What are Estimated Earnings?

For a former military member to have their service time considered for their civil service retirement they have to "buy back" that time. In order to "buy back" military service time for civil service retirement, former military members are required to get their estimated earnings from the appropriate DFAS Center. Below are instructions on how to do this.

Who does this apply to?

Employees who have served in the military and wish to have their military time credited towards their civilian retirement.

Are you eligible?

If you have any prior active duty military service, you are eligible to buy back that time.

How to buy back your military time:

1. Use a separate request form ( RI 20-97 PDF - 178KB) for each branch of service.
   
2. Attach DD 214 (or equivalent) and any available records of pay or promotions to the RI 20-97 and send to the appropriate military finance center. The pay center cannot provide estimated earnings unless verification of service is attached. Click here to see a listing of acceptable documentation to complete earnings.
   
   Note: To obtain a copy of your DD214, write to, or send a SF 180 to the following:
   
   National Personnel Records Center
   Military Personnel Records
   9700 Page Avenue
   St. Louis, MO 63132-5100
   
   
3. The military finance center will send you an estimated military earnings computation via mail. When you receive it:
   • If you are a FERS employee, fill out part A of SF 3108 (PDF - 68KB).
     
   • If you are a CSRS employee who was first employed in civilian service before 10-1-82, fill out part A of this SF 2803 (PDF - 217KB).
     
   • If you are a CSRS employees first employed after 10-1-82, fill out part A of this SF 2803 (PDF - 288KB).
     
4. Send your RI 20-97 (or estimated earnings statement), DD 214, and SF2803 or SF3108 to your servicing personnel office. If you are employed by DFAS, DISA, DCAA, DoDIG, DTIC, DAU, or NDU, your servicing personnel office is DFAS and please mail to:
   
   DFAS Shared Services Center
   Benefits Division, DHFOPB
   8899 E. 56th St.
   Indianapolis, IN 46249-6485
   
5. We will certify your application and forward it to your payroll office.
   
6. The payroll office will calculate the amount of your military deposit and inform you by letter the amount you owe and instructions for making payments.
   
7. Make your payments directly to your servicing payroll office, either by check/money order or through payroll deductions - as directed by your payroll office. The deposit may be made in a single lump sum or through installments. Your deposit account balance and each payment will be reflected on your LES.
   
8. When you have completed your payments, your servicing payroll office will send you a letter stating the deposit has been paid along with a completed OPM Form 1514 which shows details of the computation.
   
9. Forward a copy of the completed OPM Form 1514 to your servicing personnel office for it to be placed in your official personnel file. If you are employed by DFAS, DISA, DCAA, DoDIG, DTIC, DAU, or NDU, your servicing personnel office is DFAS and please mail to:
   
   DFAS Shared Services Center
   Benefits Division, DHFOPB
   8899 E. 56th St.
   Indianapolis, IN 46249-6485

RI 20-97 to the appropriate address/fax number below:

Please Note: The pay center cannot provide estimated earnings unless verification of service is attached. Click here to see a listing of acceptable documentation to complete earnings.

ARMY
DFAS-Indianapolis Center
Army Military Pay Operations
Attn: Verifications Section (Estimated Earnings)
8899 East 56th Street
Indianapolis IN 46249-0865
Phone: (317) 510-2813
Fax: (317) 275-0123

Navy
DFAS-Cleveland Center
Attn.: DFAS-CL/JFLAGB
1240 East 9th Street
Cleveland, OH 44199-2005
Phone: 1-888-332-7411
Fax: (216) 367-3587 DSN: 580-5060
E-mail: CCL-CATCH-62@DFAS.MIL

Marines Corps
DFAS-Cleveland Center
Attn.: DFAS-CL/JFLAGB
1240 East 9th Street
Cleveland, OH 44199-2005
Phone: (216) 522-8762 (USMC) Select option #6 OR DSN: 580-762
Fax: (216) 367-3587 DSN: 580-5060
E-mail CCL-CATCH-62@DFAS.MIL

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
NOAA Commissioned Personnel Center
1315 East-West Highway Rm. 12100
Silver Spring MD 20910-3282

Coast Guard Pay and Personnel Center
444 Southeast Quincy Street
Topeka KS 66683-3591
Phone: (785) 357-3570
Fax: (785) 295-2544

Public Health Service
Division of Commissioned Personnel
Compensation Branch
Parklawn Building Rm. 4-50
5600 Fisher's Lane
Rockville MD 20857
Phone: (301) 594-2963
Fax: (301)-443-0064

Air Force
DFAS-Indianapolis Center
Attn: Verifications Section (Estimated Earnings)
8899 East 56th Street
Indianapolis IN 46249-0875
Phone: (317) 510-2813
Fax: (317) 275-0123

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