Military Travel: Helpful Tips for TDY Travel
If you have orders to travel TDY (temporary duty beyond), you have the choice of whether it will be a smooth experience or a difficult time. From the moment you arrive at the airport, to the speed at which your out-of-pocket expenses are funded after you return, a handful of tips can easily tip the scales in your direction. Why not avoid a lot of frustration? Consider applying all the tips below and you will enjoy your TDY. You will quickly become a travel specialist!
Tips and information
A. Make a number of multiple similar expenses adding up accurately.
Look at all the different taxes on a hotel room receipt. Add them up and make that number: “Hotel tax”, for example. Make the payment easy for the person who reviews your voucher.
B. Do everyone’s work to make your way easy.
Don’t wait for DTS to contact you. After submitting, check the progress of your coupon and resolve any issues quickly. Be a “Nice and Squeaky Wheel.” You can call anyone repeatedly about anything, as long as you’re nice. You’ll catch more bees with honey than vinegar, and earn a reputation as a military travel pro.
C. Join all travel clubs and get all travel benefit cards.
Current rules allow service members to keep miles and points. You do not determine how you will travel; the government does. Since you will have so many cards, get something to keep all those cards organized. If you start organized, you’ll find that the points and miles add up. You’ll enjoy that free flight or vacation in the future because you started organized.
D. Keep your things tidy in your hotel room.
It’s easier to see if someone has been through it while you were gone. It’s also easier to “drag the bag” when leaving a room because you’re less likely to leave something behind. Military travel professionals don’t find themselves frantically calling the hotel from the airport to see if the maid found a clock in the room!
E. Don’t let your coupon sit there for five days upon your return.
Complete your TDY by submitting your voucher as soon as you return. You’ll appreciate getting your money back sooner rather than later.
F. Scan your receipts.
If you fax them, they may not be readable. Check all your expenses twice. Please do your best to make it clear and easy to process your voucher. We will appreciate your professional processing of your voucher.
Before leaving for the airport by TDY:
1. Make sure your orders are finished.
You will also need a voice command (VOCO). Take off without it and you may not get your money back for some expenses. Yes, you are serving your country, but that shouldn’t mean taking money out of your pocket to do it.
2. Make a TDY envelope for each trip.
Keep an envelope with the related Operations Order (OPORD). This envelope should also house your itinerary, orders, and receipts. Your life will be much easier if you keep all the papers of a trip in an envelope.
3. Does your travel card work?
Just before the date of your trip, buy a piece of gum or a drink in a store and use it. Why be ashamed on your journey? Make sure it works before you go on a military tour.
4. Pack early.
Check your OPORD. Have everything? If you are going to a school, search online to see if you can get the packing list for that school. You may not be able to get what you need where you’re going; get ready.
5. Print your boarding pass in advance.
This only saves you from one less potential problem. Why not put it in your pocket before you arrive at the airport? Be a military traveler prepared and perhaps wear something military like military rings to indicate his rank or profession.
6. Get to the airport two hours early, period.
Just bring something to read if you have extra time. The security process and the possibility of problems with security mean that you want to have time to maintain your sanity in case something goes wrong.
Develop travel habits early that will serve you well throughout your career. You will enjoy TDY if you do. You will live with less stress and more rest. Turn the tips above into clothing and you’ll be a military travel pro. Have a good trip!