---
kind: "section"
citation: "10 U.S.C. § 2738"
title: "10"
title_heading: "Armed Forces"
number: "2738"
heading: "Property loss: reimbursement of members for certain losses of household effects caused by hostile action"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/10/2738"
units:
  - "Subtitle A — General Military Law"
  - "Part IV — Service, Supply, and Property"
  - "Chapter 163 — Military Claims"
---

# §2738. Property loss: reimbursement of members for certain losses of household effects caused by hostile action

- (a) **Authority To Reimburse.—** The [Secretary concerned](/usc/10/2801.md?p=c-5) may reimburse a member of the [armed forces](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-4) in an amount not more than $100,000 for a loss described in [subsection (b)](#b).
- (b) **Covered Losses.—** This section applies with respect to a loss of household effects sustained during a move made incident to a change of permanent station when, as determined by the [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3), the loss was caused by a hostile action incident to war or a warlike action by a [military](/usc/10/801.md?p=8) force.
- (c) **Limitation.—** The [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) may provide reimbursement under this section for a loss described in [subsection (b)](#b) only to the extent that the loss is not reimbursed under insurance or under the authority of another provision of law.
- (d) **Applicability of Other Authorities and Requirements.—** Subsections (b), (d), (e), (f), and (g) of [section 2733 of this title](/usc/10/2733.md) shall apply to a request for a reimbursement under this section as if the request were a claim against the [United States](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-1).

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 103–337, div. A, title V, § 557(a), Oct. 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 2775.)

## Notes

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Pub. L. 103–337, div. A, title V, § 557(c), Oct. 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 2776, provided that: Section 2738 of title 10, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), applies with respect to losses incurred after June 30, 1990. In the case of a loss incurred after June 30, 1990, and before the date of the enactment of this Act [Oct. 5, 1994], a request for reimbursement shall be filed with the Secretary of the military department concerned not later than two years after such date of enactment.”