THE UNIVERSITY OF THE ARMY
1775
THE UNIVERSITY OF THE ARMY
Headquarters
Department of the Army
Washington, DC
16 July 2024
*Army Regulation 55–46
Effective 16 August 2024

Transportation and Travel

Travel Overseas

By Order of the Secretary of the Army:

RANDY A. GEORGE
General, United States Army
Chief of Staff

Official:

MARK F. AVERILL
Administrative Assistant to the
Secretary of the Army

History. This publication is a major revision. The portions affected by this major revision are listed in the summary of change.

Authorities. This regulation implements the Joint Travel Regulations, DoDI 4515.13, DoDI 1315.18, and DoDD 1000.21E.

Applicability. This regulation applies to the Regular Army, the Army National Guard/Army National Guard of the United States, and the U.S. Army Reserve, unless otherwise stated.

Proponent and exception authority. The proponent of this publication is the Deputy Chief of Staff, G–1. The proponent has the authority to approve exceptions or waivers to this publication that are consistent with controlling law and regulations. The proponent may delegate this approval authority, in writing, to a division chief within the proponent agency or its direct reporting unit or field operating agency in the grade of colonel or the civilian equivalent. Activities may request a waiver to this publication by providing justification that includes a full analysis of the expected benefits and must include formal review by the activity's senior legal officer. All waiver requests will be endorsed by the commander or senior leader of the requesting activity and forwarded through their higher headquarters to the policy proponent. Refer to AR 25–30 for specific requirements.

Army internal control process. This regulation contains internal control provisions in accordance with AR 11–2 and identifies key internal controls that must be evaluated (appendix B).

Suggested improvements. Users are invited to send comments and suggested improvements on DA FormDA FormDepartment of the Army form 2028 (Recommended Changes to Publications and Blank Forms) directly to usarmy.pentagon.hqda-dcs-g-1.mbx.dape-prctravel@army.mil.

Distribution. This regulation is available in electronic media only and is intended for the Regular Army, the Army National Guard/Army National Guard of the United States, and the U.S. Army Reserve.

*This regulation supersedes AR 55–46, dated 15 October 2020.
AR 55–46 • 16 July 2024
UNCLASSIFIED

Accompanied tour length The longest tour length prescribed by DoDD 1315.18 for a specific overseas area or duty station where command-sponsored dependents are authorized. Also referred to as the accompanied-by-dependents tour length.

Acquired Family member A Servicemember’s dependent acquired through marriage, adoption, or other action during the course of his or her current tour of duty. This term does not include those individuals dependent on the Service- member or children born of a marriage that existed before commencement of the current overseas tour. Depending on individual status of forces agreements, U.S. statutes, congressional guidance, DoD policy, or Service regulations, these dependents may be denied access to certain dependent support facilities. See definition of “acquired dependent” in DoDD 1315.18.

Aerial port of debarkation A station that serves as an authorized port to process and clear aircraft and traffic for entrance to the country where located (see DTR 4500.9 – R).

Aerial port of embarkation A station that serves as an authorized port to process and clear aircraft and traffic for departure from the country where located (see DTR 4500.9 – R).

Air Mobility Command As referred to in this regulation, the former Military Airlift Command. Refer to https://www.amc.af.mil/ for additional information.

Attendant A Servicemember, civilian employee, or invitational traveler who is authorized to accompany a Service- member or civilian employee to or from a medical facility for required medical attention that is not availa- ble locally. The attendant takes care of and waits upon the Servicemember or civilian employee patient. The attendant may travel with the patient and is appointed by a medical authority (see JTRJTRJoint Travel Regulations).

Availability window A period of time during which AMCAMCU.S. Army Materiel Command is given first opportunity to provide airlift for travel of Army-sponsored travelers. The period of time may differ based on the type of travel. For example, for dependent student travelers, a 1-day window will be used for students visiting the sponsor for 30 days or less. A 3-day win- dow will be used for students visiting the sponsor for more than 30 days.

Category 1 travel Transportation by the most expeditious routing only for bona fide immediate family emergencies, as de- termined by DoDI 1327.06 and military Service regulations. This travel privilege will not be used in lieu of funded travel entitlements (see DoDI 1415.13).

Close blood and affinitive relatives A permanent member of, and a resident in, a Soldier’s household who is dependent on the sponsor for a home. This definition does not apply to a legal dependent who does not reside with the Soldier. However, when a dependent loses identity as a dependent, such as attaining the age of 21 when the dependent does not qualify for dependent student travel under paragraph 4 – 2, he or she will be considered a close blood or affinitive relative if the provisions of this definition are met.

