worked for the Feds and could buy those years to add to a civilian retirement (Stopped working as civilian at 43, worked military 10 years, then went back as civilian and bought those military years to add to Civilian retirement)? Assuming physical fitness, why not allow later entrants even if they cannot get a military retirement? Just have a huge disclaimer up front that a person entering now will not have enough years to earn a retirement. Most people who go in don’t end up retiring from it anyway. I didn’t. But, maybe that is their retention tool-people cannot come and go as they please and get their 20 in.

I might be tempted to stop working at 50-do 10 years as a JAG attorney, and then do a few more years in the civilian sector. But, I have aged out (and probably would not pass the hearing test anyway).