Permanent Duty Travel PCS - S-1 Procedural Page

Role and responsibility

The Marine traveler builds the PCS authorization in DTS per DoDFMR Vol 9DODFMR Vol 9 Chapter 6 and the JTRJTR Chapter 5. The IPAC pay clerk processes PCS-related pay actions including MALT, Dislocation Allowance (DLA), Advance Pay per DoDFMR Vol 7A Chapter 32, and BAH rate change per Vol 7A Chapter 26. The S-1 chief audits PCS vouchers against the entitlement framework. The household goods movement coordinator (Distribution Management Office or DMO) coordinates the household goods move. The disbursing technician disburses per Vol 9 Chapter 8.

Source documents flow from the PCS orders, the JTR Chapter 5 entitlement framework, the DTMO per diem and mileage rate tables, the DTS authorization, the household goods inventory, the dependent travel arrangements, the Temporary Lodging Expense / Temporary Lodging Allowance authorization, the Advance Pay request per DoDFMR Vol 7A Chapter 32, and the prior MCTFS pay record. Outputs include the executed PCS travel authorization, the MALT payment, the DLA payment, the household goods move coordination, the dependent travel reimbursement, the TLE/TLA payment, the processed PCS voucher, the Advance Pay disbursement, the BAH rate change at gaining duty location, and the audit trail.

Per DoDFMR Vol 9 Chapter 6, PCS covers permanent duty travel between duty stations. Per JTR Chapter 5, the operational implementation covers MALT (mileage rate for POV travel), DLA (one-time payment to defray PCS costs), household goods entitlement, dependent travel, and TLE/TLA for temporary lodging at origin or destination.

Trigger events

• PCS orders cut on a Marine.
• Advance Pay request for PCS travel.
• Household goods movement scheduled.
• Dependent travel arrangement.
• Arrival at gaining duty station.
• TLE or TLA application.
• PCS travel claim submission.

Processing workflow

1. Apply PCS entitlements. Per DoDFMR Vol 9DODFMR Vol 9 Chapter 6, the PCS entitlement framework covers travel and transportation allowances between duty stations.
2. Build the PCS authorization in DTS. Per MCO 4650.39AMCO 4650.39A, the DTS authorization sets the entitlement.
3. Process Monetary Allowance in Lieu of Transportation (MALT). Per JTRJTR Chapter 5, MALT pays the Marine mileage rate for POV travel between duty stations.
4. Process Dislocation Allowance (DLA). Per JTR Chapter 5, DLA is a one-time payment to defray PCS-related costs. The rate ties to grade and dependent status.
5. Coordinate household goods movement. Per JTR Chapter 5, the household goods entitlement covers the move from the prior duty station to the gaining duty station up to the weight allowance.
6. Process dependent travel. Per JTR Chapter 5, dependent travel reimburses per the family travel framework.
7. Apply TLE and TLA. Per JTR Chapter 5, Temporary Lodging Expense (TLE) covers lodging at the gaining duty station before permanent housing. Temporary Lodging Allowance (TLA) covers OCONUS lodging at the gaining duty station.
8. Cut the PCS travel claim. Per Vol 9 Chapter 8, the PCS voucher includes MALT, DLA, dependent travel, TLE/TLA, and other PCS entitlements.
9. Process Advance Pay. Per DoDFMR Vol 7A Chapter 32, the Marine requests Advance Pay on PCS. The disbursing officer disburses.
10. Audit PCS voucher. The S-1 chief and disbursing technician audit against the JTR Chapter 5 entitlement framework.

Systems of record and forms

Systems

• Defense Travel System (DTS). Per MCO 4650.39A.
• DTMO Per Diem and Mileage Rate Tables. Per JTR.
• Distribution Management Office (DMO). Household goods coordination.
• DFAS Pay Processing. Per Vol 9 Chapter 8.

Forms

• DD Form 1351-2 Travel Voucher. Per Vol 9 Chapter 8.
• PCS Travel Authorization (DTS). Per MCO 4650.39A.
• Application for Shipment and/or Storage of Personal Property. Household goods.
• Advance Pay Request. Per DoDFMR Vol 7A Chapter 32.
• TLE / TLA Authorization. Per JTR Chapter 5.

Common pitfalls

• DLA rate misaligned with grade and dependent status. Per JTRJTR Chapter 5, the DLA rate flows from grade and dependent status.
• MALT mileage rate from wrong date. Per DTMO, the rate updates periodically.
• Household goods weight allowance exceeded without coordination. Per JTR Chapter 5, the weight allowance caps the entitlement.
• TLE versus TLA confusion. Per JTR Chapter 5, TLE applies CONUS. TLA applies OCONUS.
• PCS voucher submitted past 5 business days. Per MCO 4650.39AMCO 4650.39A Chapter 1 paragraph 5.a.(2)(d), the cycle is 5 business days from arrival.
• Advance Pay timing miscalculated. Per DoDFMR Vol 7A Chapter 32, the Advance Pay aligns with travel timing.
• Dependent travel without authorization. Per JTR Chapter 5, dependent travel requires authorization on the PCS orders.

Decision points

• MALT versus government transportation. Per JTR Chapter 5, the Marine elects MALT for POV travel or accepts government transportation.
• DLA versus partial DLA. Per JTR Chapter 5, the dependent status drives the DLA rate.
• Household goods full weight versus partial. Per JTR Chapter 5, the Marine elects the full weight allowance or partial as the situation warrants.
• TLE versus TLA. CONUS gaining station routes TLE. OCONUS routes TLA.

Authority

This sub-page sits under DoDFMR Vol 9DODFMR Vol 9 Chapter 6 (Permanent Duty Travel). The JTRJTR Chapter 5 implements PCS entitlements. DoDFMR Vol 7A Chapter 32 covers Advance Pay. DoDFMR Vol 7A Chapter 26 covers BAH rate change. MCO 4650.39AMCO 4650.39A covers DTS. DTMO publishes per diem and mileage rate tables.

Related references

• DoDFMR Vol 9 Chapter 6. PCS framework.
• JTR Chapter 5. Traveler-level PCS entitlements.
• DoDFMR Vol 7A Chapters 32 and 26. Advance Pay and BAH.
• MCO 4650.39A. DTS.