Defense Finance & Accounting Service, Office of the Under Secretary of Defense Comptroller
Defense Finance & Accounting Service, Office of the Under Secretary of Defense Comptroller
Posted on Feb 12, 2019
What proof did you provide to DFAS of active duty service in the Reserves?
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A question for Federal Civilian employees who had prior Reserve service, or someone who might be a SME (all others can skip this now):
The OPM guidelines for calculating your Service Computation Date say to include ALL active duty, including Active Duty for Training. For those who served on active duty for more than 90(I think) days, a DD-214 would be issued for that time period. Traditional Active Duty service members would get one DD-214 for the entire period of their service.
For those of us who served in the Reserve program, the only time we received a DD-214 was for active duty over 90 days that was not a school. I deployed twice and have two DD-214s to show for it.
In the Army Reserve, there were different classifications of “Active Duty” such as Annual Training (AT), Active Duty for Training (ADT) and Active duty for Special Work (ADSW). All of these should count toward prior service when calculating the Service Computation Date for a civilian employee. We know that “drills” are considered Inactive Duty for Training (IDT) and do not count towards prior service.
All the employee has to do is show proof. A DD-214 is clearly proof. The problem with this is that there is no central repository that contains proof of all of these types of active duty.
My question: If this applies to you, what proof did you provide to DFAS, other than the DD-214?
COL(Ret) Mike Freeman
The OPM guidelines for calculating your Service Computation Date say to include ALL active duty, including Active Duty for Training. For those who served on active duty for more than 90(I think) days, a DD-214 would be issued for that time period. Traditional Active Duty service members would get one DD-214 for the entire period of their service.
For those of us who served in the Reserve program, the only time we received a DD-214 was for active duty over 90 days that was not a school. I deployed twice and have two DD-214s to show for it.
In the Army Reserve, there were different classifications of “Active Duty” such as Annual Training (AT), Active Duty for Training (ADT) and Active duty for Special Work (ADSW). All of these should count toward prior service when calculating the Service Computation Date for a civilian employee. We know that “drills” are considered Inactive Duty for Training (IDT) and do not count towards prior service.
All the employee has to do is show proof. A DD-214 is clearly proof. The problem with this is that there is no central repository that contains proof of all of these types of active duty.
My question: If this applies to you, what proof did you provide to DFAS, other than the DD-214?
COL(Ret) Mike Freeman
Prior Service
Retirement
DoD Civilian
Edited 5 y ago
Posted 5 y ago
Responses: 6
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you can use your retirement points statement which you should receive on your anniversary date. it can be located in your Electronic file.
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1SG (Join to see)
COL Michael Freeman
Consider making contact with DFAS again, and refer them to the following:
According to AR 140-185 3-1, Records Source Documents
3–1. General
The Army Training Requirements and Resources System (ATRRS) training transcript, DD Form 214 (Certificate of Re-
lease or Discharge from Active Duty), DD Form 215 (Correction to DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge
from Active Duty), DD Form 220 (Active Duty Report), master military pay account, DFAS Form 702 (Defense Finance
and Accounting Service Military Leave and Earnings Statement), DA Form 1379 (U.S. Army Reserve Components Unit Record of Reserve Training), DA Form 1380 (Army Reserve Record of Individual Performance of Reserve Duty Training),
DA Form 5016, and the Reserve retirement repository are used to maintain and record the award and entitlement of retire-
ment points described in paragraphs 3–2 through 3–7. Units of assignment are responsible to ensure source documents are
uploaded into iPERMS prior to submission of action to adjust a Soldier’s retirement points. (See AR 600–8–104 for a
sample list of appropriate documentation.) This will ensure proper validation of retirement points throughout a Soldier’s
career.
AR 140-185 3–5. DA Form 5016
a. Purpose. These statements—
(1) Provide a permanent record of the total retirement points Soldiers earn during an anniversary year.
(2) Inform Soldiers whether they earned sufficient points for a qualifying year for retirement or retention in an active
status.
AR 135-180 states DA Form 5016 is sufficient for crediting military service. 2-6 c
Writing on my phone, so I couldn't easily review everything, but suggest reviewing the "Purpose," and "Responsibilities" sections for additional supporting reference.
All else fails, these references to their IG with a "DFAS improperly failed to award credit for active military service listed on DA Form 5106, in accordance with ...(regs above), for the purpose of ....(whatever the service credit is to be uses for).
