---
kind: "section"
citation: "37 U.S.C. § 452"
title: "37"
title_heading: "Pay and Allowances of the Uniformed Services"
number: "452"
heading: "Allowable travel and transportation: general authorities"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/37/452"
units:
  - "Chapter 8 — Travel and Transportation Allowances"
  - "Subchapter I — Travel and Transportation Authorities—new Law"
---

# §452. Allowable travel and transportation: general authorities

- (a) **In General.—** Except as otherwise prohibited by law, a [member](/usc/37/101.md?p=23) of the [uniformed services](/usc/37/101.md?p=3) or other [authorized traveler](/usc/37/451.md?p=a-2) may be provided [transportation-, lodging-, or meals-in-kind](/usc/37/451.md?p=b-5), or [actual and necessary expenses](/usc/37/451.md?p=b-2) of travel and transportation, for, or in connection with, [official travel](/usc/37/451.md?p=b-1) under circumstances as specified in regulations prescribed under [section 464 of this title](/usc/37/464.md).
- (b) **Specific Circumstances.—** The authority under [subsection (a)](#a) includes travel under or in connection with, but not limited to, the following circumstances, to the extent specified in regulations prescribed under [section 464 of this title](/usc/37/464.md):
  - (1) Temporary duty that requires travel between a [permanent duty assignment location](/usc/37/451.md?p=b-10-A) and another authorized temporary duty location, and travel in or around the temporary duty location.
  - (2) Permanent change of station that requires travel between an old and new temporary or [permanent duty assignment location](/usc/37/451.md?p=b-10-A) or other authorized location.
  - (3) Temporary duty or assignment relocation related to consecutive overseas tours or in-place-consecutive overseas tours.
  - (4) Recruiting duties for the [armed forces](/usc/37/101.md?p=4).
  - (5) Assignment or detail to another Government department or agency.
  - (6) Rest and recuperative leave.
  - (7) Convalescent leave.
  - (8) Reenlistment leave.
  - (9) [Reserve component](/usc/37/101.md?p=24) [inactive-duty training](/usc/37/101.md?p=22) performed outside the normal commuting distance of the [member](/usc/37/101.md?p=23)’s permanent residence.
  - (10) Ready Reserve muster duty.
  - (11) Unusual, extraordinary, hardship, or emergency circumstances.
  - (12) Presence of [family members](/usc/37/451.md?p=a-3) at a military medical facility incident to the illness or injury of [members](/usc/37/101.md?p=23).
  - (13) Presence of [family members](/usc/37/451.md?p=a-3) at the repatriation of [members](/usc/37/101.md?p=23) held captive.
  - (14) Presence of non-medical attendants for very seriously or seriously wounded, ill, or injured [members](/usc/37/101.md?p=23).
  - (15) Attendance at Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program events.
  - (16) Missing status, as determined by the [Secretary concerned](/usc/37/101.md?p=5) under [chapter 10](/usc/37/chch10.md) of this title.
  - (17) Attendance at or participation in international sports competitions described under [section 717 of title 10](/usc/10/717.md).
  - (18) Travel by a dependent child to the [United States](/usc/37/101.md?p=1-A) to obtain formal secondary, undergraduate, graduate, or vocational education, if the [permanent duty assignment location](/usc/37/451.md?p=b-10-A) of the [member](/usc/37/101.md?p=23) of the [uniformed services](/usc/37/101.md?p=3) is outside the [continental United States](/usc/37/101.md?p=1-B) (other than in Alaska or Hawaii).
  - (19) Travel by a dependent child within the [United States](/usc/37/101.md?p=1-A) to obtain formal secondary, undergraduate, graduate, or vocational education, if the [permanent duty assignment location](/usc/37/451.md?p=b-10-A) of the [member](/usc/37/101.md?p=23) of the [uniformed services](/usc/37/101.md?p=3) is in Alaska or Hawaii and the school is located in a State outside of the [permanent duty assignment location](/usc/37/451.md?p=b-10-A).
  - (20) Subject to [subsection (i)](#i), travel by a dependent to a location where a [member](/usc/37/101.md?p=23) of the [uniformed services](/usc/37/101.md?p=3) is on permanent duty aboard a ship that is overhauling, inactivating, or under construction.
  - (21) Presence of [family members](/usc/37/451.md?p=a-3) at the funeral and memorial services of [members](/usc/37/101.md?p=23).
  - (22) Permanent change of assignment to or from a naval vessel undergoing nuclear refueling or defueling and any concurrent complex overhaul, even if such assignment is within the same area as the current assignment of the [member](/usc/37/101.md?p=23).
  - (23) Current assignment to a naval vessel entering or exiting nuclear refueling or defueling and any concurrent complex overhaul.
- (c) **Matters Included.—** Travel and [transportation allowances](/usc/37/451.md?p=b-4) which may be provided under [subsection (a)](#a) include the following:
  - (1) Allowances for transportation (including fares and tolls, without regard to distance travelled), lodging, and meals.
