Study guide
9.2 Official Travel Expenses & Allowances
Air Force PFE Promotion Fitness Examination
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1 Introduction & Exam Overview
1.1 PFE Exam Facts & Format 1.2 The WAPS Scoring System 1.3 The Tested AFH 1 Chapters & Study Strategy
2 Professionalism (AFH 1, Chapter 1)
2.1 The USAF Professional & the Profession of Arms 2.2 The Air Force Core Values & Their Virtues 2.3 Ethical Standards & the Airman's Creed
3 Military Organization & Command (AFH 1, Chapter 5)
3.1 The United States Armed Forces 3.2 The Military Departments & Services 3.3 Military Command Structure & Combatant Commands 3.4 The Air Force Total Force 3.5 Air Force Organizational Structure
4 Enlisted Force Development I (AFH 1, Chapter 7A–7D)
4.1 Leadership Levels 4.2 The Enlisted Force Structure & Tiers 4.3 Duty Titles & Special Positions 4.4 Force Development & the Competency Framework
5 Enlisted Force Development II (AFH 1, Chapter 7E–7H)
5.1 Training Responsibilities & Upgrade Training 5.2 Professional Military Education 5.3 The Community College of the Air Force 5.4 Continuing Education & Voluntary Programs
6 Assessments & Recognition (AFH 1, Chapter 8)
6.1 The Airman Comprehensive Assessment 6.2 Performance Evaluations & the EPB 6.3 Reenlistments, Retention & Continuation 6.4 Awards & Decorations
7 Enlisted Promotions (AFH 1, Chapter 9)
7.1 Promotion Systems & Programs 7.2 Promotion Cycles & Eligibility 7.3 Preparation & Individual Responsibilities 7.4 Promotion Testing & Test Control 7.5 Evaluation Boards & Central Selection
8 Personnel Programs & Benefits (AFH 1, Chapter 11)
8.1 Benefits & Services 8.2 Leave & Authorized Absences 8.3 Military Associations & Civilian Programs
9 Finance, Manpower & Resources (AFH 1, Chapter 12)
9.1 Individual Finances & Allowances 9.2 Official Travel Expenses & Allowances 9.3 Manpower Management 9.4 Resource Management & Stewardship 9.5 Environmental Commitment
10 Developing Organizations (AFH 1, Chapter 13)
10.1 Strategic Thinking & Results Focus 10.2 Resources & Organizational Structure 10.3 Change Management & Problem Solving
11 Developing Others (AFH 1, Chapter 14)
11.1 Teamwork & Team Dynamics 11.2 Develops People: Mentoring, Coaching & Feedback 11.3 Service Mindset & Fostering Effective Relationships 11.4 Leadership: Styles, Power & Influence
12 Developing Self I (AFH 1, Chapter 15A–15C)
12.1 Accountability & Self-Management 12.2 Military Communication 12.3 Preparing to Communicate
13 Developing Self II (AFH 1, Chapter 15D–15F)
13.1 Written Communication 13.2 Spoken Communication 13.3 Electronic Messaging
14 Developing Ideas (AFH 1, Chapter 16)
14.1 What We Know: Priorities & Innovation 14.2 Cognitive Processes & Critical Thinking 14.3 Informed Decision-Making 14.4 What We Don't Know: Uncertainty & Assumptions
15 Emergency Management (AFH 1, Chapter 17)
15.1 Air Force Emergency Management, Disasters & Hazards 15.2 Preparedness, MOPP & Individual Protection 15.3 Crisis Response & Recovery 15.4 Department of the Air Force Mishap Prevention 15.5 Risk Management
16 Security (AFH 1, Chapter 18)
16.1 Integrated Defense & Force Protection Conditions 16.2 Operations Security (OPSEC) 16.3 Information Protection & Classification 16.4 Information Access, Cybersecurity & Mobility 16.5 Antiterrorism
17 Standards of Conduct (AFH 1, Chapter 19)
17.1 A Way of Life: Oaths, Standards & Off-Duty Conduct 17.2 The Law of War 17.3 The Code of Conduct
18 Enforcing Military Standards (AFH 1, Chapter 20)
18.1 The Air Force Inspection System 18.2 Individual Accountability & Corrective Action 18.3 Appropriate Working Relationships & Fraternization 18.4 Addressing Misconduct & Prohibited Behavior
19 Fitness & Readiness (AFH 1, Chapter 22)
19.1 USAF Fitness & Comprehensive Airman Fitness 19.2 The Official Fitness Assessment 19.3 Nutrition & Performance 19.4 Substance Use, Abuse & Treatment Programs 19.5 Readiness State of Mind & Resilience
20 Military Customs & Courtesies (AFH 1, Chapter 24)
20.1 Honored Traditions: Saluting, Titles & Reporting 20.2 Respect for the Flag 20.3 Respect for Individuals 20.4 Ceremonies & Events 20.5 Drill & Formation 20.6 Preserving Our Heritage
21 SJT Format & Competencies
21.1 SJT Format & Mechanics 21.2 Airman Leadership Qualities (ALQs) 21.3 Foundational Competencies & Behaviors
22 SJT Reasoning, Scenarios & Traps
22.1 SJT Reasoning Strategies 22.2 Sample SJT Scenarios 22.3 SJT Traps & Best Practices
9.2 Official Travel Expenses & Allowances
Key Takeaways Explain This Topic AI
A PCS advance payment is an advance of up to three months of basic pay, less mandatory deductions and debts currently being deducted.
