Glossary

Accessorial services - These services are available when moving household goods and are outlined in the Joint Federal Travel Regulation.

Accompanied tour - A tour of duty in which the military dependents are command sponsored and thus authorized to accompany the military member to that permanent duty station.

Actual expense method - Some allowances and entitlements are paid on a fixed amount or by actual expenses which must be substantiated by receipts.

Agency - An executive agency as defined in Title 5 United States Code (USC) 105, a military department, a court of the U.S., Administrative Office of the U.S. courts; the Federal Judicial Center; the Library of Congress, Government Printing Office, and the District of Columbia.

Allowances - Expenses and costs for which an agency may reimburse incident to a permanent change of station (PCS).

Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) - BAH is based on geographic duty location, pay grade, and dependency status. The intent of BAH is to provide service members with permanent duty within the United States with accurate and equitable housing compensation based on housing costs in local civilian housing markets, and is payable when government quarters are not provided.

Calendar day - The twenty-four hour period beginning at one second after midnight and ending at 12:00 midnight.

CBL - Commercial Bill of Lading is the paperwork that supports the shipment and storage of household goods.

Certificate of title - A written statement of opinion by an attorney or title company as to the ownership of a house containing a legal description of both house and land.

CFR - Code of Federal Regulations.

Cleaning deposit - A deposit used to cover the costs of cleaning a rental unit.  This deposit is usually not refundable.

Commuted rate method - A price rate used to calculate a set amount to be paid to the employee for transportation and storage of household goods.  The employee rents a truck or procures a mover's services, obtains the empty and light weights, and independently completes the move.  The employee has no claims rights if this type of move is performed.

CONUS - Continental United States consisting of the forty-eight contiguous States and the District of Columbia.

Credit rating - A rating given by a lending institution to a person based upon his and/or her present financial condition, experience, and past credit history.

CSRS - Civil Service Reform Act.

Cultural Adaptation - These programs and services are designed to assist military members and their families in adapting to foreign environments and cultures when relocating overseas. 

Damage deposit - A deposit to cover unreasonable physical damage to property or economic damage if the landlord is not notified of tenant's departure within the stated time period.

Deed - A written document, signed and delivered, which conveys title to real estate.

Default - Failure of a party to perform a duty or fulfill a contractual obligation.

Defects, liens, encumbrances - Anything which burdens or limits the clear title of a vehicle.

Depreciation - A loss in value due to any cause.

Effective date of transfer or appointment - The date on which an employee or new appointee reports to his/her new or first official duty station.

Employee - A civilian officer or employee of an "agency." This term also includes new appointees and new hires.

Entitlements - Reimbursement allowances for which all employees are eligible when moved in the interest of the government.

Extended storage - Storage of household goods while an employee is assigned to an official station or post of duty to which he/she is not authorized to take, or unable to use, household goods.  Extended storage can also be authorized when it is in the public interest.  This term is also referred to as non-temporary storage.

FTR - Federal Travel Regulation.

Gross (heavy) weight - The weight of the moving van with the packed and loaded household goods less the crew, vehicle, fuel, and material.

Household goods (HHG) - Property, unless specifically excluded, associated with the home and all personal effects belonging to an employee and immediate family members on the effective date of the employee's change of official station orders that legally may be accepted and transported by a commercial HHG carrier.  Examples of items included are professional books, papers, and equipment (PBP&E), spare parts of a POV, consumable goods where the Department of State has declared that they are necessary, vehicles other than POVs, and ultra light vehicles for recreation or sport.  Not included are personal baggage when carried on a ticket, automobiles, trucks, vans, etc., live animals and other similar articles.

Immediate family - Any of the following who are members of the employee's household when the employee reports for duty at the new permanent duty station or signs an overseas tour renewal:

• lawful spouse
• dependent children (unmarried and under the age of twenty-one)
• grandchildren, minor wards, and other children under the legal guardianship of the employee
• dependent parents of employee or spouse (employee or spouse provides at least fifty-one percent of support)
• dependent brother/sisters (unmarried and under the age of twenty-one)

Note:  Age limits do not apply if the applicable dependent is physically or mentally incapable of self-support.

Inventory - A multi-copy form used by the pickup van operator to record a description of the articles to be shipped.  A number is assigned to each item, and all are cross-referenced on the form.  The inventory also contains a description of the condition of the article at the time of pickup and allows the shipper to annotate the description of that article upon its delivery or receipt at destination.

Inventory item - An item consisting of a carton, a bundle of legs disassembled from a table, a bundle of tools, a large appliance, or an article of furniture.

JFTR - Joint Federal Travel Regulation.

JTR - Joint Travel Regulation, Vol. II, Chapter 15.

Lease - A contractual agreement between the owner of real property and a tenant for the possession and use of the premises for a specified period of time in return for the payment of rent.

Lease cancellation penalty - A fee charged to a tenant in the event that the tenant breaks the lease before the specified time.

Lessee - Tenant.

Lessor - Landlord.

Liability - The maximum amount for which a carrier is normally liable through carrier negligence in connection with loss or damage of cargo while in transit or in storage.

Loan closet -  Sometimes referred to as the lending locker and usually housed in the family center, the loan closet is a resource through which newly arrived personnel and families can borrow basic household items until their household arrive or until after a move.  Available items vary among locations but generally include dishes, utensils, baby furniture, cookware, and other essentials, but not bed linens.