Command-sponsored dependent Also called command-sponsored Family member. See DoDI 1315.18. Dependents of a Servicemember residing with the member at his or her duty station OCONUSOCONUSOutside the continental United States, where the accompanied tour is authorized and the Servicemember is authorized to serve said tour, and where dependents meet these conditions: a . Dependents are authorized by the appropriate authority to be at the Servicemember’s duty station. b . The Servicemember is authorized cost of living allowance and temporary lodging allowance at the with- dependents rate, as a result of his or her dependents’ residence in the vicinity of the member’s duty sta- tion.

Commercial air Airline service which is not chartered, contracted, or operated by the SDDCSDDC[Military] Surface Deployment and Distribution Command.

Consecutive overseas tour the PCSPCSPermanent change of station reassignment of a Servicemember from one PDS OCONUSOCONUSOutside the continental United States to another PDS OCONUSOCONUSOutside the continental United States (see JTRJTRJoint Travel Regulations). Completion of the initial overseas tour is not essential. (Exception to the PCSPCSPermanent change of station requirement is when the Soldier serves an IPCOT.)

Continental United States The 48 contiguous States and the District of Columbia.

Country clearance Clearance for official U.S. Government representative travel to a foreign country granted through the cog- nizant U.S. diplomatic mission (see DoDD 4500.54E).

Dependent See Joint Travel Regulations, Appendix A.

Dependent Student Travel Program Travel authorized for a dependent student when a member is permanently stationed OCONUSOCONUSOutside the continental United States and ac- companied by a command sponsored dependent in the member's PDS vicinity. This includes unmarried dependents who are under 23 years old and full-time students attending a school in the United States to obtain a secondary, undergraduate, or graduate degree (pursued on a full-time basis at an accredited in- stitution) or vocational education (pursued on a full-time basis at a post-secondary vocational institution) (see DoDI 4515.13).

Dependent-restricted tour a Servicemember’s tour at any overseas PDS that does not permit a command-sponsored dependent (see JTRJTRJoint Travel Regulations).

Designated location An authorized location in the United States, Alaska, Hawaii, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or a pos- session or territory of the United States named by the Soldier as the place where the Soldier's Family members will establish a residence until further government transportation of Family members is author- ized. OCONUSOCONUSOutside the continental United States-designated locations must be authorized as specified by chapter 4 of this regulation.

Domicile For the purposes of emergency leave travel, domicile is the Soldier’s official HOR, place the Soldier en- tered active duty, or the Soldier’s permanent legal residence. The Soldier has the option to select his or her domicile based on official documentation.

Effective date of permanent change of station orders The date a Soldier is required to begin travel from the old PDS, the Soldier’s home, primary residence, place last entered active duty, last TDYTDYTemporary duty station, or safe haven location or designated place, to arrive at the new PDS, primary residence, home, or place last entered active duty, by the authorized mode of transportation. a . This term includes a separating Reserve Component member and a recalled retired member who con- tinues in an active duty status during the time allowed for return travel home. b . The effective date of a PCSPCSPermanent change of station order is the last day of active duty for a Solders separating or retiring. c . The effective date of an IPCOT order is the first day of duty on the new tour.

Escort A Servicemember, civilian employee, or invitational traveler who accompanies a Servicemember or em- ployee between authorized locations when the Servicemember or employee is incapable of traveling alone, and a competent authority has authorized travel (see JTRJTRJoint Travel Regulations).

Exceptional Family Member Program A program that provides comprehensive support to military families with individuals with special needs through identification and enrollment, assignment coordination, and Family support services. Active and Reserve Component Servicemembers serving on active duty whose families include a member with spe- cial needs must enroll in the EFMPEFMPExceptional Family Member Program to ensure their family member’s special needs are considered during the assignment process (see DoDI 1315.19).

Foreign flag service An air carrier that does not hold a certificate issued by the United States (see JTRJTRJoint Travel Regulations).

Full-time student A student who attends undergraduate school a minimum of 12 equivalent semester hours, or meets the minimum requirements of the school to maintain a full-time status.

Home of record The place recorded as the home of the Soldier when commissioned, appointed, enlisted, inducted, or or- dered into the relevant tour or active duty. If there is a break in service of more than one full day, then the Soldier may change the HOR. If there is a break in service of less than one full day, then the Soldier may not change the HOR (see JTRJTRJoint Travel Regulations).

In place consecutive overseas tour A prescribed tour following the completion of an initial overseas tour (including voluntary extensions) that a member agrees to serve at the same PDS. No PCSPCSPermanent change of station movement is involved for a Servicemember (see DoDI 1315.18).

International airport Designated U.S. International Airports listed in the Federal Aviation Administration’s Advisory Circular No:150/5000 – 16, available at https://www.faa.gov/airports/resources/advisory_circulars/in- dex.cfm/go/document.list.

