How to Ship Breast Milk on TDY, and Get It Reimbursed

This Veterans Day, Milk Stork thanks every veteran who has served, and every family who served alongside them. One way we honor that service is by supporting the parents in uniform today. Many of them are feeding a baby while on orders away from home.

Short answer: Active-duty parents on TDY can ship frozen breast milk home overnight with a Milk Stork cooler. Under the Joint Travel Regulations (JTR), up to $1,000 in breast milk shipping costs may be reimbursable, as long as it's authorized on your orders before you travel.

How do I ship breast milk home while on TDY?

There are four steps:

1. Sign up with a .mil email, yours or your spouse's, at the Milk Stork Military Discount portal to get 10% off any cooler.
2. Choose a cooler. For a short TDY trip, use an overnight Pump & Ship or Freeze & Ship cooler. For a larger stash, the Stash Shipper holds up to 180 oz of frozen milk, about thirty 6-oz bags.
3. Pack the milk frozen and flat. No dry ice or activation is needed. Vacuum-insulated panels keep milk frozen for up to 96 hours.
4. Drop it at FedEx. A prepaid FedEx Priority Overnight label is included, and the milk arrives home the next day.

Flying home instead? Breast milk is exempt from TSA liquid limits. Milk Stork's TSA-compliant Pump & Tote and Freeze & Tote coolers go in your carry-on.

Does the military reimburse breast milk shipping?

In many cases, yes. A Department of Defense change to the JTR took effect on February 1, 2025. It allows reimbursement for transporting breast milk during official travel. Here's what it covers:

• Who's eligible: service members on TDY or PCS orders, and DoD civilians on TDY orders, with a breastfeeding child up to 12 months old.
• What's covered: up to $1,000 for storage bags and containers, cold-shipping packages, and refrigeration. Commercial shipping, excess baggage fees, and ice are authorized on top of that amount.
• How to claim: the authorization must be on your orders before you spend anything. Keep receipts for every expense, even those under $75.

Ask your travel office to add the breast milk authorization when your orders are written. Final decisions rest with your service and travel office.

Know the limits

FedEx doesn't serve APO, FPO, or DPO addresses, or shipboard and field locations without a commercial street address. If you're stationed somewhere like that, call a nearby FedEx location ahead of time and ask whether it will accept and hold the package for pickup.

Thank you for your service

Whether you served then or serve now, your family's sacrifices matter. Active-duty families can claim the Milk Stork military discount before their next TDY.

Frequently asked questions

Can veterans use the Milk Stork military discount?

The discount is for active-duty service members and military spouses who sign up with a .mil email address.

Do I need dry ice to ship frozen breast milk?

No. Milk Stork coolers use vacuum-insulated panels that keep milk frozen for up to 96 hours without dry ice.

How much breast milk can I ship at once?

The Stash Shipper holds up to 180 oz of frozen milk, about thirty 6-oz bags.

Will military movers transport frozen breast milk during a PCS?

No. Household goods shipments don't carry perishables. Ship your milk with a Milk Stork cooler, or carry it yourself in the Stash Mover.

When do I need to request breast milk reimbursement?

Before you travel. The authorization must be on your orders before you incur any expense.

Milk Stork is a commercial company. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or a vendor of the Department of Defense. Travel entitlements can change, so confirm with your travel office before incurring expenses.