Problems Buying Back Service Academy Time for Federal Retirement

Writer_12_VA

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After I got out, I started working a Federal job. I requested from DFAS my military earnings, which all they requested was my DD-214 and USNA transcripts to verify service. They sent me one for my USNA time and another for my commissioned time. I submitted these to HR but there was a problem. My HR folks at first did not believe this time was allowed to be bought back. However, as outlined in Section 1115 of the 2008 NDAA, this law finally codified this practice as allowed. Several other OPM decisions like this one:


Clarified the point further that this is a long settled issue by OPM.

After convincing them this time can be bought back, they are now refusing to process my deposit because I do not have a DD-214 for my Academy time. They refuse to accept transcripts as proof of service because "it does not show character of service and being paid by the Navy means nothing."

If any of my fellow grads who bought back their Academy time, what documentation did you all give your HR department? As far as I am aware, USNA definitely doesn't give DD-214s and I believe none of the other ones do either.
 
We have had two USNA midshipman sponsor family alumni do this seamlessly, AD fleet time plus USNA time. One is working for DoD, the other an ABC agency. But it’s been a long time ago and they probably don’t remember.

Contact the USNA Registrar by phone and ask for their advice and help. They do create DD-214s for midshipmen who separate voluntarily or involuntarily. Perhaps there is a document they can create that will serve? Perhaps they might be willing to get on the phone or email with your HR contact? They are feds too, but they know who you are and the USNA specifics.


410-293-6383
If this gets ugly - and you earned that option, and it has long been settled by OPM - you can consider going nuclear with:

- Formal complaint or IG complaint within your agency.
- Write your MOC and use your constituent services route to request an inquiry. They must respond, and that will go to your agency head and must be replied to after an investigation. Guaranteed to annoy people.

Now, let’s hope others will pop up with The Solution.

This is where some feds contribute to their bureaucratic reputation, sadly.
 
If you don’t get an answer within the next day or two, I will ask tomorrow and hopefully have you an answer by the end of the week. I know a couple in my group that are air force and naval academy grads. I can see if they remember. When you get to 5 post, might be easier to communicate via private message on this issue. Then we can put out a blanket statement on how you resolved your issue if anyone else has your same question in the future.
 
We have had two USNA midshipman sponsor family alumni do this seamlessly, AD fleet time plus USNA time. One is working for DoD, the other an ABC agency. But it’s been a long time ago and they probably don’t remember.

Contact the USNA Registrar by phone and ask for their advice and help. They do create DD-214s for midshipmen who separate voluntarily or involuntarily. Perhaps there is a document they can create that will serve? Perhaps they might be willing to get on the phone or email with your HR contact? They are feds too, but they know who you are and the USNA specifics.


410-293-6383
If this gets ugly - and you earned that option, and it has long been settled by OPM - you can consider going nuclear with:

- Formal complaint or IG complaint within your agency.
- Write your MOC and use your constituent services route to request an inquiry. They must respond, and that will go to your agency head and must be replied to after an investigation. Guaranteed to annoy people.

Now, let’s hope others will pop up with The Solution.

This is where some feds contribute to their bureaucratic reputation, sadly.
Thank you for the advice. I will say I did reach out to the head of Midshipmen personnel, an active-duty Warrant Officer, and asked this very question. He said they don't do that nor have other documentation they could provide me. I have no problem going high and right considering this is no longer a grey area. I am waiting to hear back from HR again next week who promised to "research" it and get back to me.
 
If you don’t get an answer within the next day or two, I will ask tomorrow and hopefully have you an answer by the end of the week. I know a couple in my group that are air force and naval academy grads. I can see if they remember. When you get to 5 post, might be easier to communicate via private message on this issue. Then we can put out a blanket statement on how you resolved your issue if anyone else has your same question in the future.
I would greatly appreciate that. I also would like to get to the bottom of this to help other vets. I already told my agency's Employee Resource Council that we need a policy for this especially considering military retirees and National Guard/Reservists have even murkier rules than just straight up buying back Academy time.

If you could reach out to your friends that would be awesome since I am trying to be prepared for my meeting with HR next week when they issue their supposed final decision.
 
