Military Service

You may purchase up to 60 months of active duty United States military service credit.

Requirements

• You must not be eligible for a military retirement based on 20 or more years of active military duty or its equivalent.
• Your military discharge must not be dishonorable.
• ERS needs a copy of your military service record (such as your DD214 or NGB23).

If you purchase this service during your first year of employment with the State, you will avoid paying interest; however, this service will not be counted as creditable service until you have worked for the State for five years. After your first year of employment, 10 percent interest will apply for each fiscal year (on September 1) from the date of employment to the purchase date.

Purchased military service will be included in the calculation of an active employee's death benefit and in the calculation of an annuity for an occupational disability retirement.

Called to active duty

If you have already purchased 60 months of military service but have been called to active duty again while working as a state employee, you may purchase additional military service credit for your military duty. If approved, the service can be purchased using the same cost and interest guidelines as described above.

However, if you are on "extended leave" during the time of your military duty, your agency may continue to pay you the difference between your military salary and your state salary. Six percent of your state paycheck will continue to be deducted for your retirement account, and you will be granted service credit for those months of active duty.