Q. I am a retired officer, age 64, and have been a federal employee for two years. I paid a deposit for three years, 11 months credit for time attending a service academy. Am I eligible to retire now with five years, 11 months of service, or do I have to actually be a federal employee for five years and then add the academy time? Not planning on retiring now. Just want to know the facts.
A. You cannot retire until you are vested in the retirement system, which requires that you have five full years of actual FERS service.
