The members of the State Police heretofore temporarily appointed for the duration of a defense emergency and who are now members of the State Police, shall be entitled to have included, in computing their years of service for the purpose of determining their disability benefits, their seniority and their retirement and pension rights, the whole period of their service in the armed forces of the United States to the same extent as though they had been permanently appointed to the State Police and their services in the said armed forces of the United States had been rendered in the service of the State Police.
N.J.S. § 53:1-29