A.W.O.L. Help

[naythan1383]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Indiana

Hi, I went Awol from Ft. Lewis a few days ago...I just had signed into my unit the same night I left..I didn't even meet my chain of command or anyone. I have been feeling depressed the entire time I've been in the Army not wanting to be there. I should've left during AIT but I never did....So now I'm Awol and am planning to wait until I am dropped from rolls to report to Ft. Sill, turn myself in and hopefully be OTH discharged at the worst...I really gotta get outta the Army and this might've not been the best way to go about it but I can't be there anymore. The GI rights hotline has been pretty helpful but my commander brought up something when he talked to my family saying that the GI hotline doesn't tell people the correct information.....If anyone can help I would appreciate it.

Also is getting Early seperation to further education or early release to serve in the reserves....can an attorney help me with all of this?

[Peligroso27]

can an attorney help me with all of this?

No, you are in this on your own. If you go to court martial for deserting then you should get an attorney.

[NukeMM]

You won't have to get an attorney the army will get you a JAG if you request it, and chances are they will offer you an OTH discharge bargain before they would send you to court-martial since it is a lot of work and a lot of people they have to involve once it goes that far.

[Peligroso27]

Be aware that this individual is posting based solely on his own individual experience which may or may not be very different from yours as well as the outcome. Please be aware that you are subject to prosecution by court martial and there is no guarantee that you will receive any category of discharge from your command or avoid brig time upon your return.

[VirginiaPrisone]

A friend of mine went UA from the Navy. First time he was gone 15 days. He got put on restriction and was not allowed to leave the ship, and they took his ID. The second time (right after he got off restriction) he went UA again for a month. The CO sent him to the brig for a month that time and aventually he was discharged not sure under what category.


They WILL issue a warrant for your arrest and you WILL be caught. They will punish you in one way or another. Likely the longer you are gone the harsher the punishment you will get. Your best move is to go back and take the punishment you've already earned before it gets too serious.

There is a chance they will just forget about you and discharge you without ever seeing you again, though this is not something I would count on happening. Keep in mind that we are in a state of war(a war that will never end) and therefore you are subject to harsher punishment because of that. The longer you are gone the worse it is going to get for you.

Finish off your four years (or however many you signed for) and get out and go to college.

[pete07172]

Hello i am a 8 year veteran in the us army, i've seen soldiers go AWOL while thier unit was deployed ans the most anyone got was 6 months in jail, and thats after pissing hot for drugs and being AWOL. don't let anyone fool you to think we are in a state of war if you can find a good defense lawyer that truely understands the military system you can get off scoot free in some cases... not all of them.

[ERAUPIKE]

Originally Posted by pete07172

Hello i am a 8 year veteran in the us army, i've seen soldiers go AWOL while thier unit was deployed ans the most anyone got was 6 months in jail, and thats after pissing hot for drugs and being AWOL. don't let anyone fool you to think we are in a state of war if you can find a good defense lawyer that truely understands the military system you can get off scoot free in some cases... not all of them.

You forgot to mention the category of discharge and loss of benefits as well. Six months is jail is not something that would be acceptable to most people, you shouldn't try to minimize it. No individual that is discharged as an OTH or BCD gets off scot free.

[pete07172]

If you have seen some of the cases i have seen in the Military then you would be tracking. I can name one soldier right off the bat that got six months in jail 3 months of that time served in a civilian jail waiting trail, a general discharge under honorable conditions. All because he had a lawyer that knew the Military system and proved flaws in his contract. So like i said if you find a good lawyer you can win... (Not Garunteed) each case is different

[naythan1383]

thanks pete, and just so you know I do appreciate you serving, the military isn't for everyone and just because I left doesn't mean I don't respect most of the people who choose it as their career. On another note..times have been very hard waiting to turn myself in, I really just want my life back and start over. I've been even more depressed and was thinking of seeing a psych. soon...depressions not just from going AWOL. I believe I've been dropped from rolls since I wasn't paid on the 1st. So to me it makes since the longer I'm gone yes possibly worse punishment, but also seems more likely for some kind of discharge. I was wondering if I talked to a lawyer if they could or are allowed to try and work something out with my chain of command, if they even are my chain of command anymore. Maybe to let me outprocess somewhere else other than Washington, or something to make this as easy as possible. I don't know really how to go about it. But if I tell the pscyh. the truth I'm sure they're gonna try and put me on some kind of pills and that could help possibly with getting out. Also what happens since I'm dfr's if I go back to Lewis what will happen there?

*Also I don't know if it would help but I was reading discharge types and it says els are for service members who have served less than 180 days in that branch. I joined the national guard active first program may 30th but then switched to active army a different branch at the end of july therefore I haven't been active for 180 days yet so I don't know if that could help me but I was thinking so...

