They are linked in common sense terms however I don't think that'll stand up legally. At the end of the day, your IP isn't yours completed the required service. The fact that they have pulled the rug from under you and you were unable to complete it doesn't, under AFRS 2010, cut much ice with the treasury. All they've done basically is to increased the time served from 12 to 18 years for IP and offered those that fall foul a sweetener in the form of 1.5 months sal per years service instead of the 9 months pay.