Thank you for the advice. I will say I did reach out to the head of Midshipmen personnel, an active-duty Warrant Officer, and asked this very question. He said they don't do that nor have other documentation they could provide me. I have no problem going high and right considering this is no longer a grey area. I am waiting to hear back from HR again next week who promised to "research" it and get back to me.
I would still call the Registrar, with your “fellow Fed colleague and USNA alumni hat” on. You have left Midshipman Personnel far behind you now.


And -
Have you researched this from the DFAS end?

 
Last edited:
First time usage of this word for me on SAF: Eureka!

DFAS website, what documents are accepted as proof of military service, and what data elements are required, in addition to the DD-214.


I hope this is helpful. I find working backward from the actual money handlers is often a better way to problem-solve than wading through OPM or agency/department directives. The money people know what they want to see.
 
First time usage of this word for me on SAF: Eureka!

DFAS website, what documents are accepted as proof of military service, and what data elements are required, in addition to the DD-214.


I hope this is helpful. I find working backward from the actual money handlers is often a better way to problem-solve than wading through OPM or agency/department directives. The money people know what they want to see.
Not only are you a problem solver, you went almost 1,000 years into the future for the answer!

1729740981504.jpeg
 
First time usage of this word for me on SAF: Eureka!

DFAS website, what documents are accepted as proof of military service, and what data elements are required, in addition to the DD-214.


I hope this is helpful. I find working backward from the actual money handlers is often a better way to problem-solve than wading through OPM or agency/department directives. The money people know what they want to see.
I didn’t write this clearly enough - I did not mean to imply you need the DD-214 AND other docs, but what docs would suffice.
 
I didn’t write this clearly enough - I did not mean to imply you need the DD-214 AND other docs, but what docs would suffice.
Thank you for this. I will definitely send it their way. As far as contacting personnel, I only spoke to Midshipmen Personnel since the military personnel office could not help me and said to try them. I will wait to see if they want anything else, potentially like a letter, and reach back out to the Registrar after they get back to me next week.
 
After I got out, I started working a Federal job. I requested from DFAS my military earnings, which all they requested was my DD-214 and USNA transcripts to verify service. They sent me one for my USNA time and another for my commissioned time. I submitted these to HR but there was a problem. My HR folks at first did not believe this time was allowed to be bought back. However, as outlined in Section 1115 of the 2008 NDAA, this law finally codified this practice as allowed. Several other OPM decisions like this one:


Clarified the point further that this is a long settled issue by OPM.

After convincing them this time can be bought back, they are now refusing to process my deposit because I do not have a DD-214 for my Academy time. They refuse to accept transcripts as proof of service because "it does not show character of service and being paid by the Navy means nothing."

If any of my fellow grads who bought back their Academy time, what documentation did you all give your HR department? As far as I am aware, USNA definitely doesn't give DD-214s and I believe none of the other ones do either.
Just to follow up, I am still waiting on an answer on what was used for the document for service academy time that was submitted to our HR. He is unsure what document he submitted to show the credit. From what I gather from your original post, you might be at step 2 of below. Not sure if you filled out the forms SF 2803(CSRS)/SF 3108(FERS) and SF 2803/3108A after receiving the estimated military earnings. But pending which retirement you fall under, those forms 2803 or 3108 have phone numbers to call if you have questions regarding documents to send. This might be a good place to start. Below I just copied and pasted from our HR page.

Military service for federal retirement purposes is any honorable active service in the following uniformed services:
· United States Army

· United States Navy

· United States Air Force

· United States Marine Corps

· United States Coast Guard

· Commissioned Corps of the Public Health Service,

· Corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Active duty in the various reserve components of the branches listed above is creditable. (NOTE: when you perform annual active duty training service during which you are on military leave with pay from a civilian position, the period is credited as civilian, not military, service.)

Full time National Guard duty is not creditable for federal retirement purposes unless you were ordered to active duty in the service of the United States or the service interrupts creditable civilian service and is followed by reemployment on or after August 1, 1990.

A period of military service may be credited for retirement and death benefits purposes, subject to the following conditions:

· The military service was performed before the date of separation upon which title to an annuity is based;

· It was active duty;

· It was not included in the computation of military retired pay*, or if it was included in retired pay, the retired pay was awarded based on disability incurred in combat with an enemy of the United States or caused by an instrumentality of war and incurred in the line of duty during a period of war; or granted under the provisions of Chapter 1223, Title 10, of the U.S. Code (Reserve or National Guard retirement);

· It was honorable service;

· A deposit is made for Post-56 military service. (CSRS employees that was hired after 10.1.82 and FERS employee )

*You can elect to waive the retired pay and have the military service added to your civilian service in computing your annuity. Click here for more information.