  - (2) Dislocation or [relocation allowances](/usc/37/451.md?p=b-8) paid in connection with a change in a [member](/usc/37/101.md?p=23)’s temporary or [permanent duty assignment location](/usc/37/451.md?p=b-10-A).
  - (3) A partial dislocation allowance paid to a [member](/usc/37/101.md?p=23) ordered to occupy or vacate housing provided by the [United States](/usc/37/101.md?p=1-A).
  - (4) Passport and visa fees required for foreign travel.
  - (5) Other related [miscellaneous expenses](/usc/37/451.md?p=b-6).
- (d) **Mode of Providing Travel and Transportation Allowances.—** Any authorized travel and transportation may be provided—
  - (1) as an actual expense;
  - (2) as an authorized allowance;
  - (3) in-kind; or
  - (4) using a combination of the authorities under paragraphs [(1)](#d-1), [(2)](#d-2), and [(3)](#d-3).
- (e) **Travel and Transportation Allowances When Travel Orders Are Modified, etc.—** An [authorized traveler](/usc/37/451.md?p=a-2) whose travel and transportation order or authorization is canceled, revoked, or modified may be allowed [actual and necessary expenses](/usc/37/451.md?p=b-2) or travel and [transportation allowances](/usc/37/451.md?p=b-4) in connection with travel performed pursuant to such order or authorization.
- (f) **Advance Payments.—** An [authorized traveler](/usc/37/451.md?p=a-2) may be allowed advance payments for authorized travel and [transportation allowances](/usc/37/451.md?p=b-4).
- (g) **Responsibility for Unauthorized Expenses.—** Any unauthorized travel or transportation expense is not the responsibility of the [United States](/usc/37/101.md?p=1-A).
- (h) **Relationship to Other Authorities.—** The [administering Secretary](/usc/37/451.md?p=a-1) may not provide payment under this section for an expense for which payment may be provided from any other appropriate Government or non-Government entity.
- (i) **Dependent Transportation Incident to Ship Construction, Inactivation, and Overhauling.—** The authority under [subsection (a)](#a) for travel in connection with circumstances described in [subsection (b)(20)](#b-20) shall be subject to the following terms and conditions:
  - (1) The [member](/usc/37/101.md?p=23) of the [uniformed services](/usc/37/101.md?p=3) must be permanently assigned to the ship for 31 or more consecutive days to be eligible for allowances, and the [transportation allowances](/usc/37/451.md?p=b-4) accrue on the 31st day and every 60 days thereafter.
  - (2) Transportation in kind, reimbursement for personally procured transportation, or a monetary allowance for mileage in place of the cost of transportation may be provided, in lieu of the [member](/usc/37/101.md?p=23)’s entitlement to transportation, for the [member](/usc/37/101.md?p=23)’s dependents from the location that was the home port of the ship before commencement of overhaul or inactivation to the port of overhaul or inactivation.
  - (3) The total reimbursement for transportation for the [member](/usc/37/101.md?p=23)’s dependents may not exceed the cost of one Government-procured commercial round-trip travel.
- (j) **Travel for Inactive-duty Training and Muster Duty.—**
  - (1) If a [member](/usc/37/101.md?p=23) of the [uniformed services](/usc/37/101.md?p=3) travels more than 50 miles from the [member](/usc/37/101.md?p=23)’s permanent residence (as established under [paragraph (2)](#j-2)) for training described in [paragraph (9)](#b-9) of subsection (b) or duty described in [paragraph (10)](#b-10) of that subsection, the [member](/usc/37/101.md?p=23) shall be provided, in the form of actual expenses, in-kind, or a combination thereof—
    - (A) [actual and necessary expenses](/usc/37/451.md?p=b-2) of travel and transportation for, or in connection with, such travel; and
    - (B) meals, incidentals, and expenses related to such travel, to the same extent specified in regulations prescribed under [section 464 of this title](/usc/37/464.md) for a [member](/usc/37/101.md?p=23) on [official travel](/usc/37/451.md?p=b-1).
  - (2) For purposes of [paragraph (1)](#j-1), the permanent residence of a [member](/usc/37/101.md?p=23)—
    - (A) shall be established not later than 30 days after the date on which the permanent duty assignment of the [member](/usc/37/101.md?p=23) begins; and
    - (B) may not be re-established until after the [member](/usc/37/101.md?p=23) receives subsequent orders for a permanent change of assignment.
  - (3) In the case of a [member](/usc/37/101.md?p=23) whose permanent residence changes after the date described in [subparagraph (A)](#j-2-A) of paragraph (2) and before the [member](/usc/37/101.md?p=23) receives orders described in [subparagraph (B)](#j-2-B) of such paragraph, the [Secretary concerned](/usc/37/101.md?p=5) may provide the [member](/usc/37/101.md?p=23) expenses described in [paragraph (1)](#j-1) or such other reimbursement as the Secretary determines appropriate if the [member](/usc/37/101.md?p=23) travels more than 50 miles from the new permanent residence of the [member](/usc/37/101.md?p=23) for training described in [paragraph (9)](#b-9) of subsection (b) or duty described in [paragraph (10)](#b-10) of such subsection.

