Q: I read your Q&As and found the answer I was looking for, but with one variable missing. I see that active-duty years cannot count toward the 25-year retirement from federal firefighting without being called to active duty while in a covered position. What if all of your active-duty years were as a firefighter — does that make a difference? My question comes from the fact that my Total Workforce Management System early retirement date would only be possible if my active years counted. I have bought back my years.
A: No, it doesn’t make a difference. Your active-duty time as a firefighter can’t be treated as covered service for retirement purposes under the special provision.
2 Comments
I am being medically retired from military service with a “permanently retired” rating of 70%. I am retiring under Special Provisions Disability Retirement as MilTech. VA rating 90%. I have active duty service I was buying back into FERS. I am told I cannot continue to buy back or write a check for the remaining amount based on what my orders say. Is this true and why? It’s a substantially different sum if I buy back my time. I was told that I will be refunded the sum I have already bought back.
Retirement type and allotment code: Permanent/12
Component: ARNG
Authority: AR 635-40
Statute authorizing retirement: 1204
Other eligible laws: Not Applicable
Disability retirement: 13 Year(s), 09 Month(s), 05 Day(s)
Basic Pay: 18 Year(s), 00 Month(s), 15 Day(s)
Completed over 4 years of active service as Enl or WO: N/A
Disability is based on injury or disease received in LOD as a direct result of Armed Conflict or caused by an instrumentality of war and incurred in the LOD during a war period as defined by law: YES
Member of an armed force on 24 Sep 75: NO
Disability resulted from a combat related injury as defined in 26 USC 104: YES
Disability incurred in the line of duty in a combat zone or result of performing combat related operations YES
Format: 687
I’m not aware of anything that would prevent you from making a deposit to get credit for your active duty service.