My friend made it through basic and AIT but then before he was transferred to his unit he went to his commanding officers and told them about his gambling problems and how he needed to get help right away.. They didnt do anything at first so his family contacted red cross and the red cross contacted the military and he got a 10 day leave before going to his unit... He never made it back to the army. He was been gone for two years and he went to GA for his gambling help and he searched for god and found help there... It has been 2 years AWOL and he has gotten pulled over by the cops once for a speeding ticket and went to court... He has a good job where they run a background check on him... Hes bought a house and a new car... All of this while he was AWOL... And now that hes gotten the help he has saved up money for his family while hes gone he wants to know what happens now with the AWOL and why they havent hunted him down or arrested him when he was pulled over or bought a house????
2007-04-09 09:47:35 · 13 answers · asked by frank g 1 in Politics & Government ➔ Military
Believe it or not some AWOL soldiers often get lost in the system but there will come a day that he will have to answer to Uncle Sam. I've had a soldier that was caught after 5 yrs of being AWOL, had several speeding tickets AND then arrested, turned over to another branch of service and they released him due to lack of info in the system. Finally he was caught again on a random traffic stop, go figure, then turned over to the Army . Once he signed into the unit, he was discharged shortly after with an other than Honorable and no jail time due to extreme circumstances that lead him to flee. Does this happen with everyone-No, however Commands are much more considerate when taking action against an AWOL soldier if he turns himself in and has a unique circumstance supporting him versus him being brought with no justification at all. There seemingly is no other excuse for your friend not turning himself in after he corrected his gambling debts years ago other than his satisfactions, truly if he has changed his life doing the honorable thing in GOD's eyes wouldn't be a question neither a hesitation.
2007-04-09 10:58:50 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
There were individuals who spent years AWOL after Vietnam, some had their names inscribed on the Vietnam memorial because they were presumed dead. Contrary to popular belief, the military doesn't really actively hunt for people who go AWOL. Many of the ones you hear about, are only because the AWOL individual called a press conference to tell everyone they were turning themselves in. They figure if the media is watching they can claim they were AWOL on principle and maybe the military won't punish them as severly.
2007-04-09 09:58:57 · answer #2 · answered by Brian O 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Unfortunately your friend made a really, really bad decision. Your friend is going to have to turn himself in. I would imagine the reason he has not been physically searched out is because our military had been a bit busy the last few years. Eventually this will catch up to him. Better now, before he has a wife and kids to take care of. He does not want a dishonorable discharge on his service record. Good Luck, he is going to need it.
2007-04-09 10:06:15 · answer #3 · answered by Bookworm4124 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes they will eventually get him. They NEVER stop looking. I had to escort a prisoner in 2003 from the San Deigo airport who they found in Utah and this guy went AWOL in 1962. They still got him threw him in jail for a week, did his paperwork, and separated him.
He should turn himself in and get this over with. Yes if he turns himself in he will be given more leniency. They will find him, and yes he will have to answer for it. He took an oath that is taken very seriously.
2007-04-09 10:03:13 · answer #4 · answered by h h 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I thought a part of any 12=Step program included making amends for your past mistakes. Apparently, your friend is very selective about what mistakes he wants to make amends for.
To your question, however. When your friend is caught, and he will be caught, he will probably be confined for 30 days and then dishonorbly discharged. Try to get a job with a dishonorable discharge. Even if you lie about it, a lot of employers today do background checks and for any decent job it will turn up.
2007-04-09 10:00:16 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
If he's such a great guy why doesn't he do the right thing and turn himself in. A truly great guy and someone who is so into God should stop lying to himself and the world and come out. Sounds like a punk to me. Lying about eveything to everyone. He lied to get into the Army and lied to escape. HONOR is something he is lacking and needs to grow up. He is living like an illegal alien he needs to stand up and take care of his past now.
2007-04-09 09:55:10 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
I personally worked a 2003 court-martial for a man who deserted in 1981. He'll be nailed eventually.
It would be smart of him to work this out and arrange a surrender (return to military control) so he doesn't have this hanging over his head. The man we apprehended was a gray-haired E-3, but we got him.
If he surrenders, odds are they'll just kick him out administratively instead of court-martialling him. If he takes his chances, I see a court-martial in his future.
I won't even comment on the irony of a man who "found God" but who apparently has no urge to stand by his oath to our nation. Oops, I just did.
2007-04-09 09:55:21 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 0⤋
He should turn himself in. This is one chapter that is should be clear. Also, they might just discharge him already. When he has a police stop, the police check LEIN which will list him AWOL.
2007-04-09 11:46:42 · answer #8 · answered by c1523456 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just alittle curious how the Army hasn't tracked him down...
He has to have used his SSN for the job and the house and car loans... unless of course he's using a false identification
2007-04-09 09:59:55 · answer #9 · answered by mariner31 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the military stays busy and doesnt normally have time to go looking for awol soldiers. in time they will catch him and his punishment will be worse the longer he waits. tell him to turn himself in now and they may be leainany for his honesty.
2007-04-09 09:58:21 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