Posted on Apr 10, 2019
LT R B
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Has anyone "bought back" their military time after gaining federal civilian employment? What are the benefits? Does it make sense to buy back 4 years if I don't plan on staying employed by the feds for more than a couple years?
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Responses: 16
CAPT Kevin B.
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Edited >1 y ago
You already answered your question. If you are not going to obtain a CS retirement (FERS), why pay for it? However, I took the long road buying 10 years of credit in '86 and working for 32 years after. The $10K I paid back then is paying out $13K each year like clockwork. If you are doing TSP, when you leave it'll still grow and you can move it at 59 1/2 or tap it at 60.

BTW if you later go back into CS for the long haul, you can still buy it, but there will be a nominal interest charge (Treasury Rate).
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LT R B
LT R B
>1 y
Thank you for your response, I will look into FERS details to see if I can recoup the cost (~$5k right now) later if I qualify for FERS
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SPC Jacqueline Brunson-Scott
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Yes I bought back my military time. I worked 7 years for the federal government and winded up medically retiring from the federal government so buying back my military time helped as far as retired pay and also leave accrual before retiring.
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LT R B
LT R B
>1 y
Does the 7 years include your military time? When do the benefits kick in and if they’re active currently what process did you go through to make it so? Thanks
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SPC Jacqueline Brunson-Scott
SPC Jacqueline Brunson-Scott
>1 y
The 7 years as a civil service employee was in addition to the 11 years of military service I bought back. I received a certificate for 15 years federal service three years before I medically retired! I started collecting OPM disability benefits effective the following month after I retired.
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SPC Jacqueline Brunson-Scott
SPC Jacqueline Brunson-Scott
>1 y
In other words, I was credited with 18 years of federal service when I medically retired from the DoD.
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SPC Jacqueline Brunson-Scott
SPC Jacqueline Brunson-Scott
>1 y
I draw a disability retirement check every month and I am also 100% service connected. I filed for SSDI and receive that as well so I would buy the military time back, you never know what the future holds and it benefitted me especially having to medically retire.
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SFC Retention Operations Nco
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I have friends that did it, but it was only to apply it to their federal retirement. I don't know of any other reason to do it.
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LT R B
LT R B
>1 y
Do you know anything about the process?
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SFC Retention Operations Nco
SFC (Join to see)
>1 y
LT R B I do not, but it is generally covered by someone at the transition brief
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LTC Ken Connolly
LTC Ken Connolly
>1 y
LT R B - Check w/ the nearest USG Civil Service office.
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