Computation Rules:

Under the CSRS rules:

· The deposit equals 7% of base pay for periods of service prior to 1999 and after 2000.

· The deposit equals 7.25% of base pay for periods of service performed during 1999.

· The deposit equals 7.4% of base pay for periods of service performed during 2000.

· If you are not eligible for Social Security at age 62, no deposit is required for the military service performed on or after 01-01-1957.

· If you are first hired on or after 10-01-1982, a deposit is required regardless if eligible for Social Security. Note: OPM will check with Social Security for eligibility the year that you turn age 62 or at retirement, if later.

Under the FERS rules:

· The deposit equals 3% of base pay for periods of service prior to 1999 and after 2000.

· The deposit equals 3.25% of base pay for periods of service performed during 1999.

· The deposit equals 3.4% of base pay for periods of service performed during 2000.

· A deposit must be paid to receive retirement credit.

The Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA) covers persons who perform duty in the “uniformed services”. This includes not only the armed forces and the reserves but also the National Guard and the commissioned corps of the Public Health Service.

If the military service falls under the provisions of the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA), the deposit is the lesser of the applicable percentages of military base pay, or the amount of the retirement contributions you would have paid if you had worked instead of being on active military duty.

(NOTE: Base pay does not include allowances.)

Interest Accrual:

Under CSRS rules, the earliest interest begins to accrue is 10-01-1986 or 2 years after you are reemployed into a CSRS position.

Under FERS rules, the earliest interest begins to accrue is 01-01-1989 or your second anniversary of entry into a FERS position.

Variable rates of interest are assessed. Click here for the interest rates. No interest is charged if you pay the deposit in full before the first interest accrual date (IAD).

Military Deposit Process:

Step 1.

Complete the RI 20-97, Estimated Earnings During Military Service, and mail it to the appropriate (direction on RI20-97 page 2) with all DD Forms 214 or official documents. In order to receive credit for any military service, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) will require the DD214 or official documents to reflect “Honorable or Under Honorable Condition” for the discharge characterization. If you do not have the DD 214 that reflects such characterization, you can request a copy as provided in bullet four below.

· If your military service is USERRA, you will need to specify periods of military service when you were on paid leave from your civilian position (military leave, annual leave, credit hour or compensatory time).

· U.S. Air Force Reservists with USERRA service will need to take the RI 20-97 to their Reserve unit to get the estimated military earnings if they had periods of paid leave during the military service, or if they are documenting the military service with certified military orders (AF Form 938 or equivalent) instead of DD form 214.

· If you have service with more than one branch of the military, you will need to complete a separate RI 20-97 for each and mail to the appropriate military finance office.

· To request a copy of DD Form 214, you have three options:

a. On line at evetRecs, http://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records/index.html, OR

b. Via fax from the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) at 314.801.9195, OR

c. Mail request to: NPRC (Military Personnel Records), 1 Archive Drive, St Louis, MO 53138

Step 2.

Upon receipt of the estimated military earnings, complete the SF 2803(CSRS)/SF 3108(FERS) and SF 2803/3108A, Application to Make Service Credit Payment.

Mail the application along with the completed RI 20-97 and Member-4 copy of your DD form 214 to *******

Step 3.

HRSE will receive the application, review for accuracy, calculate the amount of the military deposit and provide you payment options.
Note: Military Service Deposits must be paid in full prior to the date of separation or retirement.
 
Just to follow up, I am still waiting on an answer on what was used for the document for service academy time that was submitted to our HR. He is unsure what document he submitted to show the credit. From what I gather from your original post, you might be at step 2 of below. Not sure if you filled out the forms SF 2803(CSRS)/SF 3108(FERS) and SF 2803/3108A after receiving the estimated military earnings. But pending which retirement you fall under, those forms 2803 or 3108 have phone numbers to call if you have questions regarding documents to send. This might be a good place to start. Below I just copied and pasted from our HR page.

