In recognition of honorable service in the Rhode Island national guard, the Rhode Island national guard service medal will be awarded to every commissioned officer, warrant officer, and enlisted person now, or hereafter, in the Rhode Island national guard, who has rendered seven (7) years continuous honorable service in the Rhode Island national guard; each commissioned officer, warrant officer, and enlisted person who shall have rendered honorable service in the Rhode Island national guard for a period of ten (10) years, at least seven (7) of which shall have been continuous, and for each additional five (5) years of honorable service, whether continuous or not, shall receive appropriate clasps to be worn on the ribbon of the medal; provided, that officers or enlisted persons of the Rhode Island national guard who were in federal service during World War I, World War II, or the Korean Emergency shall be given credit for this service as state service and those who were commissioned, warranted, or enlisted in the Rhode Island national guard upon its reorganization or within six (6) months from the time of discharge from federal service shall be entitled to have the intervening period counted as state service for the purposes of this section.