Who we are
The Fiscal and Entitlements Section (MMIB-3) is under the direction of the Manpower Management Integration Branch, Manpower Management Division, Manpower and Reserve Affairs. MMIB-3 is responsible for various Permanent Change of Station (PCS) travel entitlements, adjudication of Joint Travel Regulations (JTR) issues, PCS planning and analysis.
Functions
PCS and Travel Requests
– Alternate Separation Site
– Circuitous Travel
– Early Return of Dependents (ERD)
– Excess Baggage (PCS Travel Only)
– Low Cost to Fully Funded PCS Conversions
– TAD in excess of 180 days
– More than 2 POVs
– Emergency Leave Requests (OCONUS)
Waivers
– BAH at a location other than a Marine's Permanent Duty Station
– Advanced Family Member Travel
– Delay of Dependent Travel
– PCS for PME/Training
– Proximity Move
Incentives for Overseas Assignments
– Consecutive Overseas Tour (COT)
– In-Place Consecutive Overseas Tour (IPCOT)
– Overseas Tour Extension Incentive Program (OTEIP)
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Function
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Contact
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Fiscal and Entitlements Section Office
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703-784-9236
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Fiscal and Entitlements Section Organizational Email
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SMB_Manpower_MMIB_3@usmc.mil |
BAH Retention Waivers
Required Documents for BAH Waiver Requests
– AA form from the Marine endorsed by O5 or higher in chain of command
– Basic Orders
– MCTFS Screens (S901, D150, CHRO)
– Substantiating documents to validate member’s request
BAH Retention
Manpower Management Fiscal Management Section (MMIB-3) under the Manpower Management Integration Branch, Manpower Management Division, Manpower and Reserve Affair acts as the “Secretarial Authority” for the USMC in matters related to Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH.) As such, MMIB-3 is the office that executes established Federal Law, Department of Defense (DOD) regulations and applicable Marine Corps Policy to ensure BAH is employed in a lawful and equitable manner throughout the Marine Corps.
Individual Marines should not contact MMIB-3 directly regarding their packages. The sheer number of these requests precludes MMIB-3 from being able to research information for individual Marines. If in the event your package is returned disapproved, a reason for this disapproval and, where appropriate, a citation of the applicable law, regulation or policy will be provided. Do not make a financial commitment based on your interpretation of BAH Entitlements if this decision is based on BAH at other than PDS rate. A commitment on an individual Marines part in no way commits the Marine Corps to payment of a certain BAH rate.
Examples of cases where Marine may be approved:
– Fully funded orders to Arlington, VA then receives low-cost PCS or PCA orders to Quantico, VA.
– Fully funded orders to San Diego, CA then receives low-cost PCS or PCA orders to Camp Pendleton, CA.
– Fully funded orders to Cherry Point, NC then receives low-cost PCS or PCA orders to Camp Lejeune, NC.
Examples of cases where Marine would not be approved:
– Fully funded orders to Quantico, VA then receives low-cost PCS or PCA orders to Arlington, VA then receives low-cost PCS or PCA orders back to Quantico, VA (Low-High-Low).
– Service member is only in receipt of BAH-W for the purpose of paying child support.
– Service member does not have dependents authorized travel and transportation allowance.
– Member married to another service member without children.
Advance Family Member Travel
When a Marine is issued PCSOs authorizing the relocation of their dependents at government expense, they may elect to relocate their dependents at any time that best suits their personal circumstances, even non-concurrent and in advance of the travel of the member, without HQMC authorization. However, the authorization of BAH for such circumstances must be authorized by CMC. A member may elect to relocate their dependents to any location, however, BAH incident to advance family member travel when relocating dependents is only authorized at the future Permanent Duty Station (PDS) if the dependents relocate to the future PDS.
Delay Dependent Travel
Marines that are in receipt of PCS orders may elect to delay the travel of their family to the new PDS without approval from MMIB-3. However, in order to retain the BAH for their previous PDS, they must request a wavier through MMIB-3. It is an internal policy to only grant up to 60 days of delay for most cases. However, with proper documentation, an extension may be considered for reasons which are beyond the control of the Marine.
