Our Military Life Blog

Earn Rewards for Dining Out!

The DoD Dine Smart program is a preferred dining initiative of the Defense Travel Management Office, which allows military service and civilian Department of Defense (DoD) travelers to earn rewards when dining at participating restaurants during official travel.

How It Works:

  • Traveler Rewards: Service members and civilians can sign up to earn reward points for every dollar spent at participating restaurants.
  • Redeem Points: Points can be exchanged for gift cards at popular retailers and restaurants.
  • Mobile App: The Dinova mobile app helps travelers find participating restaurants and track rewards.

Signing up for the DoD Dine Smart Traveler Rewards program is quick and easy! Here’s how you can enroll:

  1. Visit the Enrollment Page – Go to Dinova to register with myDinova Rewards.
  2. Link Your Travel Card – During registration, connect your Government Travel Charge Card (GTCC) to the program.
  3. Download the Dinova Mobile App – Use the app to find participating restaurants and track your rewards.
  4. Start Earning Points – Every time you dine at a participating restaurant and pay with your GTCC, you’ll earn 1 point per $1 spent.
  5. Redeem Rewards – Points can be exchanged for gift cards from retailers like Amazon, Target, Outback Steakhouse, and Jersey Mike’s.

You can find DoD Dine Smart participating restaurants in a few ways:

  1. Dinova Mobile App – Download the Dinova app to search for restaurants near you. The app is DISA-approved for DoD-issued devices.
  2. Online Search Tool – Visit Dinova’s restaurant search to browse over 23,000 participating locations.
  3. Defense Travel Management Office Website – Check the official DoD Dine Smart page for program details and updates.

While using DoD Dine Smart restaurants is not mandatory, travelers must use their GTCC for all expenses, including meals, per Joint Travel Regulations (JTR) §010204.

Find Out More with MyMilitarySavings.com and Finance!

Charlie Marlow

With over 22 years of active-duty Air Force experience in military pay and travel entitlements, Charlie Marlow brings his extensive knowledge of military finance with his passion to help others reach their financial goals through common sense financial practices. Charlie holds a BS in Business Finance from Liberty University, is an Accredited Financial Counselor®, a Dave Ramsey trained Financial Coach, and co-founder, administrator, and frequent contributor to the Facebook group Military Money Matters. He still supports the Air Force and DoD as a contractor budget analyst at the Pentagon. When not writing or helping others create a personal financial plan, you can find him cycling around the National Capitol Region or enjoying classic TV shows.