| Returning from Fort Sill
What is the name of your state? FL
Hello. I read this post for about 5 months before I turned myself into Fort Sill. I hardly ever heard any female stories so I wanted to share mine. I hope it helps comfort someone as other poss helped with my anxiety.
I turned myself into Fort Sill on Monday morning about 10 am. The main gate is where you need to go and it is on Sheridan Rd or Dr (something like that, Sheridan is the main name.) I was terrified. I told the gaurd at the gate and he was very cool about it, he called the MP station and they had to talk to me over te phone and verify a couple of details about you. Then they come and get you. When they arrive at the main gate (where you obviously are) they will take a statement from you, like where you left from, why, and where you were at while gone. The information really isn't imparitive it is just a police report. Then the handcuff you and take you to the MP station. Once at the station they will un cuff you and take you inside. Crazy I know. You will then se a Civilian Liason. He will make sure your packet is there and you have been released from your unit. If you do not meet those two requirements you will be sent back to your unit. So, call the deserter hotline a couple of times before you go turn yourself in just to make sure. Once the civilian liason has determined that you may be taken to the PCF (personel control facility) the MP that arrested you at the gate will escort you to the PCF. When you arrive at the PCF you will be kind of flustered. It is nothing like you would've expected. You will be told to read the rules (all three pages) and given a copy. It is kind of like reception (no talking to opposite sex, no drugs or weapons of any type, etc.) They will then read you your rights, search you and your belongings. Any cell phones, ipods, etc., credit cards, license, checks, social security card will be put into the safe till you are released. Medicine will be stored and you can take it at will with escorts supervision. You will be allowed to keep you hygeine items and undergarments along with civilian clothes and make-up!!! From then you will sign some forms a inproccessing sheet, a memorandum or personal belongings being stored for you in the safe, a memo. did not turn in your military idea you muist write a statement explaining what happened to it, and a hygiene cost form you will sign. You will then be issued linen, and BDU's (yes, the old BDU's is what you will where while you are staying there), and a set of PT's to where. You will not be doing PT so don't freak out. You will be assigned a room, they are four man rooms and told to change (males must recieve a haircut before they can put on the uniform). You can still process in civilian clothes. The next day (Tuesday) you will go next door and inprocess. Just reentering you into the system and making sure your information is correct. They will need an address to send you your DD214 (discharge papers). Depending on when your packet is complete is when the first sgt will call you. The sooner the better but don't fret you have till friday by 11:00am to be read by the first sgt. Wednesday is the only day that ACAP class is given. You must attend this in order to leave. So, do not miss it. It is a class that tells you there is a life after going AWOL and people rise up from it if they choose. On Thursday's as long as you have inprocessed you will go get your new military id. You had to surrender your old one. Your id card will be valid for 90 days. You will also have insurance through tricare for 90 days. Exciting I know. Friday the big day approaches ... TDS ... or better known as JAG. As long as you have met these requirements you will go to TDS ... inprocessed, attended the ACAP briefing, been read by the First SGT, and Issued a new id card. If you go to TDS this also means you will be leaving that afternoon. YEAH!!!
A few quick side notes, bring your own hygiene, there's really isn't the best. You can smoke you lungs out. SO, bring a carton or more with you. You will not be able to go and buy more if you run out. You can wear civilian clothes during free time at night, which is usually after dinner chow. There is one pay phone so bring a calling card. Unless you are national guard or reserves you will not need any of your paperwork. Be prepared to sit on bleachers to your but can't sit anymore and beyond. You will get up at 5 am and lights out are at 10 pm. Your first night there you will pull fireguard. It is a one hour shift. I had it once in 5 days. You will barely march more than 10 feet. You ride in a van everywhere. Basically, don't worry, it wasn't as bad as I thought. If you do what the escorts say, which are civilians, they will leave you alone. You will most likely leave on friday if you get there monday. Unless, your packet wasn't complete, which sometimes happens. They will try to scare you and say you will be there longer but you won't if you just folow the rules and be a respectful person. That is all they want. They do not want you there as much as you don't want to be there.
Hope you feel a little more at ease with the process. Good luck to anyone turning themselves in. | 
10-09-2007, 11:16 PM
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