Any public employee who holds a position in public employment shall be granted a leave of absence for the purpose of being inducted or otherwise entering military duty. If not accepted for such duty, the employee shall be reinstated in such position without loss of seniority or status or reduction in rate of pay. During such period, the employee shall for all purposes be considered to have rendered service and to have been compensated therefor at the employee's regular rate of pay.
T.C.A. § 8-33-105