Military time?

Echo_Whiskey Junior Member

Trying to get a better understanding of how my military time might carry over to a Federal job. I've been told that it does not count towards retirement but that you could buy back your time at whatever rate and it would. Is this right?

I was also told that military time counts towards seniority. For example say I, who has 9 years in the military, and someone off the street start working on the same day I will be considered senior to that person in regards to selecting days off and what not. Does this sound right as well?

GolfJuliet F*** Terrorism

I'm pretty sure it is. I've read that that's how it works on here somewhere before.

Echo_Whiskey Junior Member

Well I was told this was true by a buddy but would like to see it in writing. Does anyone know where this might be covered?

Matty13 Senior Member

The military time you buy back affects your pension, but does not affect the date on which you retire. Say you can retire after 25 years in the FAA, your nine years military (that you bought back) makes your pension payments the same as if you had 34 years in.

Military time is used as a tie-breaker. If an OTS was hired the day before you were, they are senior to you. If it was the same day, you are senior. You'll also be senior to any VRA hire with less military time than you hired on the same day.

Matty13 Senior Member

This page will help with the buying back of time, the seniority is determined by NATCA.
https://employees.faa.gov/employee_services/retirement/

Roddy_Piper Resident Knucklehead Vegas baby

and military time counts toward time in the agency in the sense of leave. if you have 6 years military time, u have 6 years of federal time. after 3 years of federal time you get 6 hours annual leave per pay period, instead of just 4 hours. on day 1 off the FAA you'll be earning 6 hours of annual leave.

military time is like the 3rd tie-breaker for seniority. as already stated...it's added to your retirement only if you buy it back. you have 2 years to buy it back before you start paying interest on it. BUY IT BACK!! it's a no-brainer.

for me I paid $4,000-ish for 7 1/2 years of military time.

Echo_Whiskey Junior Member

2 years from my start date? What do you mean "pay interest"?

Roddy_Piper Resident Knucklehead Vegas baby

yes, 2 years from your start date
if u take more than 2 years to pay it off, u pay interest on the remaining balance.

right off of federalretirement.net:
"For FERS employees, the military deposit equals 3% of military base pay, plus the applicable interest. There is a 2-year interest-free grace period on all military deposits. After the 2-year grace period interest is accrued and compounded annually. The interest rate is an annual variable rate."

Echo_Whiskey Junior Member

Awesome, that's the link I was looking for. Thanks again.

RdRunnr12 Site Editor

Quick question for ya'll. I keep reading this and trying to tell my dad that he might be able to do this.

Here's the story, He's a retired E-8 with 22 years of service. He has been a DOD civilian (gs 13) for the last 10 years and is planning on working until retirement age. Would he be able to buy it back, and is it worth it?

He said he would have to pay like $18k to buy it back, but that seems like a small amount considering he would be adding 22% to his pention. That is how it works, yes?

Thanks for your input guys....and for your service to our country.