Temporary Lodging Expense (TLE)

Start Here If You Are New to TLE

Temporary Lodging Expense reimburses Marines for commercial lodging costs during a CONUS PCS while waiting for permanent housing. Up to 21 days total. Used at the OLD PDS (before HHG pickup) or the NEW PDS (before moving into permanent housing) or split between both. Reimbursable rate is per the locality lodging cap plus a fixed M&IE-style allowance. With-dependent and without-dependent rates. Receipts required for lodging. The OCONUS equivalent is TLA (covered on the BAH page).

This page walks you through TLE from your seat as a General Marine. By the end you will know.

• TLE is for CONUS PCS lodging during the move
• The 21-day total cap, with one narrow extension for restricted HHG shipments
• Use at old PDS, new PDS, or split
• With-dependent and without-dependent rates
• The locality lodging cap framework
• Receipts requirement
• TLA (OCONUS equivalent) cross-reference

Every fact on this page comes from JTR Chapter 5 paragraph 050601, Title 37 U.S.C.Title 37 U.S.C., and the DTMO TLE rate table.

What TLE Is

Per JTR Chapter 5 paragraph 050601, TLE partially reimburses a Marine for commercial lodging and meal expenses incurred during a CONUS PCS when the Marine and dependents occupy temporary lodging.

TLE bridges the gap between leaving permanent housing at the old PDS and moving into permanent housing at the new PDS. Commercial hotels, extended-stay properties, and similar lodging qualify.

TLE Eligibility

TLE is authorized for CONUS PCS scenarios. The Marine must.

• Be on a PCS to or from a CONUS PDS.
• Occupy commercial lodging during the move.
• Submit receipts for lodging expenses.

TLE Is NOT Authorized For

• OCONUS PCS lodging. The OCONUS equivalent is Temporary Lodging Allowance (TLA), covered on the BAH page.
• TDY lodging. The TDY framework covers temporary duty lodging.
• Days beyond the cap, unless your HHG shipment is restricted and the B4 extension is approved.

TLE Days (21-Day Total Cap)

A Marine claims up to 21 days of TLE total per PCS. The 21 days are split as needed.

21 Days Is the Standard

MARADMIN 573/24MARADMIN 573/24 (26 November 2024) announced the move from 14 days to 21 days for Service members moving to a new PDS in CONUS. The JTRJTR now carries 21 days as the standard. Any guide, checklist, or briefing still quoting 14 days is out of date.

Common Use Patterns

• All 21 days at the new PDS while waiting for permanent housing.
• All 21 days at the old PDS after HHG pickup.
• Split (e.g., 4 days at old PDS, 17 days at new PDS).

Extensions Beyond the Cap

You have one individual extension path, and it covers restricted household goods (HHG) shipments only. A housing delay, a late lease, or any other personal circumstance does not qualify. MMEA and MMOA do not approve TLE extensions, so a request routed to them goes nowhere.

Per JTR paragraph 050604-B4JTR, TLE increases for up to 60 days on a PCS to a new CONUS PDS when all of these hold.

• Your HHG shipment is restricted from completing through no fault of your own.
• The local transportation office validates the restriction and expects the disruption to run past the Defense Transportation Regulation (DTR) standard transit time for your route.
• The Marine Corps validates no Government housing at the new PDS accommodates you.

HHG placed in non-temporary storage (NTS) under JTR paragraph 0518-B in CONUS during an OCONUS tour does not qualify.

The request routes in one direction.

1. The local transportation office validates the shipping restriction.
2. The Marine Corps validates no Government housing is available and submits your individual request to the Military Advisory Panel (MAP) member.
3. MPO (Manpower Plans and Policy Division) is the Marine Corps MAP member. MPO forwards the request and shipping documentation to the Per Diem, Travel, and Transportation Allowance Committee (PDTATAC) staff.

Housing shortage extensions are not individual. PDTATAC raises the TLE day count for a whole location, and the increase applies only when you move to the location and your TLE falls inside the authorization window. Departing from an increased location earns no extra days, per JTR Table 5-15.

Plan your move inside the cap. If permanent housing will not be ready in time and your HHG is moving normally, talk to your installation housing office and your S-1 before you sign out.

TLE Rates

Per the DTMO TLE rate table.

Lodging Rate

Reimbursement covers the actual lodging cost up to the locality maximum lodging rate per the GSA per diem rate. The locality rate varies by location.

