corruptfable
Junior Member
What is the name of your state? = Kentucky
About a month ago I came on this forum requesting aid and information regarding being AWOL from the US Army after half a year permanent party in Ft. Wainwright, Alaska, 1/5 Infantry Regiment. Shorty Long, a very helpful individual, gave me the tools I needed to get the Army behind me once and for all and I was told to return here and keep him/her updated, as well as others that were in my situation, about how it went after having turned myself in at Ft. Knox here in Kentucky. Due to this person's help I was discharged with an Other Than Honorable and sent packing. For Shorty Long, you have my deepest thanks and gratitude. If it weren't for you having pointed me in the right direction to face this thing and defeat it, I never would have. Now I would like to do what Shorty Long has done for me, and help others that are in the situation that I was in. I'd like to give my account of what happened at Ft. Knox so that those that are just as worried as I was when I went to turn myself in may have the courage to do so.
First off, it is official...100% no doubt, that if you are an AWOL soldier from Basic Training or AIT (Advanced Inidividual Training), you will recieve a chapter 10 discharge and go home within one week or less depending on the day you actually turn yourself in...doesn't matter the MOS or anything else related, you will go home because the Army simply has not invested enough money in you to really care, and you weren't even really a soldier because you never completed training and you never recieved orders to report to your chosen duty station. For these men and women, home is where you're going and you'll recieve your discharge papers in the mail after 3-6 months. Until you receive those papers you're on what they call excess leave for an indefinite amount of time...you have your life back, able to get a job, and do your thing. The monkey is off your back.
Now, for people who are permanent party...like I was...it's a little more complicated because you're an investment to the military and they don't want to remove the fish hook from you so easy. Here's the run down of how this works. If you turn yourself in at Ft. Knox or Ft. Sill in Oklahoma and you are not off the payrolls from your unit or you have not been reported as officially AWOL by the command that was in charge of you, and you are not posted at a duty station that is outside the continental US (Alaska, Hawaii, or Other) you will get sent straight back to your unit, and what's more...they'll let you know within 15minutes of arriving at the MP station. No joke because this is what happened to me when I was sitting in that lobby at Knox before they realized that I was from Alaska and they changed their minds because the Army is to cheap to get me a plane ticket to go back. Seriously, that was the reason they let me go...they didn't want to spend the money on a measely E-3 private who was probably going to just go AWOL again. The Army is hurting for money so bad because of the war that if you leave...you leave. End of story.
But...this only happened to me because I was stationed in Alaska. Now if you are in the continental US, and close to Knox or Sill...like Ft. Campbell...you go back, real fast. Doesn't matter if you're off the rolls or not, because if your unit has not reported you as AWOL, it's very easy to get you back to the job you hate. For the love of God, be VERY sure you have been reported AWOL and for good measure, you are off those rolls before you turn yourself in. If you do it successfully, the chances of you going home is very high and they will most likely give you that beloved chapter 10 that you so desire, like I did. They'll do this because the Army is lazy, and doesn't want to have to do the paper work to get you squared away and back on track again. Why attempt to keep what does not desire to be kept? Honostly, it really does come down to that in the Army's eyes. The formula for determining when you are off those rolls is like this: 30+ Days after AWOL date/6 Months Garanteed. You go AWOL, you be off the rolls in 30 days, if not, just wait six months like I did...garantee you'll be off then. Now whether or not your unit has reported you as AWOL or not is, unfortunately, impossible to figure simply because the numbers that you used to be able to call to determine this information no longer disclose it. In my opinion, the Army did this on purpose in hopes that you'll make the mistake of turning yourself in BEFORE they report you as AWOL. It's one of the military's very clever traps. Beware.
Now, for the Ft. Knox experience for those who desire to know. I'm sure many have posted their experience in this on this forum billions of times in the past...but I do this in hopes that it will aid someone, make them relax and realize it's not so bad.