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 112–81, div. A, title VI, § 631(b), Dec. 31, 2011, 125 Stat. 1455; amended Pub. L. 116–92, div. A, title VI, § 607(b), Dec. 20, 2019, 133 Stat. 1425; Pub. L. 116–283, div. A, title VI, § 605, title XII, § 1299N, Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 3672, 4016; Pub. L. 117–81, div. A, title VI, §§ 603(c)(1), (d)(1), 623, Dec. 27, 2021, 135 Stat. 1766, 1767, 1772; Pub. L. 117–263, div. A, title VI, § 621, Dec. 23, 2022, 136 Stat. 2625; Pub. L. 118–159, div. A, title VI, § 623(a), Dec. 23, 2024, 138 Stat. 1933.)

## Notes

### Applicability of Amendment

Amendment of section by Pub. L. 118–159 applicable to travel on or after Jan. 1, 2027. See 2024 Amendment note below.

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2024—Subsec. (j). Pub. L. 118–159 added subsec. (j).

2022—Subsec. (b)(18), (21). Pub. L. 117–263, § 621(1), redesignated par. (18), relating to presence of family members at the funeral and memorial services of members, as (21).

Subsec. (b)(22), (23). Pub. L. 117–263, § 621(2), added pars. (22) and (23).

2021—Subsec. (b)(18). Pub. L. 117–81, § 623, added par. (18) relating to presence of family members at the funeral and memorial services of members at end of subsec. (b).

Pub. L. 117–81, § 603(c)(1), added par. (18) relating to travel by a dependent child to the United States to obtain formal secondary, undergraduate, graduate, or vocational education.

Subsec. (b)(19). Pub. L. 117–81, § 603(c)(1), added par. (19).

Subsec. (b)(20). Pub. L. 117–81, § 603(d)(1)(A), added par. (20).

Subsec. (c)(1). Pub. L. 116–283, § 605, inserted “(including fares and tolls, without regard to distance travelled)” after “transportation”.

Subsec. (c)(4), (5). Pub. L. 116–283, § 1299N, added par. (4) and redesignated former par. (4) as (5).

Subsec. (i). Pub. L. 117–81, § 603(d)(1)(B), added subsec. (i).

2019—Subsec. (c)(3), (4). Pub. L. 116–92 added par. (3) and redesignated former par. (3) as (4).

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 2024 Amendment

Pub. L. 118–159, div. A, title VI, § 623(b), Dec. 23, 2024, 138 Stat. 1934, provided that: “The amendment made by subsection (a) [amending this section] shall apply to travel on or after January 1, 2027.”