Desertions

[DAVOUT]

A French satirical weekly newspaper reports that 1700 US soldiers did not came back after their regular permission. Compared to the number of soldiers who where granted a leave (26000?), it would represent 6%.

Is that a rate expected for units in operations?

http://forums.about.com/ab-usmilitary/messages/?msg=40890

[MrFun]

bump



Would be nice to get an answer from someone like MTG.

[DAVOUT]

We are patient, Mod never desert

[DanS]

I think the US AWOL rate has always been pretty high, even in peacetime. It has been a problem. That said, I have no idea whether that figure is correct.

[chequita guevara]

Yep. Even our President is a deserter.

[loinburger]

AFAIK, the reason that the armed forces developed a distinction between going AWOL and deserting is that they didn't want to have to execute half of the army just because they wanted a little play at the local brothels.

[Sava]

Originally posted by chegitz guevara
Yep. Even our President is a deserter.

STOLE MY THUNDER!

[lord of the mark]

Originally posted by loinburger
AFAIK, the reason that the armed forces developed a distinction between going AWOL and deserting is that they didn't want to have to execute half of the army just because they wanted a little play at the local brothels.

or just cause they missed the train on their way back from leave, or whatever.

[reds4ever]

Originally posted by loinburger
AFAIK, the reason that the armed forces developed a distinction between going AWOL and deserting is that they didn't want to have to execute half of the army just because they wanted a little play at the local brothels.

I did n't know Dubya had it in him!!

[connorkimbro]

it isn't nearly that high for normal army units, no.

can't say whether it's accurate for deployed units though. . .

[Sprayber]

Why dont you and Mobius and che combine your three threads into one and save a little space here on poly. Unless of course you all couldnt agree to share the spotlight.

[DAVOUT]

Stop repeating the same thing everywhere. If you are not interested, get away please. This thread is not controversial, and the subject is within the limits of free speech, and has not yet been discussed.

[Chemical Ollie]

Spray should AWOL

[DAVOUT]

Originally posted by Chemical Ollie
Spray should AWOL

Seconded

[MichaeltheGreat]

Use of the term desertion is inaccurate.

The UCMJ and service regulations recognize three four grades of absence from duties.

AWOL is the least serious, but can still be pretty damned serious depending on the facts of the matter. A soldier is AWOL anytime he or she is not in the appointed place at the appointed time in the appointed uniform. You're late from a 72 hour pass by ten minutes? That's AWOL. You leave the base or some assigned duty where you are supposed to be at the time, that's AWOL. You show up out of uniform enough for it to me more than a chicken**** uniform violation, that's AWOL too. Your status is unknown, that's AWOL until your disappearance for a period of time, or an investigation of the circumstances creates a presumption of desertion.

Missing movement is a very serious offense, and that's when you don't show up for a scheduled unit movement to another deployment. Your ship sails, your unit moves without you, and your ass belongs to God after the JAG Corps gets done with you, unless you have a damned good reason beyond your control.

Desertion is generally when there is an intent to permanently abandon your duty and oath.

Desertion under enemy fire is an aggravating circumstance and a much more serious offense, as it is not just abandonment of your duty and fellow soldiers, it is doing so to save yourself while directly increasing their risk of death, wounds or capture.

Actual desertion rates are a tiny fraction of a percent, because the military criminal law system views it as an extreme offense.

AWOL's coming back from leave while on deployment aren't that uncommon, but most of them are trivial, and involve travel delays, or some stupid PFC that had to just stick around an extra day to get laid, etc. Most of them get resolved behind the scenes, either with completely informal punishment or Article 15s. Very few AWOL cases are severe enough to rate court-martial, and very few AWOL defendents are dumb enough to push for a court-martial instead of sucking up an Article 15.