Oklahoma Administrative Code
Title 590 - Oklahoma Public Employees Retirement System
Chapter 10 - Public Employees Retirement System
Subchapter 3 - Credited Service
Section 590:10-3-12 - Military service credit

(a) Any member who joined the System on or before June 30, 2000, can receive up to five (5) years of military service credit for periods as defined in paragraph 23 of Section 902 of Title 74 of the Oklahoma Statutes. As set forth in Section 913 of Title 74 of the Oklahoma Statutes, the service credit can be prior service or participating service or a combination of the two, however, total military service credit cannot exceed five (5) years. The service must be active military service and the member must have been honorably discharged. The member must submit an application for military service credit and provide a copy of his or her DD214 form or other similar documentation clearly showing dates, types and places of service. If eligible, a retired member shall receive an increase in his or her monthly benefit as a result of the addition of the military service credit effective with the month following the receipt of the documents and approval by the System.

(b) Any active member who joined the System on or after July 1, 2000, can purchase up to five (5) years of military service credit for periods as defined in paragraph 23 of Section 902 of Title 74 of the Oklahoma Statutes. As set forth in Section 913 of Title 74 of the Oklahoma Statutes, the service credit can be prior service or participating service or a combination of the two, however, total military service credit cannot exceed five (5) years. The service must be active military service and the member must have been honorably discharged. The member must submit an application for military service credit and provide a copy of his or her DD214 form or other similar documentation clearly showing dates, types and places of service. The member must make payment in the amount determined by the Board pursuant to Section 913.5 of Title 74 of the Oklahoma Statutes and 590:10-3-8. This purchase may be amortized over sixty (60) months as provided for in 590:10-3-9.

(c) Military service credit will be credited or purchased in full months only. The initial month of military service will be accepted only if the service began on or before the 15 th day of the month. The final month of military service will be accepted only if the service was completed on or after the 16 th day of the month.

(d) Members who joined the System on or after July 1, 2003, can make the purchase set forth in paragraph (b) of this rule only if the member has not received credit for the same period of military service for retirement from another retirement system created pursuant to the Oklahoma Statutes. For such members, the military credit shall be granted or purchased in the retirement system from which the member retires first. In the event such a member fails to disclose a previous grant or purchase of military credit, the purchase will be voided, his or her service credit will be adjusted to remove the military service credit and only the purchase price shall be returned to the member.

(e) It is the responsibility of the member wishing to receive or purchase military service credit to complete the application provided by the System for this purpose and to provide all documentation necessary to support the application. Military service will not be credited until all required documentation is provided by the member to the System, the System has approved the grant or purchase and any required payments are made.

(f) Retired members who are not credited with military service prior to or at the time of retirement may make application for the credit at any time. After approval by the System, the military service credit will be added to the member's record and increased retirement benefits, if any, as a result of the addition of the military service credit, shall begin with the first month following said approval. Retroactive payments will not be made under any circumstances. This subsection only applies to members whose initial membership in the System began on or before June 30, 2000.

(g) Members who served in the Armed Forces of the United States during a war or combat military operation other than World War I, World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War or the Gulf War as provided in Section 902(23) of Title 74 of the Oklahoma Statutes, may be eligible to purchase or receive military service credit for the period of time that he or she actually served in an area of responsibility for a war or combat military operation which lasted for a period of at least ninety (90) days. It is the responsibility of the member to provide sufficient documentation to support his or her eligibility for this credit as requested by the System, including, but not limited to, documents showing specific service areas and times.

(h) The provisions for granting or purchasing military service credit shall be in addition to any contributions, benefits and service credit with respect to qualified military service in accordance with Section 414 (u) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.