Tankertrashnav, your Service before age 21 would count if you were on AFPS 2005 rather than the old version. It was the main reason I elected to change. Of course you may have retired before the new pension was offered in which case - sorry but too bad.
Much chat about equal treatment on this thread but that's all P & W. Occupational pensions are a benefit arising from employment. Different employers offer different packages to attract, recruit, retain, motivate and reward as part of the overall remuneration. Therefore as the needs of the police, armed forces, teachers, nurses etc are all very different so too are the remuneration (including pension) packages on offer. It's no good joining a career stream and then later complaining that you don't like the pension plan; if you didn't like the salary you wouldn't have applied would you!
Interestingly the armed forces have a 'non-contributory' scheme. Which the AFPRB see as such a significant benefit they suppress your salary in return (which some might see as a contribution). It really is a good scheme thanks to all the hard work put in by the Forces Pension Society and SPPol.