Q. I retired from the Army after 18 months of military service at age 22 because of combat wounds. I retired from a nonprofit and went to work for the government at age 56. I am now 62 and have eight years of federal service (executive agency), including depositing the 18-month military buyback. At what age and number of federal service years am I eligible to retire and receive medical benefits as a retiree?
A. You could retire now if you wanted to. Any federal employee with five years of service can do that. As for medical benefits, there aren’t any, regardless of age and service. However, if you have been enrolled in the Federal Employees Health Benefits program for the five consecutive years before you retire, you could carry that coverage into retirement.
