37 U.S.C. § 405: Travel and transportation allowances: per diem while on duty outside the continental United States

Without regard to the monetary limitation of this title, the Secretary concerned may pay a per diem to a member of the uniformed services who is on duty outside of the continental United States, whether or not the member is in a travel status. The Secretary may pay the per diem in advance of the accrual of the per diem. In determining the per diem to be paid under this section, the Secretary concerned shall consider all elements of the cost of living to members of the uniformed services under the Secretary’s jurisdiction and their dependents, including the cost of quarters, subsistence, and other necessary incidental expenses. However, dependents may not be considered in determining the per diem allowance for a member in a travel status. Housing cost and allowance may be disregarded in prescribing a station cost of living allowance under this section. is directly related to the conditions or location of the duty or the location of the member’s dependents; is of a nature or a magnitude not normally incurred by members of the uniformed services on duty inside the continental United States; and is not included in the per diem determined under subsection (b) as payable to the member under subsection (a) or (e). Any reimbursement provided to a member under paragraph (1) is in addition to a per diem payable to that member under subsection (a) or (e). In the case of a member assigned to duty inside the continental United States whose dependents continue to reside outside the continental United States, the Secretary concerned may pay the member a per diem under this section based on the location of the dependents and provide reimbursement under subsection (d) for an unusual or extraordinary expense incurred by the dependents if the Secretary determines that such payment or reimbursement is in the best interest of the member or the member’s dependents and in the best interest of the United States.