AWOL solider
By missyd79
@missyd79 (3438)
United States
January 19, 2007 12:58pm CST
Does anyone know what happens to a solider if they go AWOL (absent without leave). I am asking because my one cousin is missing and he is a marine and he was suppose to report to base on January 6th and never made it there and no one in our family knows where he is.
4 people like this
10 responses
@jmcafam (2890)
• United States
19 Jan 07
I guess it really depends. One of my shipmates had gone awol and he got put in the brig for a few days and had to only bread and water. He than he could not leave the ship for a long while. So, I guess it really depends on the chain of command what they think will suit the case.
4 people like this
@beautyoperater (1890)
• United States
19 Jan 07
I think they have to do some jail time and then get a dishonorable discharge from the service they are in. I hope everything is okay with our cousin and they find him soon.
3 people like this
@SunlightSwoon (1060)
• United States
20 Jan 07
I know of a fellow that didn't return back to base when he
was scheduled to, in his case they sent the MP's to his home and took him back to base, now this was years ago. And I think he did this a number of times, now I don't know if he
was dishonorably discharged or not. But I don't think he spent anytime in prison...SS
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@lisado (1227)
• United States
22 Jan 07
I imagine it depends on the branch of service and the command. A friend of my husband's went AWOL, but turned himself in after two months. They didn't actively hunt him down. There knew where he was. This was before we went to War, however. I understand that those are a whole new set of rules.
Anyway, he was no allowed to leave the ship (he was married with 2 kids) for 45 days. He also had other ship priviledges taken away, as well. He also had two months added on to his original service contract, so instead of getting out in March, like he was supposed to, he didn't get out until May.
Did he disappear while on leave? Like he just didn't want to go back? Or is he overseas somewhere?
1 person likes this
@missyd79 (3438)
• United States
23 Jan 07
he is in the marines and he was on leave and was suppose to report back to Florida january 6th. We found out now that he is somewhere in connecticut but he isn't saying where exactly. His segarant told my aunt (his mom) that they will not actively look for him, but he will have sort of like a warrant out for him, so when he files his taxes or looks for a job, it will come up on his background check. I also found out that when we are war there are alot of different rules, that is why he will be consider a dessetor after the 30th, and that is even worse then AWOL.
@Lydia1901 (16351)
• United States
22 Jan 07
I think they are usually dishonorabely discharge. But, I'm not really sure if that has changed or not yet.
@hockeygal4ever (10021)
• United States
28 Jan 07
Good luck in finding him and I hope he is ok. If he simply didn't show up because he changed his mind I hope he realizes how thoughtless that was to others in his family.
As for what happens, I do know that they generally give a dishonorable discharge and usually some sort of "military prison" time is demanded. Not sure how much or what type but I know there are penalties.
1 person likes this
@whiteheather39 (24403)
• United States
22 Jan 07
He is in deep trouble because AWOL is bad enough but after 10 days it is considered desertion.
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