Military Leave and Travel Policies: Clarifying Common Misconceptions

The journey home after completing a term of service often piques curiosity about various aspects of military leave and travel policies. It is a common misconception that service members have to pay for their leave transportation. This article aims to clarify these policies and lay to rest some misunderstandings.

Travel Expenses During Leave

As a general rule, the military does not cover transportation expenses for soldiers who go on leave. This includes both personal leave (paid) and leave to return home at the end of their service (unpaid). Approximately 30 days of paid leave per year is provided to US military personnel, but these benefits do not extend to travel costs.

For instance, even though you might receive your normal pay during leave, the military is not responsible for the cost of your flight, train, or any other form of transportation. Additionally, if you travel to a different location during your leave, you are expected to cover your expenses such as food and gas.

Reimbursement Upon Discharge

One of the common misconceptions is that the military reimburses all transport back to your home of record. This was historically the case but has since changed. Upon discharge, you might receive travel pay to your home of record. However, this amount is typically very modest. For instance, historically, if you were discharged, you could receive 10 cents per mile.

An average of around 10 cents a mile was the going rate for travel reimbursement back to your home of record. If you were serving in Kansas City, Missouri, and your home of record was also in Kansas City, you might have received a small check for your round trip. In practice, though, most soldiers find this amount negligible in comparison to the total cost of travel.

Emergency Situation: Travel Pay for Non-Vacation Travel

It is important to note that travel during a member's final term, when they might be trained or reassigned, is not considered a vacation. During this time, the military often covers the cost of travel for both the service member and their family to return home. This includes any relocation at the end of service or during emergency situations like a death in the family.

The training that precedes the last term of service, known as Readiness to Transition (to the home station), can be a crucial period when transportation expenses are covered. Similarly, in emergency leave (IL) situations, the military will usually provide transportation back to the home of record.

Scams and Misinformation

There has been a persistent rumor that soldiers collect money from leave travel. While this is technically impossible due to the low amount of travel reimbursement and the practicality of managing such funds, some well-meaning but misinformed individuals might spread such information. This rumor often adorns the internet, with online forums and social media platforms being the primary sources. It is always best to verify the source and not fall for such scams.

Scammers sometimes pretend to be soldiers seeking money for travel expenses. They do this in order to set up victims to steal from them. Therefore, it is advisable to be wary of unsolicited offers or requests for financial assistance from former service members.

In conclusion, while the military provides essential services and benefits to service members, there is no provision for travel reimbursement during regular leave unless it is part of the final transition process or an emergency situation. Servicemen and women should be aware of these policies to avoid falling for common misinformation.