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Sec. 302 (b) "... a year of satisfactory Federal service... shall consist of any year in which a person is credited with minimum fifty points..."

(1) One point for each day of active Federal Service;

(2) One point for each drill or period of equivalent instruction...."

(3) Fifteen points for membership in a reserve component for each year of Federal service other than Active Federal service.

Sec. 302 (c) Each year of service as a member of a reserve component PRIOR TO THE ENACTMENT OF THIS ACT shall be deemed to be a year of satisfactory service [[strikethrough]] [[?]] [[/strikethrough]]

This section applies to the years of service necessary to reach the total of twenty years required to qualify for eligibility to receive retirement pay.

A later section provides that a credit of fifty points will be given for each of these prior years of service in the Reserve. Of course such credit is in addition to active duty credits, but there may be a little ambiguity here in determining fractions. Doubtless a ruling will clarify this point when the secretaries write their rules. This last automatic fifty point credit is to be used in determining the amount of pay to be received.

The following part of Sec 305 is of particular interest to us :-

"... No period of service otherwise credible in determining the eligibility of any person to receive, or the amount of, any annuity, pension, or old age benefit payable under any provision of law on account of civilian employment, in the Federal Government or otherwise, shall be excluded in such determination because such period of service may be included, in whole or in part, in determining the eligibility of such person to receive or the amount of any retired pay payable under this title".

To a Sea Lawyer such as I, this clause is unusual and enlightening. In the past, there has been some sort of a law, unwritten law, or Government policy to the effect that no person may receive retires pay and either remain on a pay roll of the Government or receive pension, Federal benefits etc at the same time. In other words one could draw from only one source whichever amount was greater. However, here is a law in full force and effect that recognize a mans right to draw Federal retirement benefits and civil annuities. The two amounts may have been earned over the same period of years, but actually by dint of additional effort, or overtime which was voluntary and useful to the Government.

Now it may be important to remember that when our