Ref: Joint Federal Travel Regulation, Volume 1 Chapter 9
COLA is authorized to assist a member in maintaining the purchase power of the discretionary portion of spendable income incident to assignment to an OCONUS permanent duty station. The COLA is derived by comparing the OCONUS cost-of-living with the CONUS cost-of-living.
COLA entitlements stop on the day before the member departs in compliance with permanent change of station (PCS) orders or the homeport change effective day (from OCONUS) of the ship or unit to which the member is assigned. Secretarial extensions can be granted when the delay of dependent(s) departure is necessary for reasons beyond the member or dependent(s) control. If requirements are met as outlined in reference (a), a secretarial extension may be authorized. Commands are to submit requests to PERS-451H.