Common circumstances for delay:
– Continuity of education (COE) for minor aged dependents/Spouse
– Spouse employment
– EFMP dependent
– Delay in clearance process (Traveling OCONUS)
– Deployment within 90 days of reporting to new PDS
PCS For PME/Training
Marines in receipt of PCS orders to attend a PME which is longer than 6 months (Marine is in DUINS status), can submit a request to MMIB-3 to retain the BAH at their previous PDS or at their previously approved dependent location. In order to be eligible for a BAH PME waiver, the Marine must have dependents that will remain in that location. To qualify for a waiver, a Marine must have been receiving a rate of BAH based on the dependents’ location while assigned to the previous duty station. Marines without dependents will not be eligible for a waiver. Does not apply to Marine married to another service member unless the Marine requesting the BAH waiver is the member with dependents.
Proximity Waivers
BAH is paid based on members PDS or MCC. Unless they have a waiver / exception from MMIB-3. If the Marine executes an unaccompanied or dependent restricted overseas tour, they are automatically allowed to retain their BAH at the old PDS or previously approved dependent location.
If a Marine receives low-cost PCS or PCA orders (under 50 miles), they will not be reimbursed to move their family or household goods to their new duty station. If the Marines future PDS has a lower BAH rate than that of their old PDS (the last place that Marine received fully funded PCS orders), then that Marine rates the BAH rate at their old PDS. Conversely, if the Marine receives low-cost/PCA orders to an area with a higher BAH rate and then returns to their previous PDS, they do not rate to continue drawing the higher BAH rate (Low-High-Low situation).
When reviewing the request, ensure that basic orders are low/no-cost. Use the Marine’s complete Page 3/Chronological record to determine the last place that the Marine received fully funded PCS orders in order to determine if the Marine would rate a BAH waiver. Confirm that the Marine’s orders are appropriate for the situation to ensure that they are not erroneously issued fully funded PCS orders in lieu of low-cost PCS orders. Low-cost orders are required if new duty station is within 50 miles of their current PDS, unless dictated by SOP or Base Order that the Marine will be filling a critical mission or time sensitive billet. Official distances must be retrieved from the Defense Table of Official Distances (DTOD).
*Recruiters/Reservists may have other scenarios involved and are handled on a case-by-case basis.
Early Return of Dependents
ERD policy is governed by Joint Travel Regulations (JTR). Review the reference for guidance on eligibility criteria.
The Marine Corps is limited on the number of ERDs that can be authorized based on those circumstances that meet the eligibility criteria of the JTR and monetary constraints. Commands and Marines must exhaust all available resources to resolve such circumstances before requesting an ERD. It must be understood that if a Marine sends his/her family members back to the States without an ERD approval and/or without following the proper procedures (i.e., seeking guidance/relief from supporting establishments like legal, medical, family advocacy, behavioral health, financial planner, Chaplain, etc.), the Marine may incur a financial risk of not being reimbursed for travel or may not be entitled to a housing allowance. Acting without prior approval does not “tie the hands” of HQMC in forcing the issuance of an ERD (e.g., sending the family members back to the States without approval thinking the Marine Corps will now be forced to issue an ERD). In order to ensure that ERDs are used judiciously and as a last resort, MMIB-3 is closely scrutinizing every ERD submission. The following, at a minimum, must be included in ERD packages:
This circumstance must be evidenced (i.e., include paperwork from proper supporting establishments) by the authorizing/approving official’s statement (command endorsement). This statement must outline the situation, attest to the fact that it is a last resort, and demonstrate that the situation is affecting the Marine’s duty performance. If the situation deals with medical issues, documentation and a recommendation from a competent medical authority is required. If the situation deals with marital issues, it is mandatory to include recommendations from pertinent supporting establishments like legal, medical, family advocacy, behavioral health, financial planner, Chaplain, etc. A legal separation agreement is not required as supporting documentation. MMIB-3 and MPO understand that a legal separation agreement cannot be required as it may be considered non-binding, coercive, and falsely entered into; however, including one provides a stronger case for approval and provides MMIB-3 with documentation for audit purposes.
Every submission will be looked at on a case by case basis (meaning, even with the above, the request may be denied). Since ERDs are funded by the PCS budget, CMC (MMIB-3) is the final approval authority (this change is forthcoming in the updated MCO P1300.8R). In the event an ERD gets disapproved, there are other options available to the Marine. The Marine may request a tour conversion/tour curtailment; may request a humanitarian transfer; or may request financial relief from humanitarian organizations like Navy Relief. The above options must be requested through the proper chain of command and there is no guarantee of approval.
