The Joint Travel Regulations are a set of rules that provide guidance on the allowances and entitlements for travel performed by members of the United States Uniformed Services. These rules come from Department of Defense policies as well as legislation from Congress, and cover issues like per diem rates, air travel regulations for dependent children and baggage weight limitations. The Joint Travel Regulations are updated annually and can be found by clicking here or visiting the DTMO website.
What is the Joint Travel Regulations?
The Joint Travel Regulations (JTR) are the regulations that govern the travel of military and civilian personnel of the United States Department of Defense (DOD). The JTR are issued by the DOD’s Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Manpower and Reserve Affairs (ASD(M&RA)).
The JTR cover both official and personal travel, including:
Temporary duty (TDY) assignments
Permanent change of station (PCS) moves
Leave and pass travel
Space-available travel on DOD aircraft
Personal vehicle use on official travel
Travel by privately owned vehicles (POVs)
The rules in the JTR are based on statutory authority, policy guidance, and good business practices. The JTR are designed to promote economy and efficiency in government travel.
How to read the Joint Travel Regulations
The Joint Travel Regulations (JTR) govern the travel and transportation allowances for Uniformed Service members, Department of Defense civilian employees, and non-appropriated fund employees. The JTR are available online at the following.
To read the JTR, click on the “Reference” tab at the top of the page. Under “Related Links,” click on “Joint Travel Regulations (JTR), Volume 1 – DoD Civilian Personnel and Volume 2 – Uniformed Service Members.” This will open up a PDF of the JTR.
You can also access individual chapters of the JTR by clicking on the “Chapters” tab at the top of the page. Select the chapter you want to read from the drop-down menu.
Video: Understanding the JTR
The Joint Travel Regulations (JTR) are the governing regulations for travel by Department of Defense civilian employees and members of the uniformed services. The JTRs are issued by the Department of Defense (DoD) and set forth the rules and procedures for travel by DoD civilians and members of the uniformed services.
The JTRs are divided into four parts: Part 1 – General Information, Part 2 – Allowances, Part 3 – Transportation, and Part 4 – Administrative Procedures.
Part 1 – General Information includes information on definitions, authority, purpose, applicability, policy, and general procedures.
Part 2 – Allowances prescribes the rates for allowances, including per diem, transportation expenses, and miscellaneous expenses incurred while traveling on official business.
Part 3 – Transportation provides information on the modes of transportation authorized for official travel and the reimbursement of transportation expenses.
Part 4 – Administrative Procedures contains information on claims procedures, records management, audit requirements, and other administrative matters.
There are four areas of JTR allowances: baggage, quarters, transportation, and miscellaneous.
Baggage: The JTR allow for the transportation of two bags per person, up to 70 pounds each. There is no limit on the number of checked bags, but each bag over 70 pounds will incur a $25 fee.
Quarters: The JTR provide a per diem rate for lodging and meals based on location. Lodging rates range from $75-$200 per night, depending on the location’s cost of living. Meals are reimbursed at a rate of $51 per day.
Transportation: The JTR allow for reimbursement of airfare, rental cars, and taxis. Airfare is reimbursed at coach class rates. Rental cars are reimbursed at the economy class rate, plus any taxes and fees. Taxi fares are reimbursed up to $25 per one-way trip.
Miscellaneous: The JTR also cover other expenses such as laundry, dry cleaning, and tips. Laundry expenses are reimbursed at a flat rate of $5 per day. Dry cleaning is reimbursed at a flat rate of $15 per week. Tips are reimbursed up to $5 per day.
Part 2: Advance & Movement Allowances
There are several types of advance and movement allowances that may be authorized under the Joint Travel Regulations (JTR). The following is a brief description of each:
- Permanent Change of Station (PCS) Allowance – This allowance is intended to cover the cost of moving your personal belongings from your old duty station to your new one. It is based on the weight of your belongings and the distance you will be traveling.
- Temporary Duty (TDY) Allowance – This allowance is intended to cover the cost of travel and other expenses incurred while on temporary duty away from your permanent duty station. It is based on the actual expenses incurred, up to a maximum per diem rate set by the JTR.
- Space-Available Travel (SAT) Allowance – This allowance is intended to cover the cost of travel on space-available aircraft operated by the military services. It is based on the actual expenses incurred, up to a maximum per diem rate set by the JTR.
- Leave Travel Allowance (LTA) – This allowance is intended to cover the cost of travel when taking leave from your permanent duty station. It is based on the actual expenses incurred, up to a maximum per diem rate set by the JTR.
Part 3: Travel, Transportation, and Per Diem Allowances
The Joint Travel Regulations (JTR) are the regulations governing the travel and transportation of uniformed service members and their dependents. They are issued by the Department of Defense (DoD) and apply to all branches of the uniformed services: Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard.
The JTR cover a wide range of topics related to travel and transportation, including allowances for lodging, meals, and incidental expenses; reimbursement for use of personal vehicles; commercial air travel; and shipping of household goods and privately owned vehicles. The JTR also include specific rules for overseas travel, such as entitlements for space-available travel on military aircraft and per diem allowances for temporary duty assignments.
Service members can access the JTR online at the DoD Financial Management Regulation website. The JTR are also available in hard copy from the Government Printing Office or through commercial vendors that sell government publications.
Part 4: Additional Travel Assistance Program
The ATAP provides additional travel assistance to service members who are ordered to travel on official business. This includes travel to and from training, conferences, and other events. The program also covers travel expenses for dependents of service members who are deployed or stationed overseas.
Part 5: The Uniformed Services Former Spouse Protection Act (USFSPA)
The Uniformed Services Former Spouse Protection Act (USFSPA) is a federal law that provides certain benefits to divorced spouses of military members. USFSPA benefits include the ability to continue receiving military medical benefits and commissary privileges after divorce.
To be eligible for USFSPA benefits, you must meet the following criteria:
You must have been married to a member of the uniformed services for at least 20 years.
You must have been married to a member of the uniformed services who served for at least 20 years.
You must have been married to a member of the uniformed services who was discharged from service under honorable conditions.
The Joint Travel Regulations (JTR) are the regulations that govern the travel of members of the U.S. Armed Forces. The JTR are located in Volume 1, Chapter 8 of the DoD Financial Management Regulation (FMR). The FMR is available online at
Conclusion
There you have it! The top three places to find the Joint Travel Regulations (JTR). Now that you know where to find them, be sure to take some time to familiarize yourself with the regulations. They will come in handy the next time you need to book travel for yourself or for your family. Thanks for reading and happy travels.