Please explain years of service

GreatAmerican
Thu, 04 Oct 2007 08:58:16 +0000

USNA69:

There has got to be a reason for the urban myth. If a former mid applies for a federal job, does USNA count towards their seniority?..



USNA and military service time does count towards federal service if one becomes a civil servant; however, you have to pay the Government for those years of service credited to your account. There is no free lunch.



Someone may be confusing USNA with USUHS (the military medical school). It’s my understanding that you will get credit for the 4 years of med school, but ONLY if you stick around for another 20 (i.e., retire). At retirement, the 4 yrs (from USUHS) are added to your total for pay purposes. Thus, if you attended USUHS (for 4 yrs), then worked as a Navy doctor for 22 years after med school, and then retired, you would get credit for 26 years for retirement pay purposes. At least that’s my understanding. [However, if you attend USUHS and only work as a Navy doctor for 16 years, you don’t get to count the 4 from USUHS and retire at 20.] However, I also believe this only works for USUHS and not civilian medical schools or other military schools.



Agree with USNA1985. This is fairly well in line with the USUHS catalog that my daughter received in the mail. The four years at USUHS do not count against the 5/8 year obligation for attending USNA but will be added back after 20 years of service after graduating from USUHS. Also, students who attend USUHS remain Ensigns during their whole tenure but are promoted to Lieutenant (O-3) upon graduation.

The situation is different for those who attend civilian medical schools. While attending civilian medical schools, the students are “off the books” and as such receive no pay or benefits. The service obligation for this option is significantly less than attending USUHS.