The member may receive retirement credit for up to five years of qualifying military service at no cost if the member was an eligible LGERS member when he or she entered active duty, and: 

• the member returns to employment for 10 or more years with the same LGERS employer after discharge from the military, or 
   
• the member returns to LGERS membership service within the time limit mandated by federal law for reporting back to work, and meets all of the following requirements: 
  • the member did not provide written notice of intent not to return to work after military service
  • the member is not eligible for benefits from any other retirement plan based on this service 
  • the member has purchased his or her LGERS withdrawn service credit, if any

The LGERS employer is required to pay the employer and employee contributions to LGERS for the full period that a member was in active military duty if the employee was an LGERS member immediately prior to the active duty military service and returns to LGERS membership service within two years after the military discharge date.

In order for the Retirement Systems Division to grant free military service credit, the member should complete Form 462 (Purchasing Retirement System Credit or Requesting Free Credit for Military Service), attach a copy of his or her military discharge papers (Form DD 214) and send them together to the Retirement Systems Division.

The employer should also send a letter to the Retirement Systems Division stating the last date the member worked prior to the military service and the date the member returned to work after the military service.