Originally Posted by
AFSOCFlyr
I looked at that (like I looked at all avenues even though I know I want to go to the airlines) as a possibility especially if my military time + theoretical CBP Federal service time = federal retirement after 20yrs or something ~20. Unfortunately I can't remember what my research concluded on that.
Yes you can buy your AD time back and count it toward Federal pension concurrent with building your military points towards retirement.
Nominally it works out to 2-3%(depending on when you did your AD time) of your base bay (only) for your AD time. That time is then added to your Federal Service for your Government Civilian FERS(or equiv retirement system). In my case I did 10 yrs 8 months AD, stroked a check to DFAS. I was then a GS13 step 5 with 10yrs 8 months walking in the door. That was 2008. Additionally,, I did just under a year in Afghanistan and bought that time back as well. I now have ~18 yrs of Federal service at the age of 41 and 2 yrs to go for reserve pension if I choose to leave at 20 or stay in should I select for O-6 to draw that retirement. Add that to my GS pension, Roth IRAs and TSP (maxed out every year as both AD and GS) it was money well spent. YMMV.