First off, if you only want this whole thing to last a week or less...get to Ft. Knox on a Monday or a Tuesday, preferably the latter, because processing begins at the begining of the week. Simply have someone drive you to the gate, present your military ID to the MP that will stop you, and he'll tell whoever is driving you to pull over off the side of the road where you'll then be taken into custody. Don't be scared, the MP's are very cool guys and believe or not, try to make you feel as comfortable as possible because they know you're shaking in your boots. You'll be patted down, MAYBE handcuffed (I wasn't because I was cooperative) and then you'll kick back for about 5 to 10 minutes waiting for someone from the MP station to come pick you up in a vehicle, where you'll then be taken to the station to be processed in. Don't go in uniform, because you will not be wearing your ACU's during the time you're in Knox...just go in civilian clothes, and leave all your jewelry at home (religious items, and a watch are acceptable- your wallet is a given). You'll be sitting, most likely alone, in a small lobby at the MP station waiting for the laughing seargents in the office behind you to look you up on a computer to see if you have been reported AWOL by your unit and if you are off those rolls. This is where the hammer falls hardest, because if you are NOT reported, or off the rolls, I garantee someone will come out and tell you that you're going right back to your unit within 15 minutes, seriously. This is what happened to me initially, so it's for real. Make sure you have the appropriate knowledge before you do this. You don't want to get the news I got, it'll make your stomach drop into your balls in 2.8 seconds.
If you are off the rolls and have been reported, you're good and you'll be sent (whenever it's convienient for the Army) to the Personal Control Facility (PCF) to begin the out process procedure. If you are not good, and they choose to send you back, you will still go to the PCF, where you'll hang for about three days or less until they can get you a plane ticket to go back to your command, so not only will you have to suffer through the depression at the PCF...but you'll have to do it knowing you aren't going to be a free man or woman like you thought you'd be. This happened to me and I got a break just in time for reasons I've already disclosed.
Ok, so you're good and your at the PCF. First, relax...the place is ran by civilian guards that are cool with you so long as you're cool with them. It's actually very layed back, and you're in good company because you're surrounded by about seven or fifteen other men and women who are AWOL just like you, you'll make friends pretty quick. You'll be given a room, bunk up normally with two other individuals, and get issued some BDU's to wear while you're a "prisoner" of the military. Your wallet, money...it'll all get confiscated and get put away into a vault for safe keeping, and you'll get it all back when you go home. 80% of the day you'll be sitting, bored as hell, in a day room with everyone else...doing nothing during times when you aren't up on the second floor doing outprocessing paper work. At night, you will pull fire guard and CQ duties...irritating going away presents from the Army so you'll always remember to hate Uncle Sam. You will get a buzzed head...no high and tights, no crew cuts...buzzed, and you will shave with these cheap single bladed razors that will cut you like fish. You'll have to suck it up and deal.
No PT, nobody yelling at you...formations here and there, it's like a very light version of basic training reception, and when you're sitting at a metal table nearly falling asleep after five hours of doing nothing, any fear you have will slip away, trust me...especially when you head up to the second floor and they tell you you're getting a chapter 10. All this happens between Monday-Friday...and by the end of the week you'll be on a bus going to a Greyhound station or an airport so you can go home. Then, it's all over.
Thing to remember is to keep telling yourself, it's only for a week...and you're a soldier for only one more week. Keep a cool head, don't piss anyone off...respect the guards, perform your guard duties flawlessly...and you'll be just fine. Oh, and the food is just...blah. But you'll get used to it real quick when you're hungry. I honostly got to say that it was probably the best week I've ever had in the Army. You meet some characters, and you quickly realize that it's not nearly as bad as you made it out to be.
And that's about it. I hope this helps those who are looking for some comfort in turning themselves in. Being AWOL is a very uncomfortable experience, and if you were like me, and are about to turn yourself in to face one of the greatest challenges of your life, to put the Army behind you once and for all, just do it and get it over with. You don't want to live life looking over your shoulder.
