Can you help remind me how to file for DLA?

This is actually a pretty big pet peeve of mine. Perhaps it's different in other services and in other commands but almost every Sailor (Officer and Enlisted) I've talked to doesn't truly understand this process (myself included). I have missed out on my dislocation allowance more than once due to errors (my own once, not my own the other times) and lack of timeliness of submission. It needs to be a much more clear process.

SFC Weseman,
When you did in-processing your finance folks should've helped you out. You need to fill out a DD 1351-2. Just bring that filed out to your finance office (maybe Ft. Drum) or submit it via your S1 channels. One note, I've heard you can only receive DLA once per fiscal year so that may or may not apply to your situation as well. Take a look below for some official details: http://www.dfas.mil/militarymembers/travelpay/armypcs/dislocationallowance.html

Hope that helps

If I remember right, when I was in the Navy, in your PCS packet there was a form for advanced DLA. I am not the expert for the Army but I would think that the PCS process would be the same or close. Hope this helps.