Tennessee Code Title 8. Public Officers and Employees § 8-8-413

(a) The board shall formulate reasonable rules governing the granting of leaves of absence to members of the classified service in good standing. The board shall seek the advice of the sheriff upon any request for leave of absence before acting thereon and shall be guided by the requirements of adequate law enforcement and the operational efficiency of the office of sheriff when considering any such request for a leave.

(b) Any persons coming under the classified service who shall hereafter be inducted into the armed forces of the United States, or who shall hereafter enter the service voluntarily in a time of war or other national emergency, shall, upon application of the sheriff, receive a military leave of absence for the duration of the period of service required. The employee shall retain all rights or seniority and shall be entitled to re-employment in the same capacity and position held at the time of entering military service; however, an application for reinstatement in such position must be made by or on behalf of such employee within three (3) months after termination of active service in the armed forces.