Retention Fellows and Time towards Retirement?

[Retention_Guest]

Hi all,

I'm wondering about other retention fellowship awardees experiences with their organization: have any of you had success getting your time at school under the SMART fellowship to count towards retirement??

Thanks,
Adam

[guest]

I assume we will get that information at the orientation. I'm also curious how leave will work, whether we track it over the scholarship or we even gain any? I assume that time will count, as you are still an employee during this period like any other Long Term Training.

[SMART_retention_awardee]

I am a civil servant and a SMART scholar - if you apply for a rention award, the time does count towards retirement. I get paid every two weeks, just like before, accruring annual and sick leave, TSP, etc. You should talk with your supervisor - if he has the funds, he has the option to make up the difference between the stipend and your salary. It works out VERY WELL for those who are already civialian employees.

[Warmaster]

I am a current DoD dual status employee meaning I have to remain in the National Guard in order to maintain my DoD position. Does retention work for dual status as well? So do you still have to go to work everyday while on retention or do they allow you enough time to go to school, how does this end work?

Also (slightly off topic sorry), I am currently enrolled in the Electrical Engineering program, but I have an A.A.S in Business and not all of my credits transferred to my new program of study so I am wondering how they will look at those crdits?

Thanks for your efforts!

[Adam]

So what about those goign to school full time and not working at all? I am unfortunately going on leave without pay from my command and somehow the money will still show up in my acct from SMART. Not sure I believe it yet. Has anyone else's command done that?

[Chris Moulder]

I am a current DoD dual status employee meaning I have to remain in the National Guard in order to maintain my DoD position. Does retention work for dual status as well? So do you still have to go to work everyday while on retention or do they allow you enough time to go to school, how does this end work?

Also (slightly off topic sorry), I am currently enrolled in the Electrical Engineering program, but I have an A.A.S in Business and not all of my credits transferred to my new program of study so I am wondering how they will look at those crdits?

Thanks for your efforts!

I'm not very sure, I would suggest contacting smart. I know that reservists can be in the program, and getting deployed does not have negatively affect your status. I think smart will look at your credits the same way as your school. If you're courseload dictates that it will take you three years, smart will assume it will take you three years.

[Chris Moulder]

So what about those goign to school full time and not working at all? I am unfortunately going on leave without pay from my command and somehow the money will still show up in my acct from SMART. Not sure I believe it yet. Has anyone else's command done that?

SMART will still pay you. All students in good standing receive the stipend. There is no way to pause payments and remain in the program. You will still be liable for the 1to1 service commitment. Those are pretty much the set-in-stone ground rules.

[New Retention]

I am a civil servant and a SMART scholar - if you apply for a rention award, the time does count towards retirement. I get paid every two weeks, just like before, accruring annual and sick leave, TSP, etc. You should talk with your supervisor - if he has the funds, he has the option to make up the difference between the stipend and your salary. It works out VERY WELL for those who are already civialian employees.

I know this thread is two years old, but had a relevant question so thought I'd put it here. Question is, what do most retention particpants do in terms of taking leave in phase 1? I've been working with my SF to figure it out but they aren't sure either because it isn't really explicitly spelled out in andy SMART documentation. I am in the same situation as the quoted user above (will be retaining normal pay channels, leave accrual, etc), but just don't know if we need to charge leave at all.

Also less urgent, but what guidelines did retention folks follow for heading to school before the start of phase 1 and returning to the SF after completion of the degree, in terms of time taken?

Thanks to anyone who can answer!