yes we assumed that as the army pension was noncontributary that was it no effect to anything else. but it is in a sense contributary as some of your ni contributions go to the army pension scheme reducing your oap.but that is not explained not that you can do anything about it as you cant make up those contributions like you can if your just short on contributions. esp women who either dont earn enough to pay ni or take time out for children, my sister was short and she was able to buy back those years,i think it cost her £800 but it means she will get full whack when she hits 67 or whatever it is in 4 years or so when she qualifies. mind shes quids in as she gets a lloyds bank pension and got redundancy after 30 years service so got a handsome payoff no wonder they holiday in the seychelles every year plus a cruise or 2.