Consider making contact with DFAS again, and refer them to the following:
According to AR 140-185 3-1, Records Source Documents
3–1. General
The Army Training Requirements and Resources System (ATRRS) training transcript, DD Form 214 (Certificate of Re-
lease or Discharge from Active Duty), DD Form 215 (Correction to DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge
from Active Duty), DD Form 220 (Active Duty Report), master military pay account, DFAS Form 702 (Defense Finance
and Accounting Service Military Leave and Earnings Statement), DA Form 1379 (U.S. Army Reserve Components Unit Record of Reserve Training), DA Form 1380 (Army Reserve Record of Individual Performance of Reserve Duty Training),
DA Form 5016, and the Reserve retirement repository are used to maintain and record the award and entitlement of retire-
ment points described in paragraphs 3–2 through 3–7. Units of assignment are responsible to ensure source documents are
uploaded into iPERMS prior to submission of action to adjust a Soldier’s retirement points. (See AR 600–8–104 for a
sample list of appropriate documentation.) This will ensure proper validation of retirement points throughout a Soldier’s
career.
AR 140-185 3–5. DA Form 5016
a. Purpose. These statements—
(1) Provide a permanent record of the total retirement points Soldiers earn during an anniversary year.
(2) Inform Soldiers whether they earned sufficient points for a qualifying year for retirement or retention in an active
status.
AR 135-180 states DA Form 5016 is sufficient for crediting military service. 2-6 c
Writing on my phone, so I couldn't easily review everything, but suggest reviewing the "Purpose," and "Responsibilities" sections for additional supporting reference.
All else fails, these references to their IG with a "DFAS improperly failed to award credit for active military service listed on DA Form 5106, in accordance with ...(regs above), for the purpose of ....(whatever the service credit is to be uses for).
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1SG (Join to see)
COL Michael Freeman
After further thought AR 140 - 185 paragraph 3-1 indicates that the DA form 5106 is equal to a DD Form 214 with regard to a record of service. Both are records source documents. in fact, while researching this I found a reference that I can't recall right now and I am away from my computer that listed orders as a secondary document, not as a source document. I believe it was an OPM document discussing credit for active military service.
After further thought AR 140 - 185 paragraph 3-1 indicates that the DA form 5106 is equal to a DD Form 214 with regard to a record of service. Both are records source documents. in fact, while researching this I found a reference that I can't recall right now and I am away from my computer that listed orders as a secondary document, not as a source document. I believe it was an OPM document discussing credit for active military service.
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COL Michael Freeman
Awesome. Thanks. I'm going to hope I don't need to go the IG route quite yet. There's a chance that when the HR Specialist's supervisor contacts me, like they promised, I can provide this type of guidance to "enlighten" them.
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CAPT Kevin B.
Nice reference which the Navy equivalent worked for the CS folk we hired. BTW, the credible service stops when they obtain their SCD, so they don't double dip the retirement accumulation. Everything up to that point is fair game. Back in the day, I bought 10 years of retirement credit for $10K which is easily paying me $13K/year now. Always be shrewd with what your earned. Now that you think you're home, expect that DFAS wonk to say We're DoD, not Army, and those regs/instructions don't mean anything. Good next step is to pull the string on the HR Financial Guru to go at it. They hate DFAS wonks worse than you do.
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I was Civil Service and National Guard. I used my LES to prove my Active Duty time.
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COL Michael Freeman
CW5 Jack Cardwell Thank you Chief. I have requested DFAS provide me a history of my LES (which should show active duty) activity for my 30 year career so that I can give that proof to DFAS to approve my Service Computation Date request. Not really sure how long that will take (the LES part) but I am hopeful.
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CW5 Jack Cardwell
COL Michael Freeman I was lucky, I had saved all my LESs since I was joined Active Army in 1974. Got rid of alot of them last year.
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This is a great question, as nobody I know has successfully applied for their AT time under the buyback program. In theory, a list of acceptable documents can be found on page 55 of the following OPM document: https://www.opm.gov/retirement-services/publications-forms/csrsfers-handbook/c023.pdf
Also note that Chap 22 covers creditable service, and clearly states that AT time is eligible. Good luck and let me know if it goes through.
Also note that Chap 22 covers creditable service, and clearly states that AT time is eligible. Good luck and let me know if it goes through.
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COL Michael Freeman
COL (Join to see) I have made progress identifying what support I need. I do have different answers from different people, even within DFAS. I have a game plan and I am going through my copies of orders, LES, and pay vouchers for the last 30 years to provide the support that was requested by DFAS in order to re-calculate my Service Computation Date. I also requested a detail from DFAS of all active duty performed. I understand that may take a few weeks.
I also received guidance for the buy-back program. I am putting together the request for my Estimated Earnings Report that will be needed for the buy back. The funny thing is that the documentation they requested (which will include a listing of every period of active duty and my rank at the time) is not as hard to find so I should have that together shortly.
I also received guidance for the buy-back program. I am putting together the request for my Estimated Earnings Report that will be needed for the buy back. The funny thing is that the documentation they requested (which will include a listing of every period of active duty and my rank at the time) is not as hard to find so I should have that together shortly.
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