I'll jump in... first off, it was a volunteer only thing. You couldn't get a temp position unless you bid for it. It was done one month at a time. A lot of commuters would leave a standing temp bid every month, because you got positive space travel from home to whatever base you were temped to, and any hotels you needed as well. Temp guys bid for trips after all the in base block-holders.

I did temp reserve several times in other bases and it was nice because I'd get positive space to the base, and a nice hotel to sit in while I waited for a trip assignment. I also got per diem from when I let home until I got back, whether I got a trip or not.