| Some Advice
OH
Last year I was AWOL for a total of 8 months. I came here and asked what the best course of action was. I followed the advice I was given and things turned out ok...I'd like to share my story, maybe it'll give someone some perspective.
I joined up in February 2006 for 4 years, it seemed to be the best course for my life. I went to Basic and AIT and loved it. I was assigned to the 1st Cav in Ft. Hood. About a month after I got there I got a call that my sister had tried to kill herself. My mother was sick, in and out of the hospital, so she couldnt take care of her. I asked my acting 1SG (my unit was deployed) for emergency leave. He said no. So I kept on asking him and he basically told me there was absolutely no way I was getting emergency leave. I didnt know about Red Cross messages at the time. So I left.
I went home and got things straight, but I didnt want to go back. So I stayed gone for 8 months. Then I went to traffic court one day (I wasnt worried because I had gone a few times since I was AWOL) and they detained me for the federal warrant out for me. I was held for two days in the county jail, but they had to release me because my unit wouldnt send anyone all the way to Ohio to get me. I was free again. But I realized that it was time to take care of it. The warden called Ft. Hood and they sent me an e-ticket. I left 2 days later and turned my self in at the gates.
I never even went to the MP station. My status was "Return to Military Control", so they just took me to my unit. I slept on a cot in Battalion one night and was given a barracks room the next day. For the next 6 months, I did what everyone else did. Our chain of command changed 3 times in that period, and my paperwork kept getting restarted. But I did everything I was told to do, i helped out the newer guys, I listened to all the NCOs. I even became pretty good friends with my CO. So after all the time I spent there, eventually it was decided that I was to have a Summary Court Martial. I spent 25 days in jail and was fined 2/3 of one months pay. I spent another 2 months on Ft. Hood before I was discharged. They gave me General Under Honorable Conditions.
I think I was very fortunate in my misfortune. I think a lot of it has to do that I did the right thing when I came back. Turning myself in probably didnt hurt either. So if I had any advice gto give permanent party AWOL soldiers...just do the right thing. I cant promise nothing bad will happen, but it makes you look better in the long run.
Regards.  | 
Linear Mode
