PCS Per Diem

Start Here If You Are New to PCS Per Diem

PCS per diem covers lodging, meals, and incidental expenses during travel between the old PDS and the new PDS. The Marine receives 100 percent of the per diem rate. Dependents receive a percentage (75 percent for adult dependents 12 and older, 50 percent for children under 12). Per diem is paid for the authorized number of travel days based on the official distance and the travel mode. When driving a POV, the Marine receives MALT mileage IN ADDITION to per diem. Per diem rates are by locality and updated by GSA. Per JTR Chapter 5 paragraph 050802.

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

• Per diem framework during PCS travel
• Member rate (100 percent), adult dependent rate (75 percent), child rate (50 percent)
• Authorized travel days based on official distance
• MALT in addition to per diem when driving POV
• The DTMO per diem rate lookup
• DTS submission for the travel voucher

Every fact on this page comes from JTR Chapter 5 paragraph 050802, JTR Chapter 2, and the DTMO Per Diem Rate Lookup.

What PCS Per Diem Is

Per JTR Chapter 5 paragraph 050802, per diem during PCS travel reimburses the Marine and authorized dependents for lodging, meals, and incidental expenses incurred during travel between the old and new PDS.

Per diem during PCS is structured similarly to TDY per diem (covered on the TDY Per Diem page) but with PCS-specific rules.

Per Diem Rates

Per JTR Chapter 2 and the DTMO Per Diem Rate Lookup, per diem rates vary by locality.

Components

• Lodging rate (the GSA-published locality lodging rate).
• M&IE rate (Meals and Incidental Expenses fixed rate per locality).

Verify Current Rates

Verify per diem rates at https://www.travel.dod.mil/Allowances/Per-Diem/Per-Diem-Rate-Lookup/. Rates update annually and may have mid-year adjustments.

Member Rate (100 Percent)

The Marine receives 100 percent of the per diem rate during PCS travel. The Marine.

• Claims actual lodging up to the locality lodging rate (with receipts).
• Receives the full M&IE rate without itemized receipts.

Dependent Rate

Per JTR Chapter 5 paragraph 050802 and the JTR dependent travel framework.

Adult Dependents (12 and Older)

Adult dependents receive 75 percent of the per diem rate.

Children Under 12

Children under age 12 receive 50 percent of the per diem rate.

Total Family Calculation

Example. A Marine with a spouse and two children (ages 14 and 8) on PCS.

• Marine. 100 percent.
• Spouse. 75 percent.
• Child age 14. 75 percent.
• Child age 8. 50 percent.
• Total family per diem. 300 percent of the per diem rate.

Authorized Travel Days

Per JTR Chapter 5, the authorized travel days are based on.

• Official distance from old PDS to new PDS.
• Travel mode (POV, commercial air, government transport).
• The Marine's planned route.

POV Travel Days

For POV travel, the standard rule is one travel day per 350 miles of official distance. Per MCO 1000.6MCO 1000.6 Chapter 4 Section 2, the Marine Corps computes the remainder precisely. A fraction over 51 miles adds one day, a fraction at or under 51 miles adds none. When the official distance falls under 401 miles, one day allows regardless of the mode used.

• 700 miles. 2 travel days. The distance divides evenly.
• 1,200 miles. 4 travel days. Three full increments plus a 150-mile remainder over the 51-mile threshold.
• 2,500 miles. 7 travel days. Seven full increments plus a 50-mile remainder under the threshold.

Any commercial leg adds one day regardless of distance. Mixed modes compute the POV portion first, then add the single commercial day, and the total never exceeds what POV travel alone would have allowed. Rest day allowances are in the JTR.

Commercial Air Travel Days

For commercial air travel, the travel day count is typically 1 to 2 days depending on the routing and time zones.

Mixed-Mode Travel

For mixed-mode (e.g., commercial air to a port plus POV ship plus driving), the JTR provides specific calculations.

MALT (Mileage) in Addition to Per Diem

When driving a POV during PCS, the Marine receives MALT (Monetary Allowance In Lieu of Transportation) IN ADDITION to per diem. MALT pays per-mile reimbursement at approximately $0.18 per mile (verify current GSA rate).

The POV Shipment and Mileage page covers MALT in detail.

Per Diem Submission Through DTS

The Marine submits per diem through the Defense Travel System (DTS) on DD Form 1351-2DD Form 1351-2 (Travel Voucher) at the new PDS.

Required Documentation

• Lodging receipts (for lodging reimbursement).
• Travel itinerary (dates, mode, route).
• Dependent verification.
• MALT mileage (if driving POV).

DTS Workflow

1. Marine logs into DTS at https://dtsproweb.defensetravel.osd.mil/.
2. Creates the travel voucher for the PCS.
3. Attaches lodging receipts.
4. Identifies dependents covered.
5. Submits to the AO.
6. AO approves and routes to DFAS for payment.

Per Diem and Other PCS Allowances

Per diem stacks with other PCS allowances.

• Per diem (during travel days).
• DLA (one-time relocation allowance).
• TLE (CONUS lodging at the move endpoints).
• HHG shipment (Government move or PPM/DITY).
• POV shipment or MALT mileage.
• MEA (miscellaneous expense allowance).

The Defense Travel System combines all PCS-related entitlements into a single voucher.

Common Questions Marines Ask

How much per diem will I get during PCS?

The per diem rate depends on the locality you travel through. Verify the rates at the DTMO Per Diem Rate Lookup. The Marine receives 100 percent. Adult dependents 75 percent. Children under 12 50 percent.

How many travel days will I be paid for?

For POV travel, approximately one travel day per 350 miles of official distance. For commercial air, 1 to 2 days. The JTR provides the specific formula.

Do I get MALT mileage AND per diem?

Yes. When driving a POV during PCS, you receive MALT mileage AND per diem. MALT covers the per-mile reimbursement. Per diem covers lodging, meals, and incidentals.

What if I take more days than authorized?

Days exceeding the authorized travel days are charged against your annual leave balance (delay en route). The Annual Leave page covers the framework.

Can I claim lodging without receipts?

No. Lodging requires receipts. M&IE is the fixed allowance without receipts.

Where do I find the per diem rate for a city I am driving through?

The DTMO Per Diem Rate Lookup at https://www.travel.dod.mil/Allowances/Per-Diem/Per-Diem-Rate-Lookup/.

Where to Go for Help

Routing by Issue

• Per diem rate verification. The DTMO Per Diem Rate Lookup at https://www.travel.dod.mil/Allowances/Per-Diem/Per-Diem-Rate-Lookup/.
• Travel voucher submission. Through DTS at https://dtsproweb.defensetravel.osd.mil/.
• Authorized travel days verification. Coordinate with your S-1 for the JTR-based calculation.
• 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.
• POV Shipment and Mileage covers MALT mileage.
• Member and Dependent Travel covers the travel mode framework.
• TDY Per Diem covers the parallel TDY per diem framework.

Related Roles

• Leaders coach Marines on per diem expectations and the DTS submission process.
• Admin at S-1 supports voucher submission and verifies per diem entitlement.
• Commanders endorse PCS orders and approve travel routes.

PCS per diem covers lodging, meals, and incidentals during PCS travel days. Member 100 percent. Adults 75 percent. Children 50 percent. MALT mileage in addition to per diem when driving POV. DTMO Per Diem Rate Lookup for current rates. DTS travel voucher for submission.