[ERAUPIKE]

Originally Posted by naythan1383

thanks pete, and just so you know I do appreciate you serving, the military isn't for everyone and just because I left doesn't mean I don't respect most of the people who choose it as their career. On another note..times have been very hard waiting to turn myself in, I really just want my life back and start over. I've been even more depressed and was thinking of seeing a psych. soon...depressions not just from going AWOL. I believe I've been dropped from rolls since I wasn't paid on the 1st. So to me it makes since the longer I'm gone yes possibly worse punishment, but also seems more likely for some kind of discharge. I was wondering if I talked to a lawyer if they could or are allowed to try and work something out with my chain of command, if they even are my chain of command anymore. Maybe to let me outprocess somewhere else other than Washington, or something to make this as easy as possible. I don't know really how to go about it. But if I tell the pscyh. the truth I'm sure they're gonna try and put me on some kind of pills and that could help possibly with getting out. Also what happens since I'm dfr's if I go back to Lewis what will happen there?

*Also I don't know if it would help but I was reading discharge types and it says els are for service members who have served less than 180 days in that branch. I joined the national guard active first program may 30th but then switched to active army a different branch at the end of july therefore I haven't been active for 180 days yet so I don't know if that could help me but I was thinking so...

Your pay is stopped three days after you are reported AWOL. DFR is a serious step taken to ensure you will not serve in any branch of the military again or receive a discharge that is even in the least bit favorable. You have not been DFR'd yet.

The armed forces are really not known for doing things your way. Your best bet is to turn yourself in and when people ask you why you left, be completely honest. As much as you don't want to be there, there is some bright young man with a future that will gladly take your spot. You may be eligible for an ELS but I don't think that is likely. It never hurts to ask, after you turn yourself back in.

[naythan1383]

Originally Posted by ERAUPIKE

Your pay is stopped three days after you are reported AWOL. DFR is a serious step taken to ensure you will not serve in any branch of the military again or receive a discharge that is even in the least bit favorable. You have not been DFR'd yet.

The armed forces are really not known for doing things your way. Your best bet is to turn yourself in and when people ask you why you left, be completely honest. As much as you don't want to be there, there is some bright young man with a future that will gladly take your spot. You may be eligible for an ELS but I don't think that is likely. It never hurts to ask, after you turn yourself back in.

Wow bright young man with a future? Funny how people act towards this I was one of the brightest guys during basic...I went through the national guard and was amazed to see how after only 4 days of pre basic training how our master sgt. turned everyone into working together and after 4 months at benning our drill sgts couldn't manage to do the same thing. The army isn't what everyone thinks it is, I'm tired of the misconception that it receives. There are a lot of good people serving but also a lot of idiots that shouldn't be there. sorry that's just how I feel. And to say you stop receiving pay 3 days after awol is not true because I received my mid month pay 2 weeks after awol so there goes that theory.

[ERAUPIKE]

Originally Posted by naythan1383

Wow bright young man with a future? Funny how people act towards this I was one of the brightest guys during basic...I went through the national guard and was amazed to see how after only 4 days of pre basic training how our master sgt. turned everyone into working together and after 4 months at benning our drill sgts couldn't manage to do the same thing. The army isn't what everyone thinks it is, I'm tired of the misconception that it receives. There are a lot of good people serving but also a lot of idiots that shouldn't be there. sorry that's just how I feel. And to say you stop receiving pay 3 days after awol is not true because I received my mid month pay 2 weeks after awol so there goes that theory.

Yes and you will be required to pay back every penny of it. The stop order on your pay was sent out three days after you went AWOL, which stopped your pay. The misconception is entirely yours. You seem to believe that your limited time in the Army makes you some sort of expert, it does not. Lose the attitude before you go back to turn yourself in, it won't help you out at all.

[naythan1383]

apparently I have been dropped from rolls....my mother was called today and that is what she was told.....she didn't even ask he just straight up told her that which I think he really wasn't suppose to but he said he was new to all of this....and this was a squad leader.

[ERAUPIKE]

Originally Posted by naythan1383

apparently I have been dropped from rolls....my mother was called today and that is what she was told.....she didn't even ask he just straight up told her that which I think he really wasn't suppose to but he said he was new to all of this....and this was a squad leader.

Congratulations, you are going to be discharged, at the very least, as an OTH and charged with desertion. I bet your mother was really proud of you and excited to get that call.

[naythan1383]

Originally Posted by ERAUPIKE

Congratulations, you are going to be discharged at the very least Other than honorably and charged with desertion. I bet your mother was really proud of you and excited to get that call.

You are wasting your time posting on this your not being helpful and have nothing really good to say....thanks