The following circumstances are precluded from consideration in issuing an ERD:
–Spouse employment opportunity/relocation/transfer in/to CONUS
–Mortgage /foreclosure on existing house in CONUS. Or other mortgage related financial issues (short sale, HUD)
–Elective medical treatment
Difference between ERD and ARD
ERD Marine not in receipt of orders that meets the criteria in the Joint Travel Regulations (JTR)
ARD Marine in receipt of PCS orders that desires to establish a new household in the vicinity of the new PDS and receive station allowances for that PDS.
Marines (and dependents, if applicable) on emergency leave from an OCONUS permanent duty station (PDS) may be entitled to travel at government expense to an authorized OCONUS destination if government transportation is not reasonably available. Commanders are to determine when government transportation is not reasonably available.
Prior to authorizing travel at government expense to an OCONUS destination from an OCONUS duty station, commands must request approval from HQMC (MMIB-3). Commands are requested to contact the Manpower and Reserve Affairs Staff Duty NCO (telephone (703) 784-9007.) The staff duty has the ability to give verbal approval for the request. Once verbal approval is gained, commands are instructed to submit, via naval message, a formal request to HQMC (MMIB-3). MMIB-3 will then respond with a Naval Message approving the request, for the commands records the next working day.
DoDD 1327.5 This Dod directive establishes the conditions required for emergency leave to be granted.
JFTR (U7205) This paragraph of the JFTR delineates the procedures to follow for OCONUS to OCONUS emergency leave and establishes the conditions under which it can be granted, and travel reimbursed.
MMIB-3 provides authority for funding data for various types of incentives associated with overseas tours. Marines interested in these programs are advised to contact their unit Career Retention Specialist or Monitor for more information.
IPCOT The In Place Consecutive Overseas Tour (IPCOT) program is designed to provide Marines and their families, who agree to remain in place at their overseas duty station for another complete tour, with round trip transportation to their home of record. IPCOT travel can be used to travel to a destination other than the Marine¿s home of record, but the cost of that travel cannot exceed the cost of travel to the home of record. Any excess cost is the responsibility of the Marine.
IPCOT entitlements may be earned under the following circumstances:
–Unaccompanied to Unaccompanied Tour (Generally 24 Month to 24 Month tours ¿ currently being adjusted as tour lengths are changed) Marine rates travel.
–Unaccompanied to Accompanied (12 Month to 36 Month tours) Marine only rates travel.
–Accompanied to Accompanied (36 Month to 36 Month tours) Marine rates travel as well as all dependents that resided with Marine at overseas duty station for both tours.
–Accompanied to Unaccompanied (36 Month to 12 Month tours) Marine only rates travel.
COT The Consecutive Overseas Tour (COT) program is similar to the IPCOT program above except that the Marine changes overseas geographic locations. To be eligible the Marine must agree to serve a second consecutive full-length tour, upon completion of a first full-length tour. Marines should note that if their travel from the first duty station to the second should cause them to cross CONUS, they are required to take their incentive travel at that time. Questions regarding eligibility and timing of travel should be directed to unit admin sections. All IPCOTs and COTs must be routed to MMIB-3 for approval and appropriation data.
OTEIP The Overseas Tour Extension Incentive Program (OTEIP) is designed to encourage enlisted Marines to extend on dependent-restricted tours. A minimum of a 12-month extension is required, in most cases.
Approved Marines are able to choose between the following three incentives:
–$166.66 a month for 12 months ($2,000)
–30 Days Special Leave (non-chargeable)
–Travel to West Coast Authorized Point of Debarkation and 15 days of Special Leave (non-chargeable)
Under certain circumstances (established by law, regulation and Marine Corps Policy), MOS Monitors are authorized to issue No/Low Cost Permanent Change Of Station (PCS)/Assignment (PCA) orders. Certain entitlements may be available to Marines executing these types of orders. Under all other circumstances, Marines will be issued Fully Funded PCS orders. Marines are cautioned that merely choosing to not exercise entitlements provided with a fully funded PCS does not qualify that PCS as No/Low Cost. If a question arises as to the type of orders received, the Marine (or his admin section) should contact the appropriate MOS Monitor for clarification.
When the TDY exceeds 180 days without being authorized or approved, per diem stops on the 181st day.
Authority is granted for organizations participating in UDP to remain TAD up to 210 days without requesting prior approval.
365 days BOG ISO contingency operations:
– If a Marine (AC or RC) as a true JIA/IA, and the request is for less than 90 days beyond 365, then Dir, MM is the Service decision authority. That request will be submitted to DC M&RA (MMIB-2) for processing and forwarding to the Dir, MM for decision.