About a month ago I came on this forum requesting aid and information regarding being AWOL from the US Army after half a year permanent party in Ft. Wainwright, Alaska, 1/5 Infantry Regiment. Shorty Long, a very helpful individual, gave me the tools I needed to get the Army behind me once and for all and I was told to return here and keep him/her updated, as well as others that were in my situation, about how it went after having turned myself in at Ft. Knox here in Kentucky. Due to this person's help I was discharged with an Other Than Honorable and sent packing. For Shorty Long, you have my deepest thanks and gratitude. If it weren't for you having pointed me in the right direction to face this thing and defeat it, I never would have. Now I would like to do what Shorty Long has done for me, and help others that are in the situation that I was in. I'd like to give my account of what happened at Ft. Knox so that those that are just as worried as I was when I went to turn myself in may have the courage to do so.
First off, it is official...100% no doubt, that if you are an AWOL soldier from Basic Training or AIT (Advanced Inidividual Training), you will recieve a chapter 10 discharge and go home within one week or less depending on the day you actually turn yourself in...doesn't matter the MOS or anything else related, you will go home because the Army simply has not invested enough money in you to really care, and you weren't even really a soldier because you never completed training and you never recieved orders to report to your chosen duty station. For these men and women, home is where you're going and you'll recieve your discharge papers in the mail after 3-6 months. Until you receive those papers you're on what they call excess leave for an indefinite amount of time...you have your life back, able to get a job, and do your thing. The monkey is off your back.
Now, for people who are permanent party...like I was...it's a little more complicated because you're an investment to the military and they don't want to remove the fish hook from you so easy. Here's the run down of how this works. If you turn yourself in at Ft. Knox or Ft. Sill in Oklahoma and you are not off the payrolls from your unit or you have not been reported as officially AWOL by the command that was in charge of you, and you are not posted at a duty station that is outside the continental US (Alaska, Hawaii, or Other) you will get sent straight back to your unit, and what's more...they'll let you know within 15minutes of arriving at the MP station. No joke because this is what happened to me when I was sitting in that lobby at Knox before they realized that I was from Alaska and they changed their minds because the Army is to cheap to get me a plane ticket to go back. Seriously, that was the reason they let me go...they didn't want to spend the money on a measely E-3 private who was probably going to just go AWOL again. The Army is hurting for money so bad because of the war that if you leave...you leave. End of story.
But...this only happened to me because I was stationed in Alaska. Now if you are in the continental US, and close to Knox or Sill...like Ft. Campbell...you go back, real fast. Doesn't matter if you're off the rolls or not, because if your unit has not reported you as AWOL, it's very easy to get you back to the job you hate. For the love of God, be VERY sure you have been reported AWOL and for good measure, you are off those rolls before you turn yourself in. If you do it successfully, the chances of you going home is very high and they will most likely give you that beloved chapter 10 that you so desire, like I did. They'll do this because the Army is lazy, and doesn't want to have to do the paper work to get you squared away and back on track again. Why attempt to keep what does not desire to be kept? Honostly, it really does come down to that in the Army's eyes. The formula for determining when you are off those rolls is like this: 30+ Days after AWOL date/6 Months Garanteed. You go AWOL, you be off the rolls in 30 days, if not, just wait six months like I did...garantee you'll be off then. Now whether or not your unit has reported you as AWOL or not is, unfortunately, impossible to figure simply because the numbers that you used to be able to call to determine this information no longer disclose it. In my opinion, the Army did this on purpose in hopes that you'll make the mistake of turning yourself in BEFORE they report you as AWOL. It's one of the military's very clever traps. Beware.
Now, for the Ft. Knox experience for those who desire to know. I'm sure many have posted their experience in this on this forum billions of times in the past...but I do this in hopes that it will aid someone, make them relax and realize it's not so bad.