M&IE-Style Allowance

In addition to lodging, TLE includes a fixed allowance for meals and incidental expenses based on the locality M&IE rate.

With-Dependent vs. Without-Dependent

The TLE rate includes incremental amounts for dependents. The Marine claims TLE.

• 100 percent of the locality rate for the Marine.
• Additional percentage for each dependent (typically 75 percent for adults, 50 percent for children under 12).

The exact percentages depend on the JTR framework and DTMO rate calculation.

Verify Current Rates

The DTMO TLE rate table at https://www.travel.dod.mil/Allowances/Temporary-Lodging-Expense/ publishes current rates.

TLE Receipts Requirement

Marines must submit receipts for all TLE lodging claims. The receipts.

• Show the actual lodging cost.
• Show the dates of stay.
• Show the lodging name and address.

The M&IE-style portion of TLE is paid without itemized receipts (similar to per diem M&IE).

TLE Documentation

The Marine submits TLE through the Defense Travel System (DTS) on DD Form 1351-2DD Form 1351-2 (Travel Voucher) with the supporting receipts.

DTS Submission Steps

1. Marine arrives at new PDS or completes the TLE at the old PDS.
2. Marine logs into DTS and creates the travel voucher.
3. Attaches lodging receipts.
4. Identifies dependents covered by TLE.
5. Submits to the AO.
6. AO approves and routes to DFAS for payment.

TLA (OCONUS Equivalent)

For OCONUS PCS, the equivalent is Temporary Lodging Allowance (TLA). TLA is covered on the BAH page since it is administered through the BAH framework rather than the JTR PCS framework.

TLA differences from TLE.

• Applies to OCONUS PCS only.
• Generally longer duration (up to 60 days at OCONUS arrival).
• Tied to BAH and OCONUS allowance framework.
• Calculated based on local OCONUS lodging rates.

The BAH page covers TLA in detail.

Common Questions Marines Ask

I am PCSing from MCB Camp Lejeune to MCB Camp Pendleton. Will I get TLE?

Yes. CONUS-to-CONUS PCS qualifies for TLE. You claim up to 21 days total at the old PDS, the new PDS, or split.

How many TLE days can I take at the new PDS?

Up to 21 days total. If you used 4 days at the old PDS, you have 17 days remaining for the new PDS.

I am PCSing OCONUS. Do I get TLE?

No. OCONUS PCS is covered by Temporary Lodging Allowance (TLA), not TLE. The BAH page covers TLA.

Does TLE extend beyond 21 days?

Only when your household goods shipment is restricted through no fault of your own. JTR paragraph 050604-B4 covers restricted shipments only, up to 60 days. The transportation office validates the restriction, and the request routes to MPO, the Marine Corps MAP member, then to PDTATAC. A housing delay alone does not qualify. Do not route a request to MMEA or MMOA.

What lodging counts for TLE?

Commercial lodging including hotels, motels, extended-stay properties, and similar paid lodging. Staying with family or friends does not generate lodging cost and therefore no TLE lodging reimbursement (though the M&IE-style portion may still apply).

Where to Go for Help

Routing by Issue

• TLE rate verification. The DTMO TLE rate table at https://www.travel.dod.mil/Allowances/Temporary-Lodging-Expense/.
• TLE submission. Through DTS at the old or new PDS.
• TLE extension request. Restricted HHG shipments only. Start at the local transportation office. The request routes to MPO, the Marine Corps MAP member. Not MMEA or MMOA.
• TLA for OCONUS PCS. See the BAH page.
• DFAS Marine Corps Pay direct contact. Phone 1-888-332-7411 (DSN 312-571-9450 from overseas).

Where to Go Next on This Site

• PCS landing page lists all the PCS topics.
• PCS Orders and Overview covers the foundational PCS framework.
• Dislocation Allowance covers DLA.
• Per Diem covers PCS travel days per diem.
• BAH covers TLA (OCONUS equivalent of TLE).

Related Roles

• Leaders coach Marines on TLE planning to maximize the 21-day window.
• Admin at S-1 supports the DTS voucher submission and verifies TLE eligibility.
• Commanders do not route TLE extensions to MMEA or MMOA. The only individual path is JTR paragraph 050604-B4 for restricted HHG shipments, through MPO.

TLE covers commercial lodging during CONUS PCS up to 21 days. With-dependent and without-dependent rates per locality. Receipts required for lodging. M&IE-style allowance for meals. TLA covers OCONUS PCS lodging.