Military Service

If you are an active member of OPERS who served in the Armed Forces of the United States and received an honorable discharge, you are eligible for up to five years of service credit for specified periods of active military service during which you were a war veteran. The credit is limited to specific periods of active military service listed in paragraph 23 of Section 902 of Title 74 of the Oklahoma Statutes, which includes the following:*

45th Division	September 16, 1940 – December 7, 1941
World War II	December 7, 1941 – December 31, 1946
Korean War	June 27, 1950 – January 31, 1955
Vietnam War	February 28, 1961 – May 7, 1975 (For the period from February 28, 1961 – August 4, 1964, service must be in the Republic of Vietnam)
Gulf War/Persian Gulf War/Operation Desert Storm	August 1, 1990 – December 31, 1991

Other qualifying periods of military service include wars or military operations which lasted for 90 days or more and are authorized by Congressional authorization or resolution or Presidential Executive Order. Qualifying service is only for the period served in the designated area of responsibility and excludes active duty for training only. Such wars or military operations include, but are not limited to, the following:*

The former Yugoslavia (including Bosnia, Herzegovina, Croatia and Macedonia) By Public Law 104-117	Beginning November 21, 1995 Ending date to be determined
The Kosovo Area By Executive Order 13119 and Public Law 106-21	Beginning March 24, 1999 Ending date to be determined
Afghanistan/Operation Enduring Freedom By Executive Order 13239 and Public Law 106-21	Beginning September 18, 2001 Ending date to be determined
Iraq War/Second Gulf War/Operation Iraqi Freedom By Public Law 107-243	Beginning March 10, 2003 Ending date to be determined

To be eligible for credit, you will need to submit an “Application for Military Service” and a Defense Department Form 214 (“DD214”) and other military documents showing active duty dates and honorable discharge.

Eligible military service is free for members joining OPERS prior to July 1, 2000. Members joining OPERS after June 30, 2000, may purchase eligible military service at actuarial cost.

Employees joining OPERS after June 30, 2003, will not receive credit for military service in OPERS if the credit was already received for the same period(s) of military service in another Oklahoma state retirement system.

The actual periods for which military service can be granted are governed by Oklahoma State statute and can change from time to time. Consult the statutes and OPERS before relying on the above information.

USERRA (Uniformed Services Employment & Reemployment Rights Act)

A member who is absent from work due to voluntary or involuntary military service can take advantage of the right, created under the Uniform Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA), to buy back service credit lost during the military absence. To assert rights under USERRA, see your Retirement Coordinator, or contact OPERS immediately upon your return to employment. Certain time limits and conditions must be met, and contributions may be required to be paid before service can be granted. For more information about USERRA, see your Retirement Coordinator.

Military Records Resources

National Archives

National Personnel Records Center
1 Archives Dr
St Louis, MO 63138
314-801-0800 (Weekdays 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM CST)

* The list is for convenience only. The official periods for which military service is granted is found in Section 902(23) of Title 74 of the Oklahoma Statutes.