– If a Marine (AC or RC) that is part of a unit/det deployment, and the request is for less than 90 days beyond 365, then the first GO in that Marines operational chain of command is the decision authority. That GO decision document needs to be sent to MMIB-2 for tracking and reporting purposes.
– If a Marine (AC or RC) that is either a true JIA/IA or part of a unit/det, and the request will be for 91 days or more beyond 365, then the SECNAV is the decision authority. That request will be submitted to MMIB-2 for processing and forwarding to the SECNAVs office.
Professional Military Education (PME): When a member goes to a school for 12 or fewer months and doesn’t relocate their family. High/low for Low/no cost PCS: A low-high-low PCS is defined as transferring from a PDS that has a lower BAH rate based on the Marine’s pay grade and dependency status, to a PDS within proximity where the BAH rate is high and then subsequently reassigned back to the duty station in the lower BAH payable MHA.
Headquarters, MMIB-3 does not approve BAH rate protection. BAH rate protection is defined in the JFTR (paragraph U10004) as: “The monthly BAH actually paid a member must not be reduced as a result of changes in housing costs in the Military Housing Area (MHA), changes in the national monthly housing cost, or members promotion.” This rate protection is automatic and does not need HQMC approval.
Three separate circumstances may lead to a change in your status that “interrupts your eligibility” for the allowance, and then, only if the published allowance for your grade and location is less than what you are getting now.
First, and most common, a decrease occurs when you PCS to a location at which the housing cost are less than at your current duty station. At the new duty station you get a lower housing allowance, but you should be no worse off, because the allowance is driven by the housing costs there.
Second, if you are demoted, your housing allowance reverts to the then-current published table of allowances for your lower grade. Promotions do not lower your housing allowance.
Third, if your dependency status changes (from with-dependent to without-dependent, or vice versa), your housing allowance is determined by your new dependency status and the then-current pu
No. If you are promoted, your BAH rate is the then-current published BAH for your new (higher) grade, with the following exception. If you get promoted, and are in a location where the current published BAH for your new grade is lower than the BAH amount you were receiving before, you continue to receive.
The policy decision to use duty location as a basis for BAH is based on the desire to compensate members for the typical housing cost near the member’s duty location. Once the duty station is known, the BAH compensation is fixed, regardless of where the member lives. Were the member’s residence location to be used as a basis for the allowance, there is the concern that this would cause a member to choose the residence location based on BAH. In some cases, this may lead to a member choosing to live further from the duty station, simply to receive higher BAH. In other cases, when a member commutes from/to a lower cost area, the members would find the BAH to be lower, even though the commuting expenses are higher. The Services decided to base the allowance on the duty location with the full knowledge that members would still be free to live where they choose, but that this decision would not affect the BAH amount.
Geographically separated families (geographic bachelors) are normally eligible for BAH based on the member’s duty station. Each Service budgets for support of a certain number of members and families at each location. If a growing number of people decide to leave their families in Washington, or Tampa while the member PCSs to Mt Home or Ft. Hood that could skew the budget and service support planning for these locations. Also, a fundamental philosophy of military service is that members, with their families, create a better work environment and esprit de corps when they can be active participants in the local base and community. In certain circumstances, with specific approval of the Secretary of the Service concerned, a member may be granted an exception to receive BAH based on the dependent’s location. For example if a member has a sick child that requires medical attention only available in a certain location (say Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, DC), and the member receives a PCS order, the member might leave the family in Washington and request BAH eligibility for that location. Such exceptions do not ordinarily apply to spousal employment or other personal choices.
BAH-DIFF is the housing allowance amount for a member who is assigned to single-type quarters and who is authorized a BAH solely by reason of the member’s payment of child support. A member is not authorized BAH-DIFF if the monthly rate of that child support is less than the BAH-DIFF amount. The BAH-DIFF amounts, originally calculated in 1997, are updated annually based on changes in the Basic Pay tables. For more information contact your servicing finance office or consult JFTR, par. U10008.
It depends on whether or not you have legal and physical custody of your children, pay child support, and/or live in single-type government quarters. If you have legal and physical custody of your children, then you are authorized BAH at the with-dependent rate if not assigned adequate family-type government quarters. If your former spouse has custody and you are paying adequate child support (at least in an amount of your BAH-DIFF rate) you are authorized BAH at the with-dependent rate if not in government quarters or BAH-DIFF if assigned single-type government quarters.
