Title 10, Armed ForcesRelease 119-110
§2738 Property Loss: Reimbursement of Members for Certain Losses of Household Effects Caused by Hostile Action
Title 10 › Subtitle A — General Military Law › PART IV — SERVICE, SUPPLY, AND PROPERTY › CHAPTER 163 — MILITARY CLAIMS › § 2738
Summary
The Secretary may pay up to $100,000 to a member of the armed forces for household items lost while moving for a permanent change of station if the loss was caused by hostile or warlike action by a military force. Payment is allowed only if insurance or another law has not already paid. Parts (b), (d), (e), (f), and (g) of the related statute apply to these requests and treat them like claims against the United States.
Full Legal Text
Title 10, §2738
Armed Forces, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)Authority To Reimburse.—
The Secretary concerned may reimburse a member of the armed forces in an amount not more than $100,000 for a loss described in subsection (b).
(b)Covered Losses.—
This section applies with respect to a loss of household effects sustained during a move made incident to a change of permanent station when, as determined by the Secretary, the loss was caused by a hostile action incident to war or a warlike action by a military force.
(c)Limitation.—
The Secretary may provide reimbursement under this section for a loss described in subsection (b) only to the extent that the loss is not reimbursed under insurance or under the authority of another provision of law.
(d)Applicability of Other Authorities and Requirements.—
Subsections (b), (d), (e), (f), and (g) of section 2733 of this title shall apply to a request for a reimbursement under this section as if the request were a claim against the United States.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
Pub. L. 103–337, div. A, title V, § 557(c), Oct. 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 2776, provided that: “(1) Section 2738 of title 10, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), applies with respect to losses incurred after
June 30, 1990. “(2) In the case of a loss incurred after
June 30, 1990, and before the date of the enactment of this Act [Oct. 5, 1994], a request for reimbursement shall be filed with the Secretary of the military department concerned not later than two years after such date of enactment.”
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
10 U.S.C. § 2738
Title 10, Armed Forces
Last Updated
Sep 22, 2026
Release point: 119-110