Q. I have 28 years of active-duty service in the Navy. I am on terminal leave and just started working as a civilian federal employee. Can I buy back my military service while on terminal leave to get credit in the federal service without losing my military retirement once my terminal leave is over and I am fully retired from the military?
A. You can make a deposit to get credit for your active-duty service at any time. If you do, it will have no affect on your military retired pay while you are a federal civilian employee. You would only need to waive that pay when you are ready to retire from your civilian employment.
