Military Service

Article 3 & 4 pension funds
(Downstate & Suburban Police and Fire Pension Funds.)

Salary - The firefighter or police officer's salary (minus what is received from military pay) shall be continued by the employer. If the contributions for the full salary amount are not being paid by the employer or employee, then the fund should notify the employee upon their return to service the amount to be paid.

Creditable Service - There is no break in creditable service unless the firefighter or police officer fails to make required pension payments before retirement date.

Non-duty Disability - If firefighter or police officer is hurt while on active duty with the United States military it would be considered a non-duty disability.

For further information please refer to the Illinois Pension Code 40 ILCS 5/3-110(b) for police officers and 40 ILCS 5/4-108(c) for firefighters address these issues.

40 ILCS 5/4-108(c). Military Service - Creditable service includes military service in the reserves, military, naval or air force of the United States not to exceed 5 years (exception: a firefighter with more than 5 years of creditable service on July 1, 1973 shall receive the total amount as of that date). The firefighter must upon applying for a permanent pension, and in accordance with the board, pay into the fund the amount the firefighter would have contributed if he or she had been a regular contributor during such period, if the municipality for which the officer served, has made no contributions on behalf of the firefighter.

Reference Section 4-108, (c), (1) and (2) for special cases regarding service prior to July 1, 1976.

40 ILCS 5/3-110(b). Military Service Creditable service includes all periods of service in the military, naval or air forces of the United States, not to exceed 5 years. (Exception: a police officer with more than 5 years of creditable service on July 1, 1973 shall receive the total amount thereof as of that date.) This period of service must be entered upon while on active status as a police officer of a municipality. The police officer must upon applying for a permanent pension, and in accordance with the board, pay into the fund the amount the officer would have contributed if he or she had been a regular contributor during such period, if the municipality for which the officer served, has made no contributions on behalf of the police officer.