Generalized Guide to Army AWOL - Ft Sill

What is the name of your state? Florida

I just got back Saturday from Ft. Sill, and I figured I'd post my experience to answer questions that I could not find answers to. First once you have verified you have been DFR, you can purchase either your airline ticket or bus ticket to Lawton, OK (Ft Sill). If you fly in, and you have a federal warrant for your arrest, you better use electronic check in so they don't catch you at the airport. American Airline/American Eagle is the only airline that flies to Lawton. If you fly once you get to the airport (which is very small), report to the Military assistance desk near the entrance of the airport, tell the Sgt there you are turning yourself in, and he will tell you to wait around while the MP's get there. When they get there, they will search your bag and your self. They may or may not cuff you (Most did not get cuffed), and then transport you to PCF (Personnel Control Facility).

PCF is run mostly by civilian "escorts". When you get there the escort on duty will have you fill out some info, take your ID's, credit cards, and electronics. Then you will be issued BDU's, your linens, and your hygiene bag. If your hair is not short enough, you will remain in civilian clothes until it is cut. Unless your head is shiny bald, it will be cut. At this time you will be given a quick briefing, read the rules, and given a tour from one of the other returnees. Given your room (Four people to a room). Then you will probably go sit outside on the wooden benches until it's chow time. If you are a smoker, dipper, or chew, bring lots and lots. I went with a carton of cigarettes, and it was gone by the time I left on Friday. People will bum them off you non stop. You will become good friends with the old wooden benches, so get used to them. You will go to chow three times a day at varying times (they drive you everywhere). Fireguard will be done every night, new guys get it first. Wake up is at 0500 (0600 on the weekends/holidays), lights out is at 2200. You will sometimes do details (cutting grass, "recycling" paper, easy stuff, etc..). Females will have in door details, unless you are pregnant, in that case you will be on bed rest most of the time. Sick call is at 0630 every morning. Free time (if they give it to you) normally starts anywhere from 1400 to 1800, and just means you can where civilian clothes, watch TV in the day room, use the phones, and sit and smoke on the wooden benches.

Now the day by day info.
Monday/Tuesday (Sometimes Wednesday) - Inprocessing (Boring, lasts an hour if that, just filling out paperwork). Probably after morning chow. After lunch, you will sit on the wooden bench, and maybe go on a short detail. You will be on the benches until free time or lights out.

Wednesday (Sometimes Thursdays) - ACAP (Boring, lasts 1-2 hours, it's a class where they tell you your benefits, and you can opt to get help getting jobs in the civilian world. After that, back to the wooden benches, detail, free time, etc..

Thursday (Sometimes Friday mornings) - ID cards (Also sometimes on wednesdays) You sit and get a new military ID that expires in 90 days, it is so you can still use your medical, and dental benefits which you get for 90 days or until you get your DD-214. Then you will get "Read" by the First Sergeant. (Lasts 3 to 15 minutes). You stand in from of him, he reads you a few bits of info, asks why you went AWOL, asks if you want to stay in, or get out, and recommends you for either a OTH, or general discharge (just up to how good of a reason you have). Then back to the benches, free time, details, etc..

Friday - You will be read if you have not been already before morning chow, then after chow you will go to JAG, where they will again give you info, explain your discharge, and have you sign your packet. It normally lasts 1-2 hours. You will then go back to PCF, get your civilian clothes on (Or whatever you brought), get your ID's, credit cards, and electronics back. At that point you will go to lunch chow, come back where they will brief you, give you your new military ID card, and leave paper (DA31), ask you how your are getting home, and thats it. Now if you don't have a flight or bus for whatever reason until the next day or later in the day, you can tell them your meeting someone to get picked up in Oklahoma city, call a cab, and wait at the Lawton mall or wherever, just to get out of there. If you cannot pay for a ride home, they offer to keep you there for 30 days, and you can earn a ticket home, so have arrangements made before you leave (if flying or busing, it's best to make the ticket for 1500 - later that Friday, just to be safe). And thats it. Your free.

IF YOU WANT TO STAY IN, you need a damn good story about why you left, and you will be reclassed to a combat MOS (Mostly 19D), and you will remain at PCF for at least 10-12 weeks while you are awaiting orders, even then it's not guaranteed you will get to stay in. After 30 days you will be given some freedoms, allowed to talk in the chow hall, allowed to go to the PX, etc..

Some other random facts - It's very laid back there. Do what your told, and you'll be just fine. The escorts are nice, and will mess around with you, the First Sergeant is very nice. If you have a security clearance (left from Ft. Hauchuca), you are going back to Ft. Hauchuca, and likely do around 30 - 90 days in jail. That is TRUE, and I've seen it happen. They will not tell you that you are leaving Friday, but unless you mess up, you will. It's best to get there on a TUESDAY! I got there Sunday, and it was a waste. I saw people get there Wednesday night and still leave Friday, but they were just very lucky, don't chance it. Tuesday, play it safe. Males do not look at females, talk, or communicate with them in ANY way, that will keep you there longer.

DFR Packet - All this is, is a packet with many military forms in it, such as, your DA 4187 (Saying your DFR from AWOL), DD 553 (Saying your wanted by the Armed forces), copies of the AWOL and DFR letters they sent home, your medical records, Article 15's (if you had any), etc. You will never see this packet. The packet you will sign is your request to be discharged instead of being court marshaled, and that you admit you were a deserter.