Military service for federal retirement purposes is any honorable active service in the following uniformed services:
· United States Army

· United States Navy

· United States Air Force

· United States Marine Corps

· United States Coast Guard

· Commissioned Corps of the Public Health Service,

· Corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Active duty in the various reserve components of the branches listed above is creditable. (NOTE: when you perform annual active duty training service during which you are on military leave with pay from a civilian position, the period is credited as civilian, not military, service.)

Full time National Guard duty is not creditable for federal retirement purposes unless you were ordered to active duty in the service of the United States or the service interrupts creditable civilian service and is followed by reemployment on or after August 1, 1990.

A period of military service may be credited for retirement and death benefits purposes, subject to the following conditions:

· The military service was performed before the date of separation upon which title to an annuity is based;

· It was active duty;

· It was not included in the computation of military retired pay*, or if it was included in retired pay, the retired pay was awarded based on disability incurred in combat with an enemy of the United States or caused by an instrumentality of war and incurred in the line of duty during a period of war; or granted under the provisions of Chapter 1223, Title 10, of the U.S. Code (Reserve or National Guard retirement);

· It was honorable service;

· A deposit is made for Post-56 military service. (CSRS employees that was hired after 10.1.82 and FERS employee )

*You can elect to waive the retired pay and have the military service added to your civilian service in computing your annuity. Click here for more information.

Computation Rules:

Under the CSRS rules:

· The deposit equals 7% of base pay for periods of service prior to 1999 and after 2000.

· The deposit equals 7.25% of base pay for periods of service performed during 1999.

· The deposit equals 7.4% of base pay for periods of service performed during 2000.

· If you are not eligible for Social Security at age 62, no deposit is required for the military service performed on or after 01-01-1957.

· If you are first hired on or after 10-01-1982, a deposit is required regardless if eligible for Social Security. Note: OPM will check with Social Security for eligibility the year that you turn age 62 or at retirement, if later.

Under the FERS rules:

· The deposit equals 3% of base pay for periods of service prior to 1999 and after 2000.

· The deposit equals 3.25% of base pay for periods of service performed during 1999.

· The deposit equals 3.4% of base pay for periods of service performed during 2000.

· A deposit must be paid to receive retirement credit.

The Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA) covers persons who perform duty in the “uniformed services”. This includes not only the armed forces and the reserves but also the National Guard and the commissioned corps of the Public Health Service.

If the military service falls under the provisions of the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA), the deposit is the lesser of the applicable percentages of military base pay, or the amount of the retirement contributions you would have paid if you had worked instead of being on active military duty.

(NOTE: Base pay does not include allowances.)

Interest Accrual:

Under CSRS rules, the earliest interest begins to accrue is 10-01-1986 or 2 years after you are reemployed into a CSRS position.

Under FERS rules, the earliest interest begins to accrue is 01-01-1989 or your second anniversary of entry into a FERS position.

Variable rates of interest are assessed. Click here for the interest rates. No interest is charged if you pay the deposit in full before the first interest accrual date (IAD).

Military Deposit Process:

Step 1.

Complete the RI 20-97, Estimated Earnings During Military Service, and mail it to the appropriate (direction on RI20-97 page 2) with all DD Forms 214 or official documents. In order to receive credit for any military service, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) will require the DD214 or official documents to reflect “Honorable or Under Honorable Condition” for the discharge characterization. If you do not have the DD 214 that reflects such characterization, you can request a copy as provided in bullet four below.

· If your military service is USERRA, you will need to specify periods of military service when you were on paid leave from your civilian position (military leave, annual leave, credit hour or compensatory time).

· U.S. Air Force Reservists with USERRA service will need to take the RI 20-97 to their Reserve unit to get the estimated military earnings if they had periods of paid leave during the military service, or if they are documenting the military service with certified military orders (AF Form 938 or equivalent) instead of DD form 214.

· If you have service with more than one branch of the military, you will need to complete a separate RI 20-97 for each and mail to the appropriate military finance office.

· To request a copy of DD Form 214, you have three options:

a. On line at evetRecs, http://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records/index.html, OR

b. Via fax from the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) at 314.801.9195, OR

c. Mail request to: NPRC (Military Personnel Records), 1 Archive Drive, St Louis, MO 53138

Step 2.

