Can someone ETS, get a GS job, and still retire at 20 years, like they would if they had stayed in the military?

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 12 May 2021 09:28:31 -0400

Can someone who is prior service ETS, get a GS job and retire at 20 years like they would in the military?

Response by SrA John Monette made May 12 at 2021 9:34 AM

SrA John Monette — Wed, 12 May 2021 09:34:58 -0400

i did 4 years active, coming up on 14 years civilian for a total of 18 years and can retire before i hit 60. probably won't though

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 12 at 2021 9:55 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 12 May 2021 09:55:46 -0400

Is there a minimum retirement age? From my reading it seems that it is 57 or 50 but with reduced benefits? Is there any truth to this- the material was a bit vague.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made May 12 at 2021 10:09 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 12 May 2021 10:09:28 -0400

Kind of. I am a GS employee and a Reservist with over 18 years active time. If I get the last 2 active years and collect an immediate retirement I can't buy back my military time. If I don't I can count that time for both a reserve military retirement and my civilian retirement. You can look up all the calculations on what benefits you and your situation more.

Being an Civilian is awesome and being a Reservist is tolerable.

Best of luck, let me know if you have more questions.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made May 12 at 2021 11:38 AM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Wed, 12 May 2021 11:38:22 -0400

I was a commander at DFAS-Indianapolis. I befriended a person who was in charge of an internship program at DFAS that led to GS-11 positions in a couple years and would put them on the fast track to GS-12. If they were good GS-13 was a real possibility. As the commander I took note of the finance NCOs who retired. If I admired them professionally and personally I told them to stop by the office.

I smiled and told them how impressed I was with them professionally and personally. I proceeded to tell them I was putting them into the internship program. They were stunned, floored, and thankful. I had the power to make one phone call that would transform a person’s life by giving them an opportunity they would otherwise have not gotten. I loved having that power, and I loved helping the male and female studs who worked for me. I told them I don't want anything in return except one thing. Help someone else.

Damn I was a nice person! Lol :)

Response by SP5 Peter Keane made May 12 at 2021 12:48 PM

SP5 Peter Keane — Wed, 12 May 2021 12:48:55 -0400

Rather than getting 50 different answers, look it up here : https://www.opm.gov/retirement-services/fers-information/

FERS Information

Welcome to opm.gov

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made May 12 at 2021 2:59 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 12 May 2021 14:59:43 -0400

No, you won't draw a pension at 20 years like you would retiring from the military. There's other factors that go into it, but there is a minimum retirement age for federal retirement

Response by CSM Darieus ZaGara made May 12 at 2021 3:05 PM

CSM Darieus ZaGara — Wed, 12 May 2021 15:05:45 -0400

You are able to but back your service and place it towards your Federal retirement. While it will credit you and enable to to retire at 20 if you choose the percentage of retirement is not comparable to the military. The majority of Feds, Non Law Enforcemnt and specialty fields draw only 1.1 percent. It is by any standard a good deal, in the private sector your military time would be a loss.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made May 12 at 2021 3:30 PM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 12 May 2021 15:30:21 -0400

I believe GS jobs fall under the rule of 80. (Age + Years of service) and have a minimum age limit.
https://www.opm.gov/retirement-services/fers-information/eligibility

Eligibility

Welcome to opm.gov

Response by Lt Col Jim Coe made May 14 at 2021 6:27 PM

Lt Col Jim Coe — Fri, 14 May 2021 18:27:18 -0400

The OPM web page has answers about civil service retirement and veteran status. In general terms, civil service retirement is 1% per year of civil service employment multiplied by the average of your high-three years of salary. You may be able to convert your military service into "Federal Service" so those years count toward civil service retirement.
http://www.opm.gov

U.S. Office of Personnel Management - www.OPM.gov

OPM works in several broad categories to recruit, retain and honor a world-class workforce for the American people.