Travelers must file a voucher in the Defense Travel System or on the DD Form 1351-2 within five business days upon return to the permanent duty station.
When unaccompanied baggage moves by commercial air, a maximum of 1,000 pounds net may be transported.
GTCC ATM advances may not be obtained earlier than three working days before scheduled travel and are limited to expenses exempt from mandatory card use.
GTCC delinquency milestones are suspension at 31 days past due, a due process letter at 61 days, first late fee at day 75, salary offset submission at 96 days, and charged-off status at 181 days.
Last updated: August 2026
PCS Allowances and Expenses
Individually billed account (IBA) government travel charge card usage is authorized and highly encouraged for all PCS-related expenses.
Allowance Rules
PCS advance payment An advance of up to three months of basic pay , less mandatory deductions and debts currently being deducted. Airmen E-3 and below must have immediate commander approval . Anyone requesting a repayment period greater than 12 months or an amount greater than one month's basic pay also needs commander approval, and repayment periods over 12 months are only approved in cases of financial hardship
Shipment of household goods Within weight limitations normally depending on grade and number of dependents . A member may be reimbursed for personally arranging shipment. If a member transports goods in excess of the authorized weight allowance, all payments are based on the authorized allowance
Dislocation allowance Rate set by the Secretary of Defense ; payable to all members with dependents when dependents relocate household goods with a PCS, and to members without dependents if not assigned permanent government quarters on arrival
Unaccompanied baggage The portion of the PCS weight allowance transported separately from the bulk of household goods , usually by an expedited mode . When that mode is commercial air, a maximum of 1,000 pounds (net) may be transported
Mobile home shipment Contact the traffic management office to arrange transportation in lieu of household goods transportation
Privately owned vehicle When authorized, one POV may be shipped at government expense for a PCS to, from, or between locations overseas . Storage may be provided when shipment is prohibited or restricted
Temporary Lodging Expense (TLE) For PCS arrival or departure within CONUS ; paid on a travel voucher
Temporary Lodging Allowance (TLA) For PCS arrival or departure outside CONUS ; paid in military pay and reflected on the LES
TLE versus TLA is a favorite discrimination item, and there are two separate discriminators: inside versus outside CONUS , and travel voucher versus military pay/LES .
Government-procured transportation. U.S.-certificated air carriers must be used for all commercial air transportation funded by the government unless an authorizing official determines they are unavailable , and documentation explaining why must be provided to the traveler . Travel time by government conveyance (except a government automobile) or common carriers obtained through government-procured transportation is allowed for the actual time needed over the direct route .
Privately owned conveyance. Policy is to authorize POC travel if acceptable to the member and advantageous to the government based on the facts in each case . Reimbursement covers parking fees, ferry fares, and road, bridge, and tunnel tolls over the most direct route, plus a flat per diem rate for each PCS travel day up to the allowable travel time.
Personally procured transportation. DoD policy mandates use of the commercial travel office for all official transportation. A member who procures common carrier transportation at personal expense is authorized reimbursement up to the amount authorized — except transoceanic travel, for which no reimbursement is authorized — and never exceeding the cost of authorized transportation over a usually traveled direct route.
