Transferring Military Time to a Federal Job

I've been considering moving from the military to a federal job after high school. Does anyone know how military service time transfers to federal employment, particularly in terms of benefits or seniority?

Sure, I'm glad to assist with your query. The time you spend serving in the military contributes to your federal retirement. In other words, your years of military service will count towards your years of federal service in terms of retirement benefits. However, there are a couple of specifics worth noting:

1. Military service time is accredited towards your federal retirement under the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) or the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS), but there's usually an associated fee (often a percentage of your military pay). If you're considering moving to a federal job, I strongly advise looking into this early, as waiting can lead to higher fees due to interest.

2. Your military service should also count towards your federal leave accrual. For example, an employee who has been serving in the federal government for three years would typically earn 4 hours of annual leave per pay period, but with military service, you would accumulate at a higher rate.

3. It's important to keep in mind that while your military time theoretically transfers over to federal employment, it does not translate directly into 'seniority'. Seniority is typically department-specific and based on the length of service within that particular department, rather than overall federal service.

4. Lastly, military service could potentially give you special hiring privileges as a veteran. Through the Veterans' Preference, for instance, if you meet the eligibility criteria, you could receive preference over non-veteran applicants.

Obviously, the specifics of your situation might affect your eligibility and the benefits you get, so it's usually a good idea to consult with a professional in the field to get the most accurate information.