MARADMIN 573/24 - Taking Care of People (TCOP) Program Initiatives Overview

Scope

MARADMIN 573/24 highlights Calendar Year 2024 Department of Defense Taking Care of People (TCOP) initiatives. The MARADMIN summarizes seven program changes affecting permanent change of station (PCS) entitlements, dependent care, healthcare flexible spending accounts, breast milk shipment, pet transportation, and a DoD civilian healthcare pilot. The MARADMIN serves as an overview. Detailed eligibility, enrollment, and reimbursement rules sit in the Joint Travel Regulations, Office of the Secretary of Defense memos, and the dedicated program websites. Applicability is the Marine Corps Total Force.

Audience

• Marines and Service Members on PCS orders. New Temporary Lodging Expense (TLE) window. New pet transportation reimbursement. Potential childcare provider travel reimbursement pilot.
• Service Members who have given birth within the prior 12 months and are executing PCS. Breast milk shipment reimbursement up to $1,000.
• Service Members enrolled in Federal flexible spending account programs. Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account (DCFSA) up to $5,000 per household. Health Care Flexible Spending Account (HCFSA) up to $3,200 per Service Member during the March 2025 Special Enrollment Period.
• Service Members and civilian families using full-time approved care from the Military Childcare in Your Neighborhood (MCCYN) program. Meal allowance pilot effective 01 April 2024.
• DoD General Schedule and Non-Appropriated Fund civilian employees in Japan enrolled in FEHB. Healthcare enhancement pilot through International SOS Government Services, Inc. starting 01 January 2025.
• S-1 staff, comptrollers, and DTS administrators. Process reimbursements. Apply the new rates in DTS for each PCS move.
• Commanders. Brief Marines on the new entitlements during the PCS counseling and family readiness touchpoints.

Program summary

• TLE increase. PCS-related Temporary Lodging Expense extends from 14 days to 21 days for Service members moving to a new PDS in CONUS. Implementation timeline still being finalized.
• Breast milk shipment. Up to $1,000 reimbursement for transporting or shipping expressed human breast milk during PCS travel. Service Members who have given birth within 12 months. Implements the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023.
• Childcare provider travel pilot. 01 October 2024 to 30 September 2027. Commercial travel reimbursement for a designated childcare provider when full-day care is not available at the local child development center within 30 days of reporting. CONUS PCS limit $500. OCONUS PCS limit $1,500. Air, rail, bus fare, transportation to or from airport or rail station, enroute or departure rental car. See MARADMIN 537/24 for additional information.
• Uniformed Service Member Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account (DCFSA). Up to $5,000 per household pre-tax for qualified dependent care expenses including preschool and after-school programs. Enroll at www.fsafeds.gov.
• Health Care Flexible Spending Account (HCFSA). First time for Service Members through a Special Enrollment Period in March 2025. Up to $3,200 in pre-tax earnings per Service Member for healthcare costs including co-payments, contact lenses, glasses, dental care, and annual deductibles. Enroll at www.fsafeds.gov.
• Pet transportation. Effective 01 January 2024, reimbursement for relocating one household pet (cat or dog). CONUS limit $550. OCONUS limit $2,000. Owned for personal companionship. Details at https://www.travel.dod.mil/Support/ALL-FAQs/Article/3624131/pet-transportation-allowance/.
• DoD Meal Allowance Pilot for MCCYN. Effective 01 April 2024. Meal allowance offsets meal costs when meals are included in the provider rate or when the provider rate including meals exceeds the monthly rate cap of $1,800. Details at MilitaryChildCare.com.
• Health Insurance Enhancements Pilot for DoD Civilians in Japan. One-year contract with International SOS Government Services awarded 27 September 2024. Services begin 01 January 2025 for GS and NAF civilian employees in Japan enrolled in FEHB.

Action items

1. Brief every Marine on PCS orders about the TLE extension, pet transportation, and the childcare provider travel pilot.
2. For Service Members on PCS travel within 12 months of giving birth, brief the breast milk shipment reimbursement.
3. Pull DCFSA and HCFSA enrollment information from www.fsafeds.gov ahead of the March 2025 Special Enrollment Period.
4. Coordinate with the installation Child Development Center to identify Marines who qualify for the childcare provider travel pilot.
5. Direct MCCYN users to MilitaryChildCare.com to confirm meal allowance eligibility.
6. Confirm DoD civilians in Japan are aware of the International SOS pilot.

Connection to higher policy

• Secretary of Defense Memorandum dated 2024-09-13. The TCOP initiatives release.
• Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 (Public Law 117-328 dated 2022-12-29). Authority for the breast milk shipment reimbursement.
• Joint Travel Regulations, 01 October 2024. Implements the PCS-related entitlement changes.

Connection to Marine Corps doctrine

• MARADMIN 537/24. Pilot Program to Reimburse Travel of Designated Person for Childcare. Companion guidance.
• MCO 1754.9B. Unit, Personal and Family Readiness Program (UPFRP). Drives the Marine Corps family readiness response to TCOP initiatives.
• IGMC FAC 1700 Personal and Professional Readiness Programs. Inspection program drawing evidence on family readiness execution.

Status

Released 26 November 2024, DTG R 260800Z NOV 24. Originator CMC Washington DC MRA MP MPO. Release authorized by Brigadier General David R. Everly, Director, Manpower Plans and Policy Division, Manpower and Reserve Affairs. Applicability is the Marine Corps Total Force. POC OPR MRA MPO at HQMC_MPO@usmc.mil, 703-784-9371. Active. Each TCOP initiative carries its own effective date listed in the body. Verify against the current JTR and OSD memos before applying any specific reimbursement.