Q. I’m new to the federal system and would like to asses my options.
1. I have spent 14 years and about 10 months on active duty in the Armhy plus some reserve time. I understand reserve time is not computed on military buyback. What is the maximum years that I can sell back?
2. I was hired by ICE at the age of 38. How does that factor in for retirement purposes — mandatory retirement age for an ICE covered agent?
3. If I sell my military time, do my leave and sick hours change to match those of service dates of one with close to 15 years of federal service?
4. How do I access such information? I have asked around and no one knows. The only thing I found is a FERS pamphlet PDF dated 1986 about the percentages for retirement.
A. 1. There is no limit on the number of years of active duty service for which you can make a deposit.
2. As a rule, if you are hired into a covered position, you’d be allowed to continue working until you completed 20 years of service, and then be mandatorily retired.
3. As a nonretired member of the armed forces, you’ll get full credit for your active-duty service in determining your annual leave accrual rate. The sick leave accrual rate for all employees is the same — four hours per biweekly pay period.
4. Information about all aspects of civilian employment and its interaction with active-duty service will be found at www.opm.gov. You’ll just have to dig around to find what you need.
