Department of Defense
Retirement Guidance for DoD Civilian Employees
From GS pay bands to TSP, SRS, and FEHB — plus any military-to-civilian crossover — this page covers the most common questions DoD civilians have.
Common Pain Points for DoD Employees
- Rolling military service time into your FERS computation (buyback)
- Managing TSP across uniformed and civilian accounts
- Evaluating VERA/VSIP buyout offers
- Coordinating TRICARE, FEHB, and Medicare for dual-status retirees
- Deciding on Blended Retirement System rollover on the uniformed side
How We Help DoD Employees
Military Service Credit Buyback
The military buyback deposit is generally calculated as a percentage of the base pay you earned during service, plus accrued interest. Whether it makes sense depends on your planned retirement age and service length.
VERA / VSIP Considerations
Early-out and buyout packages involve trade-offs between a lump sum today and future FERS growth. The decision comes down to your personal numbers and retirement goals.
TSP Account Consolidation
If you hold both uniformed and civilian TSP balances, consolidation and Roth conversion strategy are worth understanding before retirement.
Questions DoD Employees Ask
Should I buy back my military time?
It depends on the deposit cost, your planned retirement age, and how long you expect to draw the annuity. For many civilians with a long planned retirement, the buyback can pay for itself over time — but you should model your own numbers.
What is the FERS Special Retirement Supplement?
If you retire on an immediate unreduced FERS annuity before 62, the SRS pays an estimated amount of the Social Security you earned during federal service, until age 62.
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