Non-command-sponsored Family member Also called non-command-sponsored dependent. Dependents of a Servicemember residing with the Ser- vicemember at his or her duty station OCONUSOCONUSOutside the continental United States where the accompanied tour may or may not be author- ized. These dependents are not provided transportation to and from the Servicemember’s overseas duty station at U.S. Government expense. Their presence does not entitle the Servicemember to a cost of liv- ing allowance or temporary lodging allowance at the with-dependents rate. These dependents may be either acquired dependents or individually sponsored by the Servicemember into the command without endorsement by the appropriate authority. Depending on individual status of forces agreements, U.S. statutes, congressional guidance, DoD policy, or Service regulations, these dependents may be denied access to certain dependent support facilities (see DoDI 1315.18).

Nonconcurrent travel Family member travel performed from a designated place or PDS within 140 days after the Soldier’s arri- val in the overseas area.

Official travel Authorized travel solely related to U.S. Government business. Official travel may be performed in the PDS or vicinity, or to and from any combination of the actual residence, PDS and TDYTDYTemporary duty locations. Official travel does not include travel for personal reasons, by a circuitous route, or by transportation modes not author- ized or approved (see JTRJTRJoint Travel Regulations).

Outside the Continental United States Locations outside of the 48 contiguous states and the District of Columbia.

Overseas Army command, Army service component command, or direct reporting unit com-

mander The senior Army commander in each overseas command.

Passport Internationally recognized travel document issued under the authority of the Secretary of State attesting to the identity and nationality of the bearer. A passport indicates that its bearer is entitled to receive the protection and assistance of the diplomatic and consular offices of their country while abroad. In essence, it is a request on the part of the issuing government that officials of foreign governments permit the bearer to travel or sojourn in their territories and afford them lawful aid and protection. A passport does not con- stitute authority to enter any country; however, many countries have procedures which permit U.S. citi- zens to enter their territory without further documentation upon presentation of a U.S. passport.

Soldier All U.S. Army personnel: Regular Army, USARUSARUnited States Army Reserve, Army National Guard of the United States, and Army Na- tional Guard.

Sponsor A Soldier responsible for his or her Family members or close blood or affinitive relatives.

Statement of nonavailability A statement from the ITO office authorizing a sponsor to personally procure commercial transportation, in the event SDDCSDDC[Military] Surface Deployment and Distribution Command transportation is not available or in the event a U.S. Flag carrier is not available.

Theater clearance Clearance for official travel within a geographic combatant command area of responsibility granted by the responsible theater commander or delegated authority (see DoDD 4500.54E).

Transportation reservation Also may be referred to as port call. Official notification or instructions which require a Soldier or depend- ents to report for transoceanic transportation. The transportation reservation designates the aerial or sea port of embarkation, identifies the carrier with flight number or sailing assignment, specifies the required reporting time and date, and provides such other instructions as are relevant to the transportation ar- rangements made on behalf of the traveler(s).

Travel approval official Major Army commanders and Army Staff agency heads, or their designated representatives, at the COL (O – 6) level. Normally, the travel approval official is the approving official in DTS. Further delegation of ap- proval authority below the COL (O – 6) level is not authorized.

Travel authorization A written instrument issued or approved by the SECARMYSECARMYSecretary of the Army, or such person(s) to whom authority has been delegated or redelegated to issue travel orders, directing a Soldier or group of Soldiers (and/or Soldier’s Family members) to travel between designated points.

Travel clearance The process of determining the requirements for OCONUSOCONUSOutside the continental United States travel, as set forth in DoDD 4500.54E; Army regulations; and ACOMACOMArmy service component command, ASCCASCCArmy service component commander, DRUDRUDirect reporting unit, and local policies and ensuring the applicants for OCONUSOCONUSOutside the continental United States travel meet those requirements. The function is performed by travel clearance managers.

Travel clearance manager An individual appointed on orders to perform the travel clearance function of OCONUSOCONUSOutside the continental United States TDYTDYTemporary duty travel.

Unaccompanied baggage A Servicemember or civilian employee’s necessary items shipped by an expedited mode to a TDYTDYTemporary duty or PCSPCSPermanent change of station location. The component’s transportation office determines the method of transportation and pay- ment. UB may be transported separately from the majority of HHG (see JTRJTRJoint Travel Regulations).

Unaccompanied tour A Servicemember’s tour at a specified OCONUSOCONUSOutside the continental United States PDS without command-sponsored dependents (see JTRJTRJoint Travel Regulations, Appendix A).

United States The 50 states and the District of Columbia.

Ward A person placed by authority of law under the temporary care of a guardian.