First off, if you only want this whole thing to last a week or less...get to Ft. Knox on a Monday or a Tuesday, preferably the latter, because processing begins at the begining of the week. Simply have someone drive you to the gate, present your military ID to the MP that will stop you, and he'll tell whoever is driving you to pull over off the side of the road where you'll then be taken into custody. Don't be scared, the MP's are very cool guys and believe or not, try to make you feel as comfortable as possible because they know you're shaking in your boots. You'll be patted down, MAYBE handcuffed (I wasn't because I was cooperative) and then you'll kick back for about 5 to 10 minutes waiting for someone from the MP station to come pick you up in a vehicle, where you'll then be taken to the station to be processed in. Don't go in uniform, because you will not be wearing your ACU's during the time you're in Knox...just go in civilian clothes, and leave all your jewelry at home (religious items, and a watch are acceptable- your wallet is a given). You'll be sitting, most likely alone, in a small lobby at the MP station waiting for the laughing seargents in the office behind you to look you up on a computer to see if you have been reported AWOL by your unit and if you are off those rolls. This is where the hammer falls hardest, because if you are NOT reported, or off the rolls, I garantee someone will come out and tell you that you're going right back to your unit within 15 minutes, seriously. This is what happened to me initially, so it's for real. Make sure you have the appropriate knowledge before you do this. You don't want to get the news I got, it'll make your stomach drop into your balls in 2.8 seconds.
If you are off the rolls and have been reported, you're good and you'll be sent (whenever it's convienient for the Army) to the Personal Control Facility (PCF) to begin the out process procedure. If you are not good, and they choose to send you back, you will still go to the PCF, where you'll hang for about three days or less until they can get you a plane ticket to go back to your command, so not only will you have to suffer through the depression at the PCF...but you'll have to do it knowing you aren't going to be a free man or woman like you thought you'd be. This happened to me and I got a break just in time for reasons I've already disclosed.
Ok, so you're good and your at the PCF. First, relax...the place is ran by civilian guards that are cool with you so long as you're cool with them. It's actually very layed back, and you're in good company because you're surrounded by about seven or fifteen other men and women who are AWOL just like you, you'll make friends pretty quick. You'll be given a room, bunk up normally with two other individuals, and get issued some BDU's to wear while you're a "prisoner" of the military. Your wallet, money...it'll all get confiscated and get put away into a vault for safe keeping, and you'll get it all back when you go home. 80% of the day you'll be sitting, bored as hell, in a day room with everyone else...doing nothing during times when you aren't up on the second floor doing outprocessing paper work. At night, you will pull fire guard and CQ duties...irritating going away presents from the Army so you'll always remember to hate Uncle Sam. You will get a buzzed head...no high and tights, no crew cuts...buzzed, and you will shave with these cheap single bladed razors that will cut you like fish. You'll have to suck it up and deal.
No PT, nobody yelling at you...formations here and there, it's like a very light version of basic training reception, and when you're sitting at a metal table nearly falling asleep after five hours of doing nothing, any fear you have will slip away, trust me...especially when you head up to the second floor and they tell you you're getting a chapter 10. All this happens between Monday-Friday...and by the end of the week you'll be on a bus going to a Greyhound station or an airport so you can go home. Then, it's all over.
Thing to remember is to keep telling yourself, it's only for a week...and you're a soldier for only one more week. Keep a cool head, don't piss anyone off...respect the guards, perform your guard duties flawlessly...and you'll be just fine. Oh, and the food is just...blah. But you'll get used to it real quick when you're hungry. I honostly got to say that it was probably the best week I've ever had in the Army. You meet some characters, and you quickly realize that it's not nearly as bad as you made it out to be.
And that's about it. I hope this helps those who are looking for some comfort in turning themselves in. Being AWOL is a very uncomfortable experience, and if you were like me, and are about to turn yourself in to face one of the greatest challenges of your life, to put the Army behind you once and for all, just do it and get it over with. You don't want to live life looking over your shoulder.