going AWOL....seriously?

Question

I was in the military for four years, been out for two but now they are calling me back to duty. I'm planning on not going.. but I'm worry? can somebody tell me what the punishement woul be?
please be serious...

Answer 1

If you still have a commitment with the military I suggest you honor it. I don't think you will fare very well in a military prison!

Answer 2

Sorting through your answers there is some good ones and some that are misinformed.

If you don't report volutarily if they do eventually find you, you will be guaranteed to get crappy duty.

Yes they might not come after you right away. But eventually you will get put in the system. 10 years from now you could get pulled over for a traffic ticket and bam...... prison time.

Now obviously you are young at not very well grounded to ask this question. But later, you get married want to go to school, etc.
Any student loan or grant will be out for you. In this day and age any good company does a background check. They may not catch it at first but the trend is that companies keep doing periodic checks using different companies. Even if they don't catch the dishonorable once you rise to a higher level the checks get more extensive.

So you are married and have kids and a life later. You will have to always keep your family at a lower economic level because you will always be thinking that if you take the great job or diferrent opportunity you might get caught or not get it.

Every time you see a military movie or show you will think about it. Years from now when you are more mature inside you will feel ashamed and wish you could go back and do the right thing.

So in short even if you don't get caught you will suffer the consequences forever. All for the price of not doing a one year deployment. Is is truly worth all of the potential, immediate or lifelong consequences? No it's not.

Just do the right thing...... bottom line. And do it now. Delay it and then decide to show, again crappy duty with no choice to pick a duty station.

Answer 3

There are huge networks that will help you if you decide not to return to active service. I will not say that you *won't* be punished, but the current war has seen a huge rate in the number of people going AWOL, I think it was some 5,500 by 2005. The government does not have the man-power to prosecute that many people. Also, as a veteran I can tell you that while in the Navy I was always threatened with the spectre of never getting a good job if I did something wrong while serving, and yet no company that I have ever worked for has cared about my military record -- maybe if I had become a cop or joined the FBI, but regular people just don't really care about anything but your skills and what you can bring to the job. Also, you joined a "volunteer" military...this was not a draft. You are simply un-volunteering. Look at some of the Indy sites online to find information about safe ways to go AWOL and good luck!

Some stats from the wikipedia (sources are on that page, see below):

According to the Pentagon, more than 5500 military personnel deserted in 2003–2004, following the Iraq invasion and occupation. [1]. The number had reached about 8000 by the first quarter of 2006. [2] Another report stated that since 2000, about 40,000 troops from all branches of the military have deserted, also according to the Pentagon. More than half of these served in the US Army [3]. Almost all of these soldiers deserted within the USA. There has only been one reported case of a desertion in Iraq. However, "Desertion numbers have dropped since 9/11. The Army, Navy and Air Force reported 7,978 desertions in 2001, compared with 3,456 in 2005. The Marine Corps showed 1,603 Marines in desertion status in 2001. That had declined by 148 in 2005." [4]

You will always hear of a case or two, here and there, being prosecuted, but those media reports are necessary to maintain the spectacle of control within a system in which the media, military and corporations are part of the same apparatus. I know this now sounds like I am some kind of crazy conspiracy theory kook, but it is such common knowledge now that any tracing of corporate connections will reveal same. It is true that if you choose to follow your heart, you might be one of those held up as an example, but there are plenty of people getting out (often with the aid of lawyers) with no adverse effect on the rest of their lives.

Answer 4

AWOL is never a good idea - it involves fines and remarks that will be on your record for life.
Show up as asked - there are legal options but you have to follow the rules as to not be automatically in the wrong. It is a long process so make sure you get a good military lawyer - that knows the laws and regulations that can get you through the process. Make sure you know where you are needed - kinda dumb to throw a fit for being stationed in Arizona or Florida.......
If you don't want to be overseas you can be a hindrance( safety hazard) to the men and women that are serving.My son's words not mine. Really not meant to be offensive just a fact of life.

A dishonorable discharge will show up on your work record, background checks etc for life.

Answer 5

Your best bet is to go. You made the committment, see it through.

If you do not, there will be a court martial, you will be fined, do time, receice a dishonorable discharge, and your life will be a lot harder than it needs to be.

Eventually, you will be found. If you get pulled over, try to register to vote, get any sort of job that performs a background check, renew you license, etc.

I even saw on the news a couple years ago where a guy was picked up at his wedding. There was a marriage announcement in the paper, the local police knew where he was going to be and when, and picked him up at the reception.

You already did your four years, don't throw it all away.


***concerning the above answer, we are not at war. War has not been declared since WWII. And, given the fact we have real time news around the world, no one will be executed.

Answer 6

As you are being recalled to active service, you could technically be charged with desertion. What that means is that they can send the "brig chasers" after you. What they do is to check local and federal records, and your former military records to determine where you are, and where you are likely to go. Your name gets posted on a federal wanted list, so you have a fair chance of being apprehended if you try to leave the country. You're wanted with a warrant for your arrest, so even something like a broken tail light will land you in jail until the military comes and gets you. Then, you will be subjected to a court-martial (possibly general, likely special) and face prosecution. If found guilty, you will likely face a dishonorable discharge and 1-3 years in a military (federal) prison, and face the prospect of being a convicted felon for the rest of your life.

Answer 7

I personally would go back if they called you up, and if you are worried about losing your great job there is a guarantee that the military offers and if the company agrees with it that they hire you back on as to where you were in your position if you had never left and been there all along i forget what the heck it's called I learned about it when I was getting discharged from the service i'll look it up for you or contact the VA about it, or the people who handle seperations at the nearest base near you. let me know if you need more info i'll see what i can do to help.

Answer 8

You oughta already know what's going to happen to you. Or did you forget that little "military justice class" in Basic? Deserters, because that's you are, are ALWAYS hunted by the military and the FBI.
After 30 days, there's a $30,000 reward for your head.
You will never stop looking over your shoulder.
Your best bet is to go back in. You DID sign up for two-four years in the IRR right?

Answer 9

I don't know, but I did my four and wish they'd give me the chance to go back. They said at 47 I was too old. My son is currently a US Marine and a veteran of the Battle for Falushia.

Answer 10

The punishment: after you are called to actve duty, and you do not appear, you will be court martialed. Your obligation is what you agreed to, probably six years. You are being recalled because of your experience. Take that and use it. And take care of yourself. After four years, you are now the old pro, the old salt that the newbies will look up to. If you don't use your experience to look after them, who will?

Answer 11

tattoo980927 is right. You definitely don't want to throw your life after service away. And even after your active duty is over, they can call you back for up to eight years. It doesn't matter if you are drafted, there is no draft right now.This is part of your contract with the military branch you joined.