The short answer is yes — under specific circumstances.
JTR paragraph 050403 authorizes dependent travel and transportation allowances for moves that happen before PCS orders are formally issued, as long as the service member has been officially advised that orders will be issued.
This is one of the most consistently misunderstood PCS entitlements. Most families assume the orders have to be in hand before any reimbursable move can happen. They’re wrong — and that assumption costs some families real money (and stress).
What JTR 050403 Actually Says
Ordinarily, travel that occurs before orders are issued is at your own expense. JTR 050403 is the exception to that rule. It allows dependent travel and transportation allowances for moves that happen after a service member has been officially advised that PCS orders will be issued — even if the orders themselves haven’t dropped yet.
050403. Dependent Travel before an Order is Issued
This paragraph does not apply to travel for an early return of a dependent, for evacuation travel, or for moves OCONUS.
A. Eligibility. Ordinarily, travel that occurs before an order is issued is at personal expense and no reimbursement is authorized. However, a Service member is authorized dependent travel and transportation allowances for dependent travel that occurs before a PCS order is issued but after the Service member has been advised that such an order would be issued. The Service member must be otherwise eligible for dependent travel and transportation allowances.
B. Conditions. Any travel voucher for travel occurring before a PCS order is issued must cite this paragraph as the authority for payment and must be supported by a statement from the PCS AO or designated representative that the Service member was advised that the order would be issued. Information provided to the Service member concerning order issuance before the determination is made to actually issue the order (such as time of eventual release from active duty, when the service term expires, retirement eligibility date, or expected rotation date) is not advice that an order will be issued. Transportation must not be provided before a PCS order is issued.
The key phrase here is officially advised. This is not the same as:
- Hearing informally from your assignment officer that a move is likely
- Being told your expected rotation date or time of separation
- A conversation where someone said “orders are probably coming”
- Knowing from experience that your tour is ending
Officially advised means formal notification from the PCS Authorizing Official (AO) or their designated representative that orders will be issued. Informal information about expected rotation dates or service terms does not qualify.
What You Need to File
Any travel voucher claiming reimbursement under JTR 050403 must:
- Cite JTR paragraph 050403 as the authority for payment. Don’t just submit the voucher — specifically reference this paragraph.
- Include a statement from the PCS Authorizing Official (or their designated representative) confirming that the service member was officially advised that orders would be issued before the travel occurred.
Without that statement, the voucher won’t be paid. Get the statement in writing before travel happens — not after.
What’s Not Covered
JTR 050403 does not cover:
- Early return of dependents from OCONUS
- Evacuation travel
- Moves OCONUS
- Government-arranged transportation — transportation cannot be provided before orders are issued, only personal vehicle travel
This paragraph applies to CONUS dependent moves only. If you’re moving dependents to or from OCONUS before orders drop, you’re outside the scope of this provision.
When This Actually Comes Up
The most common scenario: a service member receives official verbal or written notification from their assignment officer that orders are being cut for a specific duty station, but the actual orders haven’t been issued yet. The family has a lease ending, school enrollment deadlines, or other logistical reasons to start moving before the paperwork is final.
Under 050403, if the service member was officially advised that orders were coming — not just informed of an expected rotation date — dependent travel that happens in that window is reimbursable once orders are actually issued and the voucher is filed with the required documentation.
The Bottom Line
If you’ve been officially told orders are coming and you need to move your family before the paperwork is finalized, you’re not necessarily paying out of pocket. Get the AO statement in writing before travel happens, cite 050403 on your voucher, and file when orders are issued.
For the full picture of what you’re authorized on a PCS move, see our complete PCS entitlements guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, under JTR 050403, if you’ve been officially advised by the PCS Authorizing Official that orders will be issued. Travel that happens after that official notification — but before orders are formally cut — may be reimbursable. You need a written statement from the AO and must cite 050403 on your voucher.
Formal notification from the PCS Authorizing Official or their designated representative that orders will be issued.
This does not include informal conversations, expected rotation dates, service term end dates, or retirement eligibility notifications. It has to be a deliberate, official communication that orders are coming.
No. JTR 050403 explicitly does not apply to moves OCONUS, early return of dependents, or evacuation travel. It covers CONUS dependent moves only.
Your travel voucher must cite JTR paragraph 050403 as the authority and include a statement from the PCS AO or their designated representative confirming you were officially advised orders would be issued before the travel occurred.
Get that statement before any travel happens — not after.
