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Military Service Deposits

What is a Military Service Deposit?
If you served in the military and now hold a civilian position, your military service time may apply toward your civil service retirement. There are specific regulations in regards to these requests that your Human Resources office should answer that will be specific to each individual’s situation. To proceed with this request, you must "buy back" your military service time. You will be required to obtain your estimated earnings from the appropriate miliary finance center prior to starting the process.

What are Estimated Earnings?
Estimated Earnings is an estimate of basic pay earned during a period of military service performed after December 31, 1956.

Am I eligible to “buy back” military service time?
If you have any prior active duty military service, you may be eligible to buy back that time.

How do I buy back my military time?
Complete a separate Estimated Earnings During Military Service request form, RI 20-97, (PDF 310 KB - 5/11/2010) for each branch of service.

  1. Attach your Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, DD 214 (or equivalent), and any available records of pay or promotions to the RI 20-97 (PDF 310 KB - 5/11/2010) and send to the appropriate military finance center. Verification of your service is required to obtain your estimated earnings. A list of documnets that may be used to verify your service is on the Acceptable Documents page.  

    Note: To obtain a copy of your DD214, write to or send a military records request form, Standard Form 180 (SF-180), (PDF 394 KB - 11/17/2010) to:

    National Personnel Records Center
    Military Personnel Records
    9700 Page Avenue
    St. Louis, MO 63132-5100     
     
  2. After you receive your estimated military earnings computation from the military finance center via postal mail, please have your human resource office assist you in completing the appropriate application(s) listed below based on your personal situation: 
  3. Send your estimated earnings statement, DD 214 and SF 2803 or SF 3108 to your human resources office.

    If you are employed by DFAS, Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA), Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA), Department of Defense Inspector General (DoDIG), Defense Technical Information Center (DTIC), Defense Acquisition University (DAU) or National Defense University (NDU), your human resources office is DFAS. Please mail your information to:

    DFAS Shared Services Center
    Benefits Division, DHFOPB
    8899 East 56th St.
    Indianapolis, IN 46249-6485

  4. The human resources office will provide a calculated estimate of your military deposit amount due, certify your application and forward the required documents to the appropriate payroll office.

    *Please note that if your human resources office shifts the responsibility for submitting the application to you, you will need to provide all necessary documentation, including your completed application and estimated earnings statement. If the application is incomplete, a notification requesting additional information will be sent directly to you via mail and there may be a delay in processing your military deposit.
     
  5. The payroll office will then calculate your conclusive military deposit amount due and inform you of the amount you owe by mail and provide instructions for making payments.
     
  6. Make your payments directly to your payroll office by check, money order or payroll deductions as directed in the military deposit payment request letter you receive. The deposit may be made in a single lump sum or by paying in installments. Your deposit account balance and each payment will be reflected in block 20 of your Leave and Earnings Statement (LES). Each payment and a year-to-date total will be reflected in the "Deductions" box of your LES.
     
  7. After you have paid your Military Deposit in full, by check or money order, your payroll office will send you a Paid-in-Full Letter. If your military deposit is paid-in-full by payroll deductions, you must request a Paid-in-Full Letter through your human resources office or customer service representative.

    If you are employed by DFAS, DISA, DCAA, DoDIG, DTIC, DAU or NDU, your human resources office is DFAS and the request for a Paid-in-Full letter, along with the required information, can be sent to:

    DFAS Shared Services Center
    Benefits Division, DHFOPB
    8899 East 56th St.
    Indianapolis, IN 46249-6485

    Or fax your request to 1-866-401-5849

How long will it take to process my request?
Once all applicable documents have been sent to the civilian payroll office, it takes approximately 30 business days to process your request. If you have not received notice after 30 business days, you can contact customer service:
Indianapolis Payroll Office 800-538-9043
Cleveland Payroll Office 800-729-3277

Important Reminder: Verification of your service is required to obtain your estimated earnings. Estimated earnings are required regardless if you are buying back time based on a Uniformed Services Employment And Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA).

For Civilian Pay questions, please contact your Customer Service Representative (CSR). Contact your immediate supervisor for more details.

Page updated October 5, 2012