R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-16-7: Credit for military leave.

Any teacher who has been granted or shall be granted an official leave of absence by his or her superiors to enter the armed services of the United States shall have his or her service counted in his or her years of teaching, and his or her leave of absence shall in no way interrupt the continuity of his or her teaching service which for the purpose of computing retirement benefits under the state retirement system shall be deemed to be continuous service, provided the teacher was teaching for a minimum of six (6) months immediately prior to entry into the armed services and returned or returns to active teaching within one year following the date of his or her honorable discharge from the armed services, but in no event shall the credit exceed a maximum of four (4) years.