The Unofficial SMART Scholarship Forum

I responded to the OPM email an hour past the deadline, but I just found out it went through.


Whenever they give me their decision regarding payback, I will post it.

I did not really consider the buyout before because of the service commitment. I'm in my last semester of my 5th year (extended 1 year) and I'm going to have to ask permission to go on leave of absence from SMART to finish my PhD (should be done by fall). But now, it's a question of do I trust the offer and where can I find a job after. I'm a high step GS 13 and will hit 20 years in July, so it's a tough one. In a perfect world, I'd resign, use the time to easily finish writing my dissertation, then get a new job with a raise before Sept 30th. But that's a quite the gamble. Geographic mobility is difficult due to the lock in effect on housing and having kids in school. There is also not a lot of other employment options where I live if not through the DoD or support contractor. While the hiring freeze is not affecting the DoD now, that may not be the case by August/September.

Not sure how this will all play out, but a Federal judge has delayed it.

https://www.fedsmith.com/2025/02/06/fed ... -deadline/

we seem to have received the final word from smart before the midnight deadline....which is nothing. i am going to take the offer and cross my fingers.



"SMART Phase II and Retention Scholars,



Our office has received numerous queries related to the Deferred Resignation Program (DRP) and how acceptance of the deferred resignation offer will impact the SMART service commitment. Unfortunately, the Program has not had sufficient time to perform due diligence on the impacts of DRP on the SMART service commitment. We do not want to get ahead of any Departmental guidance and refer anyone interested in the DRP to access the OPM website (https://www.opm.gov/fork/) as it is the authoritative source of guidance, FAQs, etc. on the DRP.



Thank you for your commitment to the DoD!



SMART Program Office"

I asked my rep about this part of the template contract too. They got back to me immediately saying that SMART Program leadership is evaluating the situation with their boss and any additional guidance will be shared with all SMART scholars.

"debt owed by Employee to [AGENCY] pursuant to a recruitment incentive, student loan repayment, or other service agreement. [AGENCY] also agrees to waive any remaining service requirements from taking paid parental leave."


as a response to this sentence, my agency said to check with SMART and my SMART contact sent it up to their boss.... ... i will be expecting a vague response tomorrow.

The short answer is yes, it is legit.

The template contract was circulated by the OPM to agencies which can be used to document employee resignations and formalize the government's agreement to abide by the terms of the deferred resignation program.

"[AGENCY] agrees to waive any debt owed by Employee to [AGENCY] pursuant to a recruitment incentive, student loan repayment, or other service agreement. [AGENCY] also agrees to waive any remaining service requirements from taking paid parental leave."

Does this apply to SMART? Probably? But, It's unclear. Our debt is tied to the SMART program, not the agency we work for.

Just as importantly, the OPM has circulated this template to assuage concerns about enforceability of the provisions of deferred resignation, but they have offered no guarantee your agency will use that template.

And their template also has you sign away your right to sue over the deferred resignation or anything else related to your appointment.

I just found that "Deferred Resignation Agreement" online, which includes that sentence. Is it legit? Who is supposed to sign it at the agency? Did most people receive this in an email?

The Fedmanager website indicated that it was sent out as a "sample" document. How the heck can we get confirmation?

Was the email from OPM? I did not.

I just got an email with the deferred resignation terms that says recruitment incentive, student loans, and service agreements are waived with deferred resignation. Has anyone else seen this, and does it apply to SMART?
"13. [AGENCY] agrees to waive any debt owed by Employee to [AGENCY] pursuant to a recruitment incentive, student loan repayment, or other service agreement. [AGENCY] also agrees to waive any remaining service requirements from taking paid parental leave."

I just received an email from the army base where I am posted, saying that dod civilians are not exempt from this program.

I still pretty sure that I would have to pay back part of my service obligation, though.

This is what I figured as well..... Just being thorough because I'm coming up on retirement. Thanks

Nothing in the SMART agreement or deferred resignation memo suggest that it would. I'd expect it to be treated like any other resignation from government service, which would leave you with repayment at a prorated rate based on the portion of your service obligation that you served.

I'm not even sure that you'd be eligible for deferred resignation in the DoD, given its importance to national security.

I have 17 months left in phase 2. If I signed up for the deferred resignation, would my service obligation go away?