8Eligibility—serving members

#### 8 Eligibility—serving members (1) A person is eligible as a serving member at a particular time (the eligibility time) if, at that time, the person: (a) is a member of the Defence Force; and (b) has completed (whether before, on or after the commencing day) the relevant qualifying service period under subsection (2). (2) The qualifying service period for a serving member is: (a) if the member is, at the eligibility time, a member of the Permanent Forces—2 years of effective service; and (b) if the member is, at the eligibility time, a member of the Reserves—4 years of effective service; and (c) if the member is, at the eligibility time, a foreign service member—2 years of effective service. > Note: For the definition of effective service, see section 3. (3) A person is not eligible as a serving member at a particular time if the person is eligible as a rejoining incapacitated member (see section 10) or as a rejoining member (see section 11) at that time. > Note: If a member of the Defence Force has had a break in service of more than 5 years before rejoining the Defence Force, the member’s service before rejoining the Defence Force no longer counts as effective service (see the definition of effective service in section 3).