Overall it's a very easy stay. Don't complain about it, because it could be a whole lot worse, they could put you in prison, and/or execute you for desertion, so you got off easy. I actually had fun while I was there, and made good friends. So good luck everyone, and I hope this helped some.What is the name of your state?

IrishGoat, outstanding! Great job! On behalf of our Forum, thank you for
sharing your well documented, and very informative post.

just got back from fort sill

i have seen a lot of post since being awol for over 4 months.I just got back from fort sill a few hours ago,and I wanted to give my experience at the pcf
I arrived at fort sill main gate around 12:00 on tuesday. I spent a hour at the gate waiting on police to take me too the pcf,and it was embarising becouse the gate was bussy becouse of lunch hour on post. I arrived in my acu's which was just a waste of space since you dont get to wear them. while waiting for the police the gate security was real nice they let you smoke behind the fort sill sign so that no one sees you. when the fort sill police showed up the cop was very nice you are asked about where you went awol from, and they take your millitary id and state id. then search your bag and pat you down for weapons etc. I was handcuffed but he appologized and said he goes by the rules.on the way to pcf he was nice we talked as if we were pals. he answered any question he could. when i got to pcf the escort was stern and rude. just to scare you and let you know they dont play around if you do what your told and treat them with respect they will leave you alone. the pcf is easy like others have said you sit on bleachers and smoke all the time. they have not extended the stay if you are in by tuesday you should be out by friday. they treat you as a human and not a prisoner. bring lots of smokes enough for you and enough to sell. they will bum like you wont believe.i went through 5 packs in two days. dont do anything to cause attention and you will be fine,also remember the pcfs way of punishment is making you stay longer. DONT BE A BAD ASS you will be the one they make a example of and the one that cries on friday! the 1st sgt is cool show him respect and he will treat you like a soldier.the only thing you need to do is be respectfull,and dont mess up. we had one guy go awol from pcf after being there 30 minutes DONT DO THAT you will serve time. I cant tell what will happen to you but most people get out! I was awol from basic as most are but i did see people who had been in for two years or longer get out.Its case by case. just do the right thing and turn yourself in I wish I had done it sooner its not bad at all just spend a little time be honest and respectfull and you will do fine! I have no ill feeling toward the army and respect anyone in uniform from any branch of service the millitary isnt for everyone. dont blame the army for your mistake. keep that in mind and you will do fine. i saw many guys act like the army ruined their life. we all signed the contract and dint go through with it. its not the armys fault maybee if we dint just jump in and gave it more thought we would not be in this mess. SORRY FOR ANY MISTAKE HAVENT HAD MUCH SLEEP,AND WANTED TO POST TO A SIGHT THAT HELPED MEMAKE THE RIGHT CHOICE

Thanks for sharing your story with our Forum.

hello

Thanks so much for all the info. I was headed to ft sill monday but couldnt go through with it Im 13 weeks pregnant and was just scared. After reading this I feel sooo much better. Thank you so you suggest going on a tuesday? Would a monday be better to guarantee going home by friday?

Get there on Tuesday and you'll be home by Friday. Best to get it over with, it's really not bad. Since your pregnant you'll be on bed rest. The sooner you go, the sooner it'll be over with. And being pregnant less stress is better! Good luck.

And thanks for adding on to the post dopplehertz.

Hello and great post. I was wondering what you told them your reason for leaving was if you don't mind me asking. Like would "the army just isn't for me, I can't handle the stress" be acceptable. and do you know of people who were not so lucky to get out, being awol from basic without any article 15s? i mean does someone need to say more, or worry that for some reason they won't be discharged? I know you might not know these answers but i figure it can't hurt to ask. Thanks so much and take care.

No, if you were an IET soldier when you left, you can tell them you left for fun, and they most likely will still give you the boot. They don't want you. Many people did just tell the 1stSgt that they just couldn't take it, and they left. You have to fight to try to stay in. Might I suggest you make sure it's what you want before you get out. Make sure you have a job lined up, because if you haven't noticed, the job market is **** right now, and having an OTH doesn't help. Not trying to persuade you to try and stay, just throwing that out there. Good luck.

does the marine corp have anything like this

Please Answer!!!!!!!

thanks for the post. im still awol from a.i.t but im going to turn myself in to fort knox in jan. i just had my baby and like the comment b4 saying that the job market is doing really bad is sooo true.. i found out i was pregnant while in training but i couldnt get put on bedrest so it was truly horrible but my QUESTION IS...WILL MY REASON B LEGITATE ENOUGH TO STAY IN AND RECIEVE A CHAPTER 14 OR 10 SO I COULD REENLIST IN 6MO...??

active duty

I'm just wondering if these posts apply to already active duty soldiers who have been in for more than 6 months?

Rod, I was in over 6 months, but still in AIT.

Florida

IrishGoat i have been awol for 6mths .Went awol after about 120 days(AIT).Im finding it hard to buy a bus ticket to FT Sill.(wife and kids) Is it safe to turn myself in at a national guard base? i mean will i get the same results as you had? I hope so i just want this over so i can raise my family.

Lostandscared, yes you can, but they'll just call the police. They will then take you into custody, and hold you for up to 10 days (normally not this long, but could be), then arrange transportation to Ft Knox (because it's closer, and cheaper for them). Where about in Florida are you? I'll look around and see what I can find.