awol son caught, what happens next?

[rach10]

I have a son who went awol from the MC about 11 mos. ago. He had completed basic training, had his leave, and never reported back. We told him to turn himself in, he said no. He then dissappearred from our lives for the 11 months. We recently found out that he had gotten picked up by the police, and was basically sitting in jail waiting for the military to come get him. We, as parents, know he needs to complete his obligation to the MC and want him to do so. But the question we have "what next?" What happens to him, where does he go? Will it just be a matter a short jail time and discharge? Please give me some feedback. Thanks

 

[rmet4nzkx]

I have a son who went awol from the MC about 11 mos. ago. He had completed basic training, had his leave, and never reported back. We told him to turn himself in, he said no. He then dissappearred from our lives for the 11 months. We recently found out that he had gotten picked up by the police, and was basically sitting in jail waiting for the military to come get him. We, as parents, know he needs to complete his obligation to the MC and want him to do so. But the question we have "what next?" What happens to him, where does he go? Will it just be a matter a short jail time and discharge? Please give me some feedback. Thanks

If he had turned himself in right away it may have been a much simpler process, but since he stayed UA/AWOL he made it into a much more difficult process one that will affect his entire life. He will most likely have some jail time and a BCD which will affect his future.

 

[Litigation!]

I have a son who went awol from the MC about 11 mos. ago. He had completed basic training, had his leave, and never reported back. We told him to turn himself in, he said no. He then dissappearred from our lives for the 11 months. We recently found out that he had gotten picked up by the police, and was basically sitting in jail waiting for the military to come get him. We, as parents, know he needs to complete his obligation to the MC and want him to do so. But the question we have "what next?" What happens to him, where does he go? Will it just be a matter a short jail time and discharge? Please give me some feedback. Thanks

My response:

Yes, he'll spend a very short time in jail, maybe two weeks, and then he'll be released. That's what happens to all the AWOL troops; especially the one's who die for Bush. They get released forever. You remember Bush, don't you? He's the guy you voted into office twice.

AWOL is another word for Desertion - - during time of war.

IAAL

 

[rach10]

To "Litigation" - - I'm not quite sure I understand your answer. I was hoping the consequences would be a little more severe than "two weeks" in jail. I also do understand that after 30 days the term becomes desertion.

 

[badapple40]

My response:

Yes, he'll spend a very short time in jail, maybe two weeks, and then he'll be released. That's what happens to all the AWOL troops; especially the one's who die for Bush. They get released forever. You remember Bush, don't you? He's the guy you voted into office twice.

AWOL is another word for Desertion - - during time of war.

IAAL

That is not true. Can you please stop interjecting your political views with these questions, especially with questions in an area that you are clearly not familiar with.

 

[rach10]

I apologize to you "Litigation" if I have brought up issues for you. I am only trying to understand the procedure of what happens next. Whether or not I am for or against a war is not the issue. Also, I am a mother, and I am not calling him "my poor little baby". I do believe in the military, but more importantly, I believe in commitment. I am only looking for answers. Thank you.

 

[badapple40]

I have a son who went awol from the MC about 11 mos. ago. He had completed basic training, had his leave, and never reported back. We told him to turn himself in, he said no. He then dissappearred from our lives for the 11 months. We recently found out that he had gotten picked up by the police, and was basically sitting in jail waiting for the military to come get him. We, as parents, know he needs to complete his obligation to the MC and want him to do so. But the question we have "what next?" What happens to him, where does he go? Will it just be a matter a short jail time and discharge? Please give me some feedback. Thanks

Most likely your son will be court-martialed, because his AWOL was terminated by apprehension. Had he turned himself in, he would have gotten an other than honorable discharge, which would negatively affect him in employment in the future.

I give your son a 35% chance of merely being discharged with an other than honorable. It will revoke any veterans benefits and impact his future.

