Military Service and Early Retirement: What You Need to Know
If you served in the military and are nearing retirement, your service could enable you to retire before the legal age. Learn how your military service counts towards your retirement.
Credit Photo - @Dragos Asaftei/Shutterstock
Published on 10/03/2025 | Updated on 10/03/2025
If you served in the military and are nearing retirement, your service could enable you to retire before the legal age. Despite recent reforms increasing the retirement age, certain provisions still allow for early retirement. One often overlooked advantage is your military service. For individuals born before 1977 who have worn the uniform, this period can count towards your credited quarters, potentially facilitating an earlier exit from the workforce.
How is Your Military Service Recognized?
Military service contributes to your retirement quarters based on a specific rule: every 90 days of service earns you one quarter. Therefore, a standard 10-month military service can yield up to three quarters.
However, it’s important to note that there’s a cap of four quarters that can be counted towards early retirement for long careers. Only longer military engagements allow for exceeding this limit.
How to Claim These Rights?
Typically, the military automatically communicates this information to your retirement funds. Nevertheless, errors can happen. To avoid any surprises, it’s advisable to check your career statement online or reach out to your retirement fund.
If your military service is not reflected, you will need to provide certain documents to rectify your situation:
- Your military booklet
- A certificate of military position
- The statement of service and records
Don’t wait until the last minute to verify this information. An error in your statement could cost you the chance for a well-deserved early retirement. As highlighted by Notre Temps, these steps should be taken as soon as possible.
The pursuit of early retirement is worth a bit of digging through your archives, isn’t it?
In Summary
For those born before 1977 who have completed military service, this experience can aid in achieving early retirement. Each 90-day service period counts for one credited quarter (up to a maximum of four quarters). Ensure that your service is reflected in your career statement and, if necessary, submit your military booklet, position certificate, and service record to your retirement fund.
