What type of duties does TDY refer to?

TDY, which stands for "Temporary Duty," refers specifically to short-term assignments where an employee, often in the military or government setting, is assigned to a location away from their permanent station or duty station for a limited duration. This type of duty typically involves specific tasks or projects that need to be completed during the period of the assignment.

Short-term assignments under TDY can vary in length but are generally understood to allow employees to serve a particular function, attend training, or participate in a mission without the permanent relocation that full-time employment or permanent relocations would entail. The nature of TDY assignments is temporary, and personnel can expect to return to their original duty station once the assignment is completed.

This understanding of TDY is fundamental in distinguishing between various employment and assignment types, such as volunteer activities that do not typically come with official duties and responsibilities or permanent relocations, which imply a change in an individual’s primary place of work rather than a temporary assignment.