TAD Coaching

The TAD Lifecycle

A Marine who knows the lifecycle handles TAD independently after the third trip. Until then, the leader walks the steps.

Pre-Trip Brief Inside 5 Days of Notification

When the Marine is identified for TAD, brief inside 5 days.

• Trip purpose and authority.
• Departure and return dates.
• Location and lodging plan.
• Authorized rental car if needed.
• GTCC posture (active, in good standing, sufficient credit).
• Any unit-specific receipts requirements.
• Civilian clothing or uniform expectations at the TAD location.

A Marine briefed early arrives at the DTS authorization step prepared. A Marine briefed the day before departure produces a weak authorization and a weaker voucher.

DTS Authorization Mechanics

Walk the first authorization with the Marine. After that, send.

• Marine logs into DTS.
• Pulls trip purpose and creates the authorization.
• Books lodging within the per diem ceiling for the location. When the TAD destination is a Marine Corps installation, the Marine selects Marine Lodges or Inns of the Corps as on-base official lodging per MARADMIN 234/26MARADMIN 234/26. Use is mandatory under the ILP unless the AO issues a certificate of non-availability.
• Books transportation (commercial air, rental, POV mileage).
• Adds meal entitlement default.
• Routes to the AO.

Common rejection patterns at the AO.

• Lodging exceeds the per diem ceiling without justification.
• Off-base lodging selected at a Marine Corps installation with no certificate of non-availability attached. Reimbursement caps at the official lodging rate per MARADMIN 234/26MARADMIN 234/26.
• TDY destination set to the city instead of the installation. The AO sets the destination to the installation when applicable.
• Rental car requested without business case.
• Routing chain wrong (Marine selected an inactive AO or wrong reviewer).
• Trip dates do not match the orders.

The DTS oversight leaf walks the system mechanics in detail.

GTCC Posture Before Departure

The GTCC is the default payment method for TAD.

• Card active and in good standing.
• No delinquency.
• Sufficient credit limit for lodging and rental.
• Split disbursement default ON in DTS so travel pay routes directly to the GTCC at voucher payment.

A Marine with a suspended GTCC the day before TAD has 24 hours to coordinate alternative payment with the unit APC and S-1.

Voucher Within 5 Working Days

Per JTR Chapter 2, the Marine submits the travel voucher within 5 working days of return. DoD JTR Ch 2 Late submissions create three problems.

• GTCC bill posts before travel pay returns. Marine pays out of pocket or risks delinquency.
• Receipts go missing the longer the wait.
• Memory of trip detail (purpose-specific expenses, mileage logs) degrades.

Coach the Marine to submit on day 1 of return whenever possible.

Receipts and Documentation

Required for any expense over the policy threshold. Common required receipts.

• Lodging.
• Rental car (if used).
• Air transportation.
• Any single expense above the JTR threshold (typically $75 since 2014, verify current).
• Any unusual expense the Marine needs reimbursed.

Coach the Marine to capture receipts daily in DTS or a phone scan during travel. Receipts found a week after return are receipts that miss the voucher.

Common TAD Coaching Failures

• Brief skipped or compressed. Marine builds the authorization without the leader's eyes.
• DTS authorization routes to the wrong AO. Trip dates pass without approval.
• GTCC suspended at trip start. Marine pays out of pocket.
• Split disbursement not set. Travel pay arrives at bank, GTCC bill ages.
• Voucher beyond 5 days. GTCC posts before pay returns.
• Receipts missing or scanned poorly. Voucher returns from AO.

Where to Go Next

• DTS oversight for the system mechanics.
• GTCC during travel for the card use detail.
• Voucher audit for the pre-AO check.
• AO role for SNCOs or officers in the approving authority seat.