NARFE Federal Benefits Institute presents
Military and Civilian Creditable Service: Deposits and Redeposits
Thursday, May 14, 2026, 2:00 p.m. ET
Military Buy Back, also known as a Military Service Deposit, is a benefit of Federal Civil Service that gives you the ability to receive retirement benefits that include your military service. As a general rule, your military service time is creditable for Federal Civil Service retirement purposes if it was active service terminated under honorable conditions and a deposit is paid to cover the military service.
Additionally, OPM deposits (paying for civilian service that did not include retirement contributions) and redeposits (repaying refunded deductions/contributions) allow federal employees to increase their retirement annuities by paying for past, uncredited service.
Whether payment is required or optional depends on your service dates and retirement system, such as the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) or the Federal Employee Retirement System (FERS). For most FERS employees, making this payment is beneficial, but you should consider whether it is right for you.
NARFE Federal Benefits Specialist Tony Opat will explain the decision-making process for military and civilian deposits and redeposits, outlining key considerations and how it can offer financial benefits after your service. You will also learn about:
- Military service deposit
- Active-duty service, Title 10 and Title 32
- USERRA (Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act)
- Civilian service deposit and redeposits
- Creditable federal service
- When you should consider paying a deposit/redeposit
- How to make a payment
- Delaying payments
- Service Computation Dates, SCD-Retirement & SCD-Leave
- And so much more!
A Q&A session will follow the presentation.
Join us and Tony Opat on May 14, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. for an in-depth discussion on the advantages of military and civilian deposits and how they can enhance your long-term retirement income.