Stars and Stripes August 20, 2003
Ulchi Focus Lens participants urged to file TDY paperwork quickly
YONGSAN GARRISON, South Korea - Soldiers coming to South Korea for Ulchi Focus Lens are encouraged to file quickly for temporary duty reimbursement after their trip is done, military finance officials said Monday.
But soldiers coming here for the exercise must be in South Korea for more than 30 days to receive family separation housing pay and hardship duty pay, according to information published by the 175th Finance Command.
South Korea and the United States announced July 21 that they will conduct Ulchi Focus Lens Sept. 18-29, according to the Global Security Web site, globalsecurity.org. [Ulchi Focus Lens was erroneously reported as taking place in September. It actually took place in August]
Family separation housing pay is $250 per month; hardship duty pay ranges from $50 to $150 per month, depending on duty location.
Those staying in quarters other than government billeting or eating commercial meals are authorized a per-diem rate unique to the city in which they serve on temporary duty. Per-diem rates can be viewed at http://www.dtic.mil/perdiem/opdrform.html.
The government will reimburse 75 percent of the first and last day of temporary duty in addition to incidentals on days in between. Servicemembers can opt to receive reimbursement themselves or have approved lodging and transportation expenses paid directly to their government travel charge card.
More information on temporary duty reimbursement can be found at the 175th Finance Command Web site, at http://175fincom.korea.army.mil.
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