The Defense Department will now cover certain costs for service members to ship breast milk during a permanent change of station move.
Service members breastfeeding an infant up to 12 months old can now be reimbursed up to $1,000 in shipping expenses as part of ongoing initiatives to alleviate out-of-pocket costs for troops during military-related travel. The benefit does not apply to military spouses or other family members who are nursing infants.
“This allowance targets those costs that military families with infants previously had to pay out of pocket,” said Christopher Woods, policy branch chief at the Defense Travel Management Office, during an interview Thursday with Military.com. “Simply put, this policy helps make moves easier, and it strengthens support for military families.”
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The new policy will cover the cost of items such as dry ice, commercial shipping, excess baggage fees and other associated expenses. It will not reimburse for packaging or the cost of containers — those expenses are not allowable under other regulations, according to Woods.
During a permanent change of station move, service members may be separated from their babies as a result of requiring separate travel arrangements, or their babies may be accompanying them but need supplies such as dry ice and other equipment during international…
