Camp Pendleton.

[Rock75]

In a couple of days I will hit the 6 month mark. I have been getting a lot of calls from California.. different numbers from the Navy and Marine Corps, even my recruiter and fellow Marines that I am close with. It is definitely time to go back. I have been stalling for wayy too long now. I have looked and looked through these forums to find anything on the USMC and how it handles UA's/Deserters... it's too bad that little is known or said.

All of you in other branches... you are all lucky that you all have people to talk to and places to call. I can't call the G.I. Right Hotline because.. they know nothing about the Marine Corps.

I am nervous as hell and somewhat scared about what is going to happen.. I came to an realization today thanks to a voice mail a fellow Marine/close friend left me as he was boarding the plan to Iraq.. "It's ok.. I'll take your spot... don't worry... "

He was disappointed and serious.. now I don't know... I feel terrible and disappointed in myself.

In the next 2 weeks I will be preparing myself to go back.. I will get everything in order, plane ticket.. money.. necessities.. stuff like that.

I was at SOI when I left.. I wasn't in the fleet just yet..

What should I do once I get to Pendleton?

Tell the MP's at the gate.. or do I just go back to the receiving barracks/office of SOI...

I have been wanting to retain and just take whatever is thrown at me with dignity.. but.. can one really go forward and move on with such a thing floating over their head? I want to admit what I did was wrong.. I want to face my consequences like a man... but will that be enough?

 

[SHORTY LONG]

In a couple of days I will hit the 6 month mark. I have been getting a lot of calls from California.. different numbers from the Navy and Marine Corps, even my recruiter and fellow Marines that I am close with. It is definitely time to go back. I have been stalling for wayy too long now. I have looked and looked through these forums to find anything on the USMC and how it handles UA's/Deserters... it's too bad that little is known or said.

All of you in other branches... you are all lucky that you all have people to talk to and places to call. I can't call the G.I. Right Hotline because.. they know nothing about the Marine Corps.

I am nervous as hell and somewhat scared about what is going to happen.. I came to an realization today thanks to a voice mail a fellow Marine/close friend left me as he was boarding the plan to Iraq.. "It's ok.. I'll take your spot... don't worry... "

He was disappointed and serious.. now I don't know... I feel terrible and disappointed in myself.

In the next 2 weeks I will be preparing myself to go back.. I will get everything in order, plane ticket.. money.. necessities.. stuff like that.

I was at SOI when I left.. I wasn't in the fleet just yet..

What should I do once I get to Pendleton?

Tell the MP's at the gate.. or do I just go back to the receiving barracks/office of SOI...

I have been wanting to retain and just take whatever is thrown at me with dignity.. but.. can one really go forward and move on with such a thing floating over their head? I want to admit what I did was wrong.. I want to face my consequences like a man... but will that be enough?

Slick, the longer you wait is a step closer in them arresting you. What to expect
when you return: (1) a bald head; (2) be yourself; (3) if you can get past the MP's
then report back to the receiving area. An Officer of the Day will direct your steps
further (and I do not mean to the yellow foot prints either); (4) yes have a little
money, and smokes if you partake; and as you describe necessities to take with
you; lastly, know one can answer your own questions of self guilt, and how you
will man up in being accountable for your own actions. The main thing is do it.

 

[cyberspook]

In a couple of days I will hit the 6 month mark. I have been getting a lot of calls from California.. different numbers from the Navy and Marine Corps, even my recruiter and fellow Marines that I am close with. It is definitely time to go back. I have been stalling for wayy too long now. I have looked and looked through these forums to find anything on the USMC and how it handles UA's/Deserters... it's too bad that little is known or said.

All of you in other branches... you are all lucky that you all have people to talk to and places to call. I can't call the G.I. Right Hotline because.. they know nothing about the Marine Corps.

I am nervous as hell and somewhat scared about what is going to happen.. I came to an realization today thanks to a voice mail a fellow Marine/close friend left me as he was boarding the plan to Iraq.. "It's ok.. I'll take your spot... don't worry... "

He was disappointed and serious.. now I don't know... I feel terrible and disappointed in myself.

In the next 2 weeks I will be preparing myself to go back.. I will get everything in order, plane ticket.. money.. necessities.. stuff like that.

I was at SOI when I left.. I wasn't in the fleet just yet..

What should I do once I get to Pendleton?

Tell the MP's at the gate.. or do I just go back to the receiving barracks/office of SOI...

I have been wanting to retain and just take whatever is thrown at me with dignity.. but.. can one really go forward and move on with such a thing floating over their head? I want to admit what I did was wrong.. I want to face my consequences like a man... but will that be enough?

If you are planning on turning yourself in at Camp Pendelton then that is fine. You have probably been DFRrd so the MPs is probably where you want to turn yourself in.

I am pretty sure you will be returned to your unit. Since you are still in a training unit, you will probably be moved into a casual platoon of some sort. Working parties and what not, untill the day comes when you see JAG and they will offer you your options. Probably court martial or discharge in lieu of court martial wich comes with an OTH. If you choose to take the court martial you can expect to get some brig time and a possible BCD, but these days they need all the man power they can get so they will probably let you stay after your brig time, and retrain you, and send you third class to Iraq.

If you do decide to stay, assuming they offer that, I applaud you because having been a brig rat, your remaining time will be stained and all your staff NCOs and officers will always look at you with a degree of discrimination. Your remaining time will be much more difficult than your fellow jar heads. Forget about getting any cake assignments is pretty much what I am saying. If your platoon seargent needs someone to take off there gas mask to see if the mustard gas is real, then you might as well just save him the time of picking someone and volunteer.

Now what I just told you MAY happen is exactly that. It MAY happen. In my expieriences with the Marine Corps what I just told you is the norm.

You MAY get a commanding officer who is a direct descendant of Chesty Puller. In wich case he MAY have them throw you in the Brig and attach you to a spec ops unit that makes big rocks into little rocks and upon succesfull completion of that mission he MAY court martial you with a jury of HIS peers, toss you back in the brig, and send you packing with a big chicken dinner.

Best of luck, you're going to need it,

Semper Fidelis