Participants in this System shall be deemed to be employees for the purposes of . Any reference in such section 8351 or in subchapter III of chapter 84 of such title 5 to retirement or separation under subchapter III of chapter 83 or chapter 84 of such title 5 shall be deemed to be references to retirement or separation under part I or II of this subchapter with similar benefits or entitlements with respect to participants under such part I or II, respectively.section 8351 of title 5