Temporary Duty Assignment (TDY) Military: What You Need To Know

At some point in your military career, you have a good chance of being temporarily assigned for training or a specific task. This temporary duty assignment (TDY) has specific requirements as well as a few perks and benefits to help you make the most of this time. Even though a TDY military assignment can shake up your everyday routine, it is a valuable opportunity to learn new skills and support the mission overall.

We’ve compiled everything you need to know if you’re preparing for a TDY or expect one later in your career.

A temporary duty assignment (TDY) is a shorter military assignment with a specific desired outcome. TDYs can be as short as a few days or as long as several months. In general, if you relocate for more than 180 days, your military move may qualify as a permanent change of station (PCS) rather than a TDY. However, this isn’t always the case, and your military orders will clarify the exact classification of your assignment.

A TDY military assignment requires leaving your home duty station and traveling to a new location. You may also be traveling locally to a new work location or building. During a TDY, you report to a different supervisor and unit.

Common reasons for TDY include:

• training
• military schools
• support for specific missions

You may be temporarily assigned to a different operational unit due to the needs of the military.

The frequency with which you can expect to be temporarily assigned varies based on branch, specialization, and even your duty station’s region in the world. It can also depend on where you are in your career progression, since many TDY assignments include schools and training required at different points in your military service.

A TDY differs from a PCS because it comes with the expectation that you return to your permanent duty station at the end of the TDY. These temporary assignments also tend to be much shorter than PCS assignments, which are typically multi-year roles. A deployment, on the other hand, applies to an entire unit. In these cases, the unit leaves its home station for a specific duration for an operational assignment. Deployments can last anywhere from a few months to a year or more.

TDYs can be classified based on the type of work. Common types of TDY include:

• Training and schools
• Operational support
• Conferences and official meetings
• Inspections
• Others as assigned

The exact length of a TDY assignment varies widely. If you attend a conference or a single meeting, your TDY might be just one or two days. Operational support tends to last a little longer, often a week or two, based on a specific mission or need. Schools and training can be the longest TDYs at a few weeks or months, but that isn’t always the case. It’s best to look at each TDY individually to determine what to prepare.

Most of the time, TDY assignments are only for military members, so their families stay at their home location. Sometimes, family members can visit, but they’ll most likely have to foot the bill themselves.

Preparing for this separation is key, especially if the TDY is longer. A few helpful ways to get ready as a family include:

• Talking about a plan for communication, especially if access to cell phones or email is limited
• Asking friends and family to help back home during the TDY
• Setting up a budget or spending plan to handle the extra costs associated with being away from home
• Maintaining open communication with children and younger family members during the TDY

Being away from home can come with added costs. Fortunately, the military provides extra allowances to cover these expenses when temporarily assigned. TDY allowances are meant to help the military member at their temporary duty rather than replace or offset regular, ongoing expenses back home.

Depending on the needs of your temporary duty station, you may be allotted a travel allowance or even money for a rental car, which your TDY military orders will outline.

Travel expenses, such as gas, tolls, and rental car costs, can be covered. Routine maintenance to prepare your vehicle isn’t typically included in transportation needs for a TDY. You can learn more about the specific TDY policy by reading the travel policy.

If you have dependent family members listed in your military service record, you can get family separation allowance (FSA) to help offset added costs of childcare, missed work for a spouse to care for children, or general extra costs that come with one family member being away.

You likely won’t have access to your full kitchen when on TDY military assignment, so you might have to pick up meals or make do with a much smaller setup in a hotel room or extended stay room. Per diem provides money for food at a daily rate during the entire TDY.

The amount is based on your zip code, so per diem can vary depending on where you travel. Anytime your TDY requires an overnight stay, you can receive per diem to help cover added expenses.

Temporary duty assignments aren’t always easy, especially if you have to be away from home and family for a longer time. The benefits of building your professional mileage and supporting the needs of the military make TDY a necessary and helpful part of your military career.

AHRN not only provides insight into making the most of a TDY military assignment, but also how to secure temporary housing at your TDY location.