Dependent travel. The member receives monetary allowance in lieu of transportation and flat rate per diem for the official distance dependents travel by POV. If dependents buy commercial transportation, the member may be reimbursed the actual cost not to exceed what the government would have incurred , plus a per diem allowance for dependents .
Travel Reimbursement
Travelers are responsible for electronically filing a voucher in the Defense Travel System (DTS) or preparing the DD Form 1351-2, Travel Voucher or Subvoucher — within five business days upon return to the permanent duty station .
The traveler's signature indicates the claim is accurate , the statements are true and complete , and the traveler is aware of the liability for filing a false claim .
Electronic funds transfer is the mandatory means by which a travel claim is settled, and the split disbursement option in DTS will be used — permitting direct payment to the GTCC vendor for charges on the individually billed account.
Long TDY rule: where the traveler is TDY for 45 days or more , an interim voucher or scheduled partial payments are set up in DTS every 30 days with split disbursements. AFH 1 is blunt: extended TDY trips do not excuse on-time payment of the GTCC bill.
TDY Entitlements
Per diem helps defray the cost of quarters, meals, and certain incidentals , and rates depend on the TDY location and on the availability of government facilities such as quarters and dining facilities . Travelers receive a prescribed amount for meals and incidental expenses plus the actual amount for lodging, not to exceed the maximum lodging rate for the location.
Miscellaneous reimbursable expenses include travel from home or lodging to the servicing transportation terminal by taxi, limousine, bus, or POV , plus passports, visas, and rental vehicles when authorized on travel orders .
The Government Travel Charge Card
Purpose: to facilitate and standardize DoD travel , giving travelers a safe, effective, convenient, commercially available payment method for expenses incident to official travel, including local travel . It improves cash management, reduces administrative workloads, and facilitates better service — and because of the refund feature , it results in cost savings for DoD .
Agency Program Coordinators (APC) may be a uniformed member, employee, contractor, or foreign national , and are designated in writing by a commander or director as responsible for managing the GTCC program within their hierarchy.
Card Use
Unless otherwise exempted, all DoD personnel are required to use the GTCC for all expenses arising from official government travel — lodging, transportation expenses, local ground transportation, and rental car expenses authorized on travel orders .
While in an official travel status , cardholders may use the card for non-reimbursable incidental travel expenses such as rental movies, personal telephone calls, exercise fees, and beverages when those charges are not part of a separate room billing or meal . Either way, the cardholder is required to pay all charges — reimbursable or not — via split disbursement.
Cash advances. ATM advances will not be obtained earlier than three working days before scheduled travel and are limited to authorized expenses exempt from mandatory card usage — meals, incidentals, and miscellaneous expenses . ATM transaction fees are part of the incidental expense portion of per diem and are therefore not separately reimbursable.
PCS coordination. Individuals are required to use the GTCC during a PCS , with credit limit increases and deferred payment options available. Bills must be kept current while in PCS status. The cardholder notifies the losing APC before departing and the gaining APC upon reporting . The losing APC sets "mission critical" status and a future deactivation date based on the PCS order's report-no-later-than date, and submits a transfer request ; the gaining APC ensures the transfer is processed and clears the deactivation date .
Card abuse. The cardholder will only use the GTCC while in official travel status , and commanders or supervisors will not tolerate misuse . Misuse subjects the cardholder to administrative or disciplinary action .
The Delinquency Timeline
This sequence is one of the most reliably tested number sets in Chapter 12.
- Days past due What happens
- 31 days Account is suspended ; cardholder contacts their APC to resolve
61 days GTCC vendor sends a due process letter and impending salary offset procedures directly to the cardholder, advising intent to submit for salary offset unless the balance is paid in full within 30 days or an acceptable Reduced Payment Plan is reached
75 days First late fee is charged — two cycles plus fifteen days past due — with another fee each cycle thereafter until paid in full
96 days Vendor submits the account for salary-offset processing to DFAS , which calculates the start and stop dates and the number and amount of payments . Fees added at salary offset are not reimbursable
181 days Account is considered in charged off status , regardless of whether the cardholder is still enrolled in salary offset and making payments . The cardholder is no longer eligible to be reinstated even when the balance is paid off
The most consequential fact is the last one: charge-off at 181 days permanently ends reinstatement eligibility , even for a cardholder who eventually pays in full.