Locality rates - Maximum per diem rates prescribed for specific geographic localities within CONUS.

Lodgings-plus per diem system - The method of computing per diem in which the total daily per diem allowance is broken out into two separate amounts for:

• lodging
• meals and incidental expenses (M&IE)

Under the lodgings-plus method, the employee is allowed:

• actual expenses for lodging, not to exceed the prescribed amount; and
• one-fourth of the M&IE rate for each six-hour period, or fraction thereof, in travel status.

Maintenance fees - An additional cost to cover maintenance of common areas, heating, plumbing, and electrical systems usually charged in rentals in condominium or co-op communities.

M&IE - Meals and incidental expenses.

Mobile home - Any type of house trailer or mobile dwelling constructed for use as a residence and designed to be moved overland, either by self-propulsion or towing.  Also, a boat (houseboat, yacht, sailboat, etc.) when used as the employee's primary residence.

Mortgage - An instrument which pledges certain real property as security for payment of a debt.

Net weight - The difference between TARE and GROSS weights.

OCONUS - Outside Continental United States.

Official station or post of duty - The place where the officer or employee reports to duty and/or the residence or quarters from which an employee regularly commutes to and from work.

Out-of-pocket relocation expenses -  These are expenses incurred during a permanent change of station (PCS) move that are not reimbursed by the government. 

Overseas Housing Allowance (OHA) -  This allowance is paid to a service member stationed overseas (including United States protectorates) who is not furnished with government housing.  OHA compensates members for the majority of average overseas housing expenses.  It is comprised of three components: rental ceiling, utility/recurring maintenance allowance, and move-in housing allowance.  Rates are calculated on averages of these costs, not what the member actually spends.

Packing - Protecting individual articles by wrapping and placing them in cardboard boxes or by securing them in bundles or packages with wrapping materials.

PB, PP, PE or PBP&E - The professional books (PB), papers (PP) and professional equipment (PE) which must be weighed separately but are included in HHG.

PBO - Packed by owner - This includes cartons or other items, the contents of which are not made available to carrier for inspection.  The carrier has no liability for loss or damage.

PDS - Permanent duty station.

Per Diem, Travel and Transportation Allowance Committee (PDTTAC) - This purpose of this committee is to ensure that uniform travel and transportation regulations are issued pursuant to Title 37, United States Code, other applicable laws, and decisions of the Comptroller General of the United States for members of the seven Uniformed Services.  The PDTTAC maintains current tables of benefits and allowances.

Permanent change of station (PCS) - This term refers to a change of military assignment that is over 189 days in duration. 

Permissive temporary duty (TDY) - TDY is time off, authorized by a commander, for service members to conduct a house hunting trip to the new duty station.  The time is not charged against the member's leave but none of the expenses are reimbursed by the government.  Permissive TDY is totally at the personal expense of the military member.

Personal property - Any property that is not attached to, or part of, the residence.

Personally Procured Move (PPM) - Formerly known as a "Do It Yourself (DITY) Move."

Pet deposit - Additional money required by a landlord to cover possible damages caused by a tenant's pet(s).  This deposit is usually used to cover professional extermination services upon tenant's departure.

Pre-departure services -  These are briefings, counseling, and planning services provided well in advance of the move to ensure that transferring personnel understand and are prepared to go through the processes of relocation.  Such services help transferring members and families to identify and hopefully avoid problems that may arise during the move.  These services are essential especially for those new to the military, making their first move with children, making their first move overseas, and for families with special needs or other special circumstances.

Pre-move survey - The origin agent examines (surveys) the shipper's goods to determine the amount of time, material, and personnel required to safely pack and load the shipment.

Post-arrival services - These are services that help orient newcomers to the community.  They can take the form of briefings, tours, social events, job fairs, and other services to assist with settling-in and adapting in the new community.

POV - Privately Owned Vehicle.  Employees are generally limited to shipping one POV overseas.                         

Real estate agent - State-licensed salesperson in the employ of a real estate broker.

Real property - Land, buildings, soil, and air space above the land.

Recreation fees - Additional payments that might be required to use community pool, beach, tennis courts, etc.

Rent - Periodic payments made by a tenant to a landlord for the use of real property.

Renter's (or tenants) insurance - Personal property and liability coverage especially designed for renters.

Security deposit - Similar to damage deposit, but tenant might have to live in unit for a specified time period before this becomes refundable.

SIT - Storage-in-transit. - The authorization (usually) for ninety days with a ninety day extension upon approved request.

Standard CONUS rate - Per diem rate prescribed for any location within CONUS that is not included in one of the defined areas for which a specific rate is prescribed. 

TARE (light) weight - The weight of the fueled vehicle (less crew), packing material, and equipment.

TCS - Temporary change of station.

TDY - Temporary duty travel.

Temporary storage - Storage of HHG for a limited period of time at origin, destination, or en route in connection with transportation to, from, or between official station or post of duty or authorized alternate points.  Also referred to as storage in transit (SIT).

Title - Evidence of a person's right to, or the extent of interest in, a property.

TSP - Transportation service provider (replaces the term "carrier").

TQSE - Temporary quarters subsistence expenses.

Unaccompanied tour -  A permanent duty assignment in which the military member's dependents are not command sponsored.

United States - United States means the several States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the territories and possessions of the United States, and the areas and installations in the Republic of Panama that are made available to the United States pursuant to the Panama Canal Treaty of 1977 and related agreements.

USC - United States Code.