Q. I am 46 years old. I have 18 years with the U.S. Marshals Service as a criminal investigator. I also have 6½ years with the Army. At 48, I will fulfill my 20 years of covered federal law enforcement time. Do my additional years in the military put me through the 25-year window and allow me to retire at 48 with full benefits, or do I still have to wait until I am 50?
A. You have to have 20 years of actual covered service to retire at age 50. Neither active duty nor noncovered service can be used to meet that requirement.