Per MCO 7220.56, a low-high-low PCS is defined as transferring from a PDS that has a lower BAH rate based on the Marine’s pay grade and dependency status, to a PDS within proximity where the BAH rate is high and then subsequently reassigned back to the duty station in the lower BAH payable MHA. A Marine, who is issued a proximity order between duty stations within proximity of each other, is subject to the low-high-low situation.
Example: A Marine receives a PCS order to an original PDS of MCB Quantico, in the Quantico MHA, then three years later is reassigned by a proximity order (relocation of household goods is not authorized) to the Pentagon which is in the Washington, DC MHA.
ERD- Marine is not in receipt of orders that meets the criteria in the JFTR U5900.
ARD- Marine in receipt of PCS orders that desires to establish a new household in the vicinity of the new PDS and receive station allowances for that PDS. ARD are will NOT approved for separatees and retirees.
No, ARD can only be approved for family to be sent to the next PDS.
Typically, no FSA is awarded ICW an ERD, there are guidelines in the DODFMR Volume 7A for granting waivers that may pertain to special situations. CMC Military Personnel Policy (MPO) is the approval authority for determination of eligibility for special circumstances.
The BAH will start once your family arrives to the new PDS. If your family does not go to the new PDS no entitlement will be started. Note: If your family returns to the CONUS and members moves back in to government quarters (member forfeits their OHA) the member will not start BAH until members family arrives to next PDS. If members family does not go to new PDS and member no longer has lease agreement member will have NO entitlement (i.e. BAH, OHA, FSA).
The PUREX cycle runs on the 2nd and 4th Friday of every month. Once the entry is run, the data will post by Tuesday. We do not cut lines of accounting for this program the Marine will have to adjust this requested Terminal leave dates, if needed.
HQMC is required to disapprove circuitous travel requests when AMC flights are available. Utilizing AMC has very little to do with cost savings. The Marine Corps pays $900 for each Patriot Express seat even if it is not used it. So add $900 when trying to figure out total cost. The Marine’s leave plans and any inconveniences that using PE may cause because of leave plans are also not a factor. Also, what you did in 2002 is not a factor. The below are the references we use for Circuitous Travel:
–MARADMIN 294/10 is the general reference for Circuitous Travel
–MARADMIN 196/11 has Amplifying Guidance to MARADMIN 294/10
–JFTR DOD 4500.9-R, which is the Defense Travel Regulations (DTR).
(Reference B in 294/10 and Reference D in 196/11)
Specifically, According to MARADMIN 294/10 Paragraph 5:
TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT OFFICES MUST ROUTE ALL OFFICIAL PASSENGER TRAVELERS IN ACCORDANCE WITH PART I, CHAPTER 103 A.2 OF REFERENCE B.
Reference B is DOD4500.9-R which states:
IAW DOD policy (DODI 4500.57, Transportation and Traffic Management), the following priorities, in order of precedence, will be used for passenger airlift:
a. AMC-procured channel airlift (Patriot Express) must be used for OCONUS travel unless there is a documented negative critical mission impact.
(1) Even if service can be provided at less cost by a commercial air carrier.
(2) Even if commercial air service is preferred by, or is more convenient for the traveler.
(3) Defense Travel System generated OCONUS travel requests must be routed through the TO prior to commercial carrier consideration to ensure AMC seats are fully utilized.
b. Scheduled commercial air service contracted through the GSA Airline City Pair Program Contract.
c. Other US CRAF carriers.
d. DOD-approved, non-CRAF US flag carriers.
e. Scheduled service on US air carriers that are neither DOD-approved nor disapproved (for individual travel only).
f. DOD-approved foreign flag carriers.
g. Scheduled service on foreign air carriers that are neither DOD-approved nor disapproved (for individual travel only).
HQMC (MMIB-3) needs documented AMC non-availability for a block of dates (that includes an AMC travel date) the Marine is requesting to travel. Note DTR Chapter 103 Paragraph a, which states AMC must be used unless there is a documented negative critical mission impact. For example, a Marine cannot choose to request a date of travel on a weekday knowing that AMC flights only go on Saturday, unless there is documented negative critical mission impact that requires the Marine to arrive on a certain date (an official letter from the joining unit stating the critical mission impact would be required).
A system update allows for the creation of a D860 remark for deceased Marines upon the reporting of TTC 378 000 with a 1-byte separation document type ‘8’.