Upon receipt of the estimated military earnings, complete the SF 2803(CSRS)/SF 3108(FERS) and SF 2803/3108A, Application to Make Service Credit Payment.

Mail the application along with the completed RI 20-97 and Member-4 copy of your DD form 214 to *******

Step 3.

HRSE will receive the application, review for accuracy, calculate the amount of the military deposit and provide you payment options.
Note: Military Service Deposits must be paid in full prior to the date of separation or retirement.
That is correct. I am at step 2 where I already received my earnings certificates from DFAS, whom gave me zero problems, and now HR is holding onto it since they claim I need the proper documentation of my time at USNA. I did send the DFAS link to my HR folks Capt MJ provided and they seemed receptive to the information. I did not realize there was a number on the 3108 form (I fall under FERS) so I may call them pending what HR says next week.
 
That is correct. I am at step 2 where I already received my earnings certificates from DFAS, whom gave me zero problems, and now HR is holding onto it since they claim I need the proper documentation of my time at USNA. I did send the DFAS link to my HR folks Capt MJ provided and they seemed receptive to the information. I did not realize there was a number on the 3108 form (I fall under FERS) so I may call them pending what HR says next week.
If it’s determined you need a letter from USNA, the way you do that is draft the body of it yourself with required elements, pre-grease it with a contact in Registrar’s office, send the draft, they will format and edit in Navy letter style on USNA letterhead with the appropriate official signing it. As XO, I used to sign all kinds of verification of military service documents. Determine if HR wants an original signed hard copy direct to them or will take a PDF.

Keep us posted! Great learning point for others. You were smart to crowd source this.
 
If it’s determined you need a letter from USNA, the way you do that is draft the body of it yourself with required elements, pre-grease it with a contact in Registrar’s office, send the draft, they will format and edit in Navy letter style on USNA letterhead with the appropriate official signing it. As XO, I used to sign all kinds of verification of military service documents. Determine if HR wants an original signed hard copy direct to them or will take a PDF.

Keep us posted! Great learning point for others. You were smart to crowd source this.
Will do! God willing everything goes well next week when I post an update I will also include the links to each USC, CFR, the 2008 NDAA, FERS Handbook, and relevant OPM case law I sent to HR so others can use as a reference.
 
I have a question regarding credible service computation that is not related to the Service Academies but thought you might be able to point me in the right direction.

I served in the USAR for seven years (2000-2007, not concurrent with federal civilian service) with a 15-month deployment to Iraq, then served 7+ years in the Regular Army (2007-2014). When I discharged from the Active Army, I re-entered the USAR and began civilian work with the Department of the VA. I have bought back my 8+ years of active-duty time (Regular Army and Activation for Iraqi Freedom) and am now about 15 months from my 20 year mark with the VA. I read in the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) and Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) Handbook for Personnel and Payroll Office, Chapter 22A2.2 that "the annual 15-day training camp or cruise which reservists are called upon to attend (and for which they receive pay and allowances) is active duty and, therefore, creditable for CSRS purposes."

I have not bought back any annual training duty that I performed in 2000-2007. It should be worth 3-4 months, which would allow me to retire with 20 years civilian service in December 2025 instead of April 2026. (There are reasons that I will not go into right now that this is advantageous to me.) The people in HR that I dealt with at my VA have generally told me that this time is not credible. Essentially, they said that if there is not a DD214, it is not credible service. For those unfamiliar with the reserves, no DD214 is issued for annual training. Only orders and LES. The documents listed on the government website (I cannot remember the website, but it was linked in one of these posts) do not include annual training orders or LES's as proof of active-duty time. (I have LES's but no longer have the orders placing me on active duty for training. I'm not sure if those orders would be producible. )

Any suggestions or recommendations? I'm going to approach my HR again with the Chapter 22A2.2 citation, but I'd appreciate any help. It may seem like a lot of work for very little time, but like I said, it may very well be worth it.
 
Hi!

You need to get your annual point total printout (or the huge one of your career). The points are identified on that printout as "IDT" and "ADT." As you know, ADT is Title 10, IDT is Title 32, and traditional reserve/guard. I haven't looked at mine in a few years but I think it broke out ADT years, IDT years, etc.

Even if it doesn't, you'll have the days right there.

Best of luck!!
 
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