Every employee holding a position in the unclassified service of the state, on or after August 8, 1940, who has left or shall leave that position by reason of entering the armed forces of the United States (whether through membership in the reserve of the United States military, air, or naval forces or in the Rhode Island national guard or naval reserve, or by reason of enlistment, induction, commission, or otherwise) and who has held a position in the state service for one hundred eighty (180) or more calendar days within the twelve (12) months next preceding that entrance into the armed forces, is entitled to and is hereby granted sixty (60) calendar days separation pay commencing with the time of leaving that position for that purpose. Every such employee shall be paid by the state the same amount as he would have received had he or she not been absent from his or her position in the unclassified service.