(a) Whenever used in this section, all words and phrases defined in Section 36-27-1 and Section 16-25-1 and Title 12, Chapter 18, shall have the same meanings ascribed to them in such sections and chapter, unless the context clearly indicates that a different meaning is intended.

(b) Any active and contributing member of the Employees' or Teachers' Retirement System or any appellate judge in the Judicial Retirement Fund who has met the minimum vesting requirements under said systems and who has honorable duty consisting of active full-time military service in the Armed Forces of the United States, exclusive of any summer or weekend service in a reserve or national guard component of any branch of the armed forces, and who has not received credit for such service toward retirement status in the Employees' or Teachers' Retirement System or any appellate judge in the Judicial Retirement Fund or any other public pension fund including the U.S. Armed Forces, but excluding the federal Social Security program, may be granted by the Board of Control, membership service for up to four years of such service in the armed forces, provided the member received an honorable discharge on account of such service and provided further said member complies with the provisions set forth in subsection (d) of this section.

(c) For a period of six months only following April 21, 1992, any active and contributing member of the Employees' or Teachers' Retirement System of Alabama who has been such a member for six consecutive years or more and who has honorable duty consisting of active full-time military service in the Armed Forces of the United States, exclusive of any summer or weekend service in a reserve or National Guard component of any branch of the armed forces, and who has not received credit for such service toward retirement status in the Employees' or Teachers' Retirement System or any other public pension fund including the U.S. Armed Forces, but excluding the federal Social Security program, may be granted by the Board of Control, membership service for up to four years of such service in the armed forces, provided the member received an honorable discharge on account of such service and provided further said member complies with the provisions set forth in subsection (d) of this section.

(d) Any member eligible to claim and purchase such credit for service under subsection (b) or (c) of this section shall be awarded creditable service under the Employees' or Teachers' Retirement System or any appellate judge in the Judicial Retirement Fund of Alabama provided he or she, or his or her spouse pursuant to subsection (c) only, shall pay into said retirement system or fund, prior to said member's date of retirement, a sum equal to the full actuarially determined cost for each year of service credit, as determined by the system's actuary.