16. The following definitions apply in sections 16.1 and 16.2.

“20-year intermediate engagement”

“20-year intermediate engagement” means a fixed period of 20 continuous years of service in the regular force commencing on the day on which the contributor was transferred to, enrolled in or re-enrolled in the regular force. (engagement de durée intermédiaire de 20 ans)

“25-year intermediate engagement”

“25-year intermediate engagement” means a fixed period of 25 continuous years of service in the regular force commencing on the day on which the contributor was transferred to, enrolled in or re-enrolled in the regular force. (« engagement de durée intermédiaire de 25 ans »)

“retirement age”

“retirement age”, as applied to any rank of contributor, means the age determined under chapter 15 of the Queen’s Regulations and Orders for the Canadian Forces as the retirement age applicable to that rank. (« âge de la retraite »)

16.1 A contributor exercising the option referred to in subsection 19(1) of the Act is entitled to an immediate annuity if

• (a) they have completed a 20-year intermediate engagement that commenced before March 1, 2007 and are not serving on an indefinite period of service;

• (b) they have 10 or more years of regular force pensionable service and have reached retirement age;

• (c) they are not an officer and have at least 25 years of regular force pensionable service; or

• (d) they were a member of the regular force with 10 or more years of regular force pensionable service on March 1, 2007 and

  • (i) they have at least 20 years of regular force pensionable service, unless

    • (A) they have at any time served on a 25-year intermediate engagement and do not, at the time of ceasing to be a member of the regular force, have at least 25 years of regular force pensionable service,

    • (B) they have at any time refused an offer of a 25-year intermediate engagement unless, at the time of the refusal, they were serving on a 20-year intermediate engagement that commenced before March 1, 2007 or had completed a 20-year intermediate engagement that commenced before March 1, 2007, or

    • (C) at the time they cease to be a member of the regular force they are serving on an indefinite period of service, or

  • (ii) they have at least 19 years of regular force pensionable service, they are not serving on an intermediate engagement or an engagement for an indefinite period of service in the regular force, they have not at any time received an offer of a 25-year intermediate engagement and they are

    • (A) an officer who did not fail to accept an offer for an indefinite period of service in the regular force, or

    • (B) a contributor, other than an officer, who ceases to be a member of the regular force on the expiry of a period of engagement and who did not fail to accept an offer to re-engage in the regular force.