Ala. Code § 36-21-193: Withdrawal from Fund.

Any member shall be entitled at any time to withdraw from the fund and, upon application for such withdrawal on forms supplied by the board and approved by it, shall be entitled to receive 90 percent of all amounts previously paid to the fund by such member. Any member who withdraws and receives such refund shall not thereafter have any rights with respect to the fund and may not thereafter be entitled to become a member except as a new member. Any member who ceases to be a firefighter may elect not to receive any such refund for a period of not more than 36 months. If within the 36-month period the person shall again become a firefighter, he or she may be reinstated as a member without loss of accumulated qualified service. If a member does not return to service at the end of the 36-months period, then his or her account shall be terminated and his or her fees shall be returned, thereby cancelling all his or her qualified service.