(a) The war service before September 1, 1939, of a veteran, as defined in § 27-103 and § 5-196, shall be counted as state service if the member began to make his retirement contributions before September 1, 1941, and made retirement contributions on all salary received by him from September 1, 1939, until his retirement date.

(b) The war service before September 1, 1939, of a veteran who became a member after September 1, 1939, and the war service or military service during a national emergency declared by the President of the United States on and after September 1, 1939, of a veteran who became a member at any time, shall be counted as state service if the member makes retirement contributions for each month of war service as defined in § 27-103 and described in subdivision (28) of § 5-196, or for each month of such service during a national emergency, as the case may be. Any veteran who becomes a member on or after July 1, 1975, shall not receive credit for such war or military service if such member has received or is entitled to receive any retirement allowance for the same years of such service from the federal government. Any veteran who is a member and who has not made application for such credit prior to July 1, 1975, shall not receive credit for such service if such member has received or is entitled to receive any retirement allowance for the same years of such service from the federal government unless such member makes application for such credit to the Retirement Commission on or before October 1, 1975, and makes retirement contributions for each month of such service in accordance with the provisions of this subsection. The Comptroller of the state may notify each employee of this provision on or before September 1, 1975. Such contributions shall equal one-twelfth of four per cent of his first year’s salary as a state employee multiplied by the total number of months of such war service or national emergency service and, if such employee became a member after April 1, 1958, shall be accompanied by interest at four per cent per year from the time such war service was rendered or from September 1, 1939, whichever is later, until the date of payment or January 1, 1962, whichever is earlier. Such contributions may be paid by payroll deductions as determined by the Retirement Commission over a period not to exceed thirty-six months, interest thereon to be paid not later than the last day of the month following the payment of the last of such deductions. Service credit for retirement purposes shall not be granted unless payment of contributions and interest is completed. No credit shall be given hereunder for military service during a national emergency to any state employee who has served less than ten years as a permanent full-time state employee, nor for any such military service beyond a total period of his compulsory service, if any, plus three years.

(c) A member who leaves state service for the sole purpose of entering the armed forces of the United States may make his retirement contributions while in the armed forces in the monthly amount he was making immediately before he left state service. Such contributions shall be deducted from any salary payable to the member during his absence. Alternately, if no salary was payable to him, he may make such contributions after his return to state service, with interest thereon at five per cent per year from a date six months after he left the armed forces, provided he shall make application for return to state service within ninety days after he has received a certificate for satisfactory service from the armed forces. No contributions may be made, however, at any time for service in the armed forces beyond a total period of his compulsory service therein, if any, plus three years.