I give your son a 30% chance of being court-martialed at a special court-martial, authorized to adjudge a bad conduct discharge. I suspect he is looking at around 60 days confinement, and will then be discharged punitively. This could be considered a federal felony conviction (there is debate on whether it is a federal felony or federal misdemeanor conviction). That will impact his future in profound ways, including the possibility of removing his right to vote, obtain student loans, his ability to possess a firearm, and all of the other consequences that follow federal felons. The charge would most likely be AWOL terminated by apprehension, but could be desertion. The fact that he was caught, instead of turning himself in, makes it more likely that it would be desertion. If desertion, he's likely looking at up to 1 year confinement.

I give your son a 25% chance of being court-martialed at a general court-martial. Again, the charge could be desertion or AWOL terminated by apprehension. He's looking at a dishonorable discharge, and either 18 months in leavenworth or 2 years. Again, it would have been a lot better had he turned himself in, because that makes desertion harder to prove, resulting in a special court-martial. A conviction at a general court martial is a federal felony. That will impact his future in profound ways, including the possibility of removing his right to vote, obtain student loans, his ability to possess a firearm, and all of the other consequences that follow federal felons.

Finally, because of unit shortages, I give it a 10% chance he is returned to his unit, given an article 15, confined, restricted, but sent to a unit where he will finish out his enlistment, and not be given credit for the time he was AWOL.

Again, had he simply turned himself in, it would have been much much better.

 

[Angler911]

Litigation...not to burst your bubble, but the last execution due to desertion was last issued over 40 years ago, and that was because of deserting a combat zone. This case seems to be the first 180 days of training, meaning he/she is still in entry level status, which is the period of time when the military is the least severe when it comes to punishing poeple who are UA/AWOL or in a desertion status. Worrying a Mother who is just concerned about her Son's well being is totally uncalled for.

 

[Litigation!]

Litigation...not to burst your bubble, but the last execution due to desertion was last issued over 40 years ago, and that was because of deserting a combat zone. This case seems to be the first 180 days of training, meaning he/she is still in entry level status, which is the period of time when the military is the least severe when it comes to punishing poeple who are UA/AWOL or in a desertion status. Worrying a Mother who is just concerned about her Son's well being is totally uncalled for.

My response:

Hey, what do you call Baghdad, a playground?

Actually, it was over 60 years ago, but who's counting? I wonder if the Viet Nam deserters are still in prison?

Hey, spin that wheel!! Maybe he'll be executed just to teach everyone else a lesson!

Wouldn't that just beat all?

IAAL

 

[rach10]

Thank you badapple40 for the information and angler911 for the support, I do not need to read "his" replies. They do not pertain to my question. Just one more question, does the military contact his family or because he is 19, is it his choice whether or not to do so (we are a bit estranged from him)? Or is there someone we can contact to find out what actually happens?

 

[Litigation!]

My further response:

These kids are dying in the WRONG country!

But, what the hell, at least they're dying for the good ol' US of A!!

IAAL

 

[Litigation!]

"When you fail to read your history, you're doomed to repeat it!"

President Richard Milhouse Nixon did the same crap to this country.

IAAL

 

[Angler911]

I doubt they will contact you, due to his age. Although, he should be provided with the opportunity to either write or call on his own.

 

[rmet4nzkx]

Thank you badapple40 for the information and angler911 for the support, I do not need to read "his" replies. They do not pertain to my question. Just one more question, does the military contact his family or because he is 19, is it his choice whether or not to do so (we are a bit estranged from him)? Or is there someone we can contact to find out what actually happens?

Your son is 19, he is an adult and emancipated because he is in the military. HOWEVER the USMC encourages recruits and trainees to communicate as much as possible in their free time, the DI will actually sit them down to write letters home and you are encouraged to write as much as possible, they actually get points for letters from home. I happened to be in Paris and sent my son a postcard which he got double points for because of the subject matter. Recruits and trainees do become depressed and homesick and at some point in their training at Camp P things will begin to click. Feel free if your son is depressed or you are concerned about his health to call and talk to his Sgt, they will take your concern seriously and send your son to medical for evaluation. A lot of recruits have cold feet after DEP in high school so your son is not alone. Joining the military during time of war is not to be taken lightly, something I believe you know already, so does your son. It he is not able to get an ELS then he should make the best of the situation, it really will help him mature into a fine man.