on the need of the mission and the urgency, the time between the warning order and the movement can be anywhere from months to weeks to days.

Deployment Ceremony

A few leaders from the Army’s 326th Financial Management Support Center share their thoughts during a deployment ceremony.

Transcription

Good morning. So, I'm Master and Rivera. I'm the Senior financial management advisor for 3 26 F . M . S . C. Today, uh is our deployment ceremony. I'm excited to be taking the team forward. We have trained up to this point and I feel confident that we're ready to take over the mission from the 266. I know I will miss my family, but this is something that gives me meaning so they understand that. So they'll be happy to see me when I get back. Hello, My name is Captain Danny . Nam. I just got promoted. I'm just very excited just to get to play with our unit. Very excited for the whole process, thankful for everything that the 3 to 6 has done for me and my family and um yeah , I'm really excited to learn and kind of make the best of the moment that we have and the opportunity that we get Sergeant first class David Ramirez at the 3 26 F . M . S . C . I've been serving as a unit movement officer for the past nine months in preparation for this deployment. This will be my fourth deployment to the centcom A . O . R . I'm really excited about going overseas with this unit for the third time. I'm looking forward to it. I will be leaving behind my wife and my five year old and seven year old who I'm gonna miss but I know I will be able to communicate with them. I'm excited about this opportunity to be overseas and represent my unit and the army.

Predeployment Training

Each deployment is a new assignment, and service members undergo special predeployment training before they leave. These trainings prepare them for the mission ahead and can have the service members working on new skill sets if need be. Predeployment training is mandatory before every deployment, no matter how many times a service member has previously deployed.

Deployment for Reserve & Guard Members

Reservists and Guard members who get activated for a mission can be deployed to support combat missions, domestic emergencies, humanitarian efforts, homeland security operations and more. The length of deployment depends on the occupational specialties and operational units required at that time.

Humanitarian Missions

Humanitarian assistance and disaster relief are core Department of Defense capabilities. While service members often respond to large-scale emergencies affecting civilian populations, they also assist in international humanitarian missions, which are aimed at strengthening and growing relationships between nations.

Bringing Dental Care to Guatemala

Active duty and reservist personnel from the Army and Air Force administer healthcare to local populations in Guatemala.

We are on a humanitarian mission in Guatemala and we are providing dental services at this site. And we are cleaning teeth, doing extractions and in cases where cavities are really small. We can do silver diamond fluoride which basically helps arrest the cavity. So it doesn't spread. We're making a small event in their population. I wish we could stay longer and do more. It's been at times intense and I say that because there's just such a great need. We really work hard to try to see everybody. I think it's good for the U. S. Military that comes with missions like these because it helps strengthen the relationships and we get to learn a lot about their culture. They get to learn a lot about our culture. So it's really great  I am so happy to have this opportunity. When you look at the very essence of why we became providers often times we've done it because we felt like we wanted to contribute to society to help people and when you're in an environment like this, I mean that is exactly what it's all about. Yeah.

Sea duty refers to an assignment where service members are either aboard commissioned vessels or attached to ready-to-be deployed units at their base port. This specific type of duty is not limited to Navy service members. Members of other Service branches, both active duty and reserve/guard, can also acquire creditable sea duty time while serving aboard vessels of the U.S. Navy, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Navy Military Sealift Command (MSC), and National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Sea duty can last in excess of 150 total days per year.

Voting While Abroad

U.S. citizen service members who find themselves overseas and away from home during election seasons are still able to cast their votes using tools and resources provided through the Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP) .

Eligible family members of service members who are also stationed abroad are able to receive voting assistance through FVAP too. 

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