Stand-To!- Temporary Change of Station (TCS) /TDY Policy Changes - August 9, 2007

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TODAY'S FOCUS


Temporary Change of Station (TCS) /TDY Policy Changes

What is it? The Army is putting the "temporary" back into Temporary Change
of Station, or TCS. TCS is the status of Soldiers who are deployed away from
their home stations to support a contingency operation. TCS assignments were
appropriate following the 9-11 attacks because it appeared that these duty
assignments would be short-term in nature. But the fact that we are engaged
in an environment of persistent conflict requires us to reassess the use of
TCS status. Following a review of TCS management, the Army has determined
that many short-term assignments have evolved into long-term requirements
and different approaches to meeting these requirements should be used. (In
this context, long-term means assignments for more than 180 days.) 

What has the Army done? In a recent review of the management,
administrative, and financial aspects of the TCS program, the Army
identified challenges that must be addressed with revised policies and
procedures. The challenges included: 

* No predictability in managing positions
* Above average expenses 
* Government lodging and meals underutilized, resulting in unusually high
cost in travel claims

In an effort to reduce costs while maintaining operational support, the Army
conducted a program review which identified potential cost reductions the
Army could realize if it altered the way it pays allowances for lodging and
per diem. Since operational support is necessary to sustain forward
operations and the Soldiers serving in these mission essential positions are
providing vital support, the Army will introduce a new policy which is
expected to have minimal impact on operational support, Soldiers and their
Families while presenting the Army with significant long-term cost
reduction.

The Secretary of the Army directed the Army Staff to develop a TCS Action
Plan to fix the identified challenges so the 16,000 Soldiers currently on
TCS orders and their Families have a process that makes sense, is
predictable, and honors their willingness and commitment to serve in
long-term positions. After thorough coordination and discussion, the
Secretary approved the Action Plan developed by the staff. These changes are
intended to make TCS orders the exception rather than the rule for Soldiers
deployed in validated long-term assignments. The revised policies do not
apply to Soldiers in the combat zone or qualified hazardous duty area.

What's next? Effective Aug. 15, 2007, long-term TCS /TDY assignments will
not be authorized unless a waiver is approved by the Assistant Secretary of
the Army(Manpower and Reserve Affairs). Units will submit waiver requests
through the chain of command, endorsed by a major general or above. The
objectives of the policy are to limit TCS status to periods of 180 days or
less and to use PCS or long-term TDY assignments for contingency
requirements lasting longer than 180 days. Incumbents will be offered PCS.
In addition, Soldiers who are granted waivers for TDY beyond 180 days will
be reimbursed at a reduced per diem rate of 55 percent of the maximum daily
locality per diem rate.

Between Aug. 15 and 30 Sept. 30, the Army will instruct the field to take
actions to document, or eliminate directed missions. If the Soldier does not
accept or is not offered either PCS or long-term TCS, the Soldier will
remain in a TCS status until the current order expires or until Jan.31,
2008, whichever is earlier, and then be released from active duty.

If the Soldier accepts PCS, he or she will receive a housing allowance based
on the permanent duty station (PDS) to which he or she has been ordered.
Soldiers who are granted waivers for TCS beyond 180 days will use government
lodging solutions if available. Soldiers in this status, using government
lodging solutions, will receive full reimbursement for meals and incidental
expenses (M&IE) unless government dining facilities are available.

In implementing these changes to how it fills long-term contingency
requirements the Army will take great care to eliminate or minimize the
impact on operations, and on Soldiers and their Families. The present
strategic environment clearly shows these requirements will remain over
time. Hence, the Army needs an efficient and responsive system to
continually validate these requirements, and to sustain them. 



INFORMATION YOU CAN USE


* 2007 Strategic Communication Guide
<https://www.us.army.mil/suite/page/409993>  - Be Army Strong, and Army
Smart. Read the 2007 Army Strategic Communication Guide.


NEWS ABOUT THE ARMY


*	Army Corps of Engineers helps with I-35W bridge collapse (ARNews
<http://www.army.mil/-news/2007/08/08/4335-army-corps-of-engineers-helps-wit
h-i-35w-bridge-collapse/> ) 
*	Soldier disputes murder charges (EB
<http://ebird.afis.mil/ebfiles/e20070809535591.html>  | AJC
<http://www.ajc.com/search/content/metro/stories/2007/08/09/soldier.html> ) 
*	Landstuhl outpatients to move closer to facility (SAS
<http://www.estripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=47970> ) 
*	Soldier earns berth in World Rowing Championships (ARNews
<http://www.army.mil/-news/2007/08/08/4345-soldier-earns-berth-in-world-rowi
ng-championships/> )


WAR ON TERROR NEWS


*	Top U.S. general for north moves battalion, predicts pullout
timeline (SAS <http://stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=47959> ) 
*	U.S. attack kills 32 in Sadr City (EB
<http://ebird.afis.mil/ebfiles/e20070809535542.html>  | NYT
<http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/09/world/middleeast/09iraq.html?_r=1&oref=sl
ogin> ) 
*	U.S. Soldiers partner with Iraqi troops in Mahmudiyah (AFIS
<http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=46990> ) 
*	Analyst urges patience on Iraq, seeing chance for some gains (EB
<http://ebird.afis.mil/ebfiles/e20070809535551.html>  | WP
<http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/08/AR200708080
2302.html> )


OF INTEREST


*	Artist creates giant rendition of Purple Heart Medal (AFIS
<http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=46988> ) 
*	Gen. Petraeus blames bookkeeping for missing weapons (SAS
<http://www.estripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=47956> ) 
*	Soldiers help Iraqi boy get surgery (ARNews
<http://www.army.mil/-news/2007/08/08/4342-soldiers-help-iraqi-boy-get-surge
ry/> ) 
*	Justice Department drops Dragon Skin body armor recommendation (SAS
<http://www.estripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=47963> )


WORLD VIEW


*	U.S. Army accuses Canadian-owned magazine of printing lies about
Iraq war (PGC <http://www.princegeorgecitizen.com/>  | Story
<http://www.princegeorgecitizen.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&i
d=101750&Itemid=162> ) 
*	Roadside bomb kills 1 U.S. Soldier, wounds 4 in Baghdad (CD
<http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/>  | Story
<http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/world/2007-08/09/content_6018135.htm> ) 
*	U.S. uneasy as UK plans Iraq pullout (TT
<http://www.taipeitimes.com/>  | Story
<http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/world/archives/2007/08/09/2003373379> ) 
*	Another embarrassing revelation: U.S. losing track of Iraq weapons
(ALJ <http://www.aljazeera.com/>  | Story
<http://www.aljazeera.com/news/newsfull.php?newid=25380> )


WHAT'S BEING SAID IN BLOGS


*	The Purple Heart - August 7, 1782 to August 7, 2007 (GAF
<http://gazingattheflag.blogspot.com/> ) 
*	Maliki or Petraeus? Easy choice (BF <http://blackfive.blogs.com/> ) 
*	Attending the Sturgis Motorcycle rally .... from Iraq (SM
<http://soldiersmind.com/> ) 
*	Iraq report: Pressing Al-Qaeda in Diyala and the north (BR
<http://billroggio.com/> )

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