Expert: Cynthia Bedell - 1/20/2007

Question
I'm curretly overseas. I will ETS in May. How many days of TDY am I entitle to outprocess in the United States? I'm being told that I get 2 days to outprocess, but if I happen to need more time it will be using my leave days. There is no ACAP program where I'm at. Will I be able to out process from my home of record since there is a military post there?  

Answer
Dear Ricardo --

The number of days you get to travel and out-process when returning from overseas depends on many things: distance traveled, mode of travel, shipment of personally owned vehicle, dependant travel, and more.  

However, you will get two days to out-process at your departure site, and should be allowed up to ten days permissive TDY to complete other transactions of a more personal nature that arise due to your ETS.

Permissive TDY does not consume your leave, but is at your personal expense.  You can apartment or house hunt in your new location, and take care of other incidental business associated with your move.

The government will pay for your move to your home of record if you desire.  They should also allow you to out-process at the nearest full service personnel center to your home of record, if you desire that.  However, if you are associated with a state side unit, with duty overseas, they may DEROS you to your stateside unit, then ETS you from there.  Be sure to check which status you are in prior to finalizing your DEROS and ETS plans.

It is good that you are thinking and planning for your ETS four months out.  The more planning you do now, the easier it will be for you.

Best of luck to you and thank you for your service.