Whenever any employee of the state, or of any city, town, or political subdivision thereof, has been, is now, or shall be on a leave of absence from that employment because of service in the armed forces of the United States of America during any war in which the United States has been, is now, or shall be engaged, the leave of absence shall be construed as continuous employment for retirement pension and prescribed rights or benefits in any established retirement system or pension fund by whatever name called, as though the employee had not been on a leave of absence. The employee shall be entitled to all the rights, protections and privileges offered under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA), Title 38 U.S. Code, §§ 4301 - 4333 (38 U.S.C. 4301- 4333) as those sections apply to retirement or pension benefits.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 36-5-3