AWOL with questions!

[Dirtybird]

What is the name of your state? Currently Texas

Hi all!

First of all I wanted to say WOW, what an awesome forum! All the info I have been searching and searching for is all on her thanks to all the awesome posters. A lot of the questions I have about my situation I found answers to from all of you but I guess I still need a little bit of advice.

I left Ft.Bragg around the 23rd of March (last month) and they start calling my relatives and me on the 25th saying if I didn't call back I would be reported AWOL. Needless to say I didn't contact them and I haven't heard from them since. Now I had gotten advice to wait at least 30 days from the GIRIGHTS HOTLINE before I took a bus up to Ft.Sill and turned myself in. The problem I am having now is I'm reading that 30 days is the minimum and not really the safe bet. With (awesome) posts by SHORTY LONG and Bison it seems like I should wait at least 60-90 days before turning myself in just to make sure I'm dropped from the roster.

Before I ask my questions I want to add a little more about my situation.

I completed Basic/AIT/Airborne and then went on to SWK (special forces school.) On one of the first 2 weeks I was there we got a 4 day pass and I flew from NC to California to see my girlfriend. For whatever (stupid) reason, I didn't want to come back and decided with all my problems (family, girl, money, army, etc.) that I would be better off dead. (Yikes, I know.) So on the last day of the 4 day leave I swallowed a lot of pills and woke up in the ER getting my stomach pumped. After a day the ARMY had contacted my parents and my parents told them what had happened. Since this happened when I got back I was suicide watch and couldn't really do much. After about 3 weeks went by I was told I would be dropped from Special Forces and most likely wind back up in a regular Infantry Unit. My state of mind at this time was crazy. I was all alone with just a cell phone and I was getting more and more depressed as the days went on. The chaplain didn't care, the physc didn't care, etc... So after many details and no one listening to me, I decided to leave. I was never even assigned to a Unit. I was in an OTA group where other special forces recruits were.

A big problem now is that I'm staying somewhere and I can't stay here for much longer. It's convenient because Oklahoma (ft. sill ) isn't too far but if I wait it out 90+ days like suggested I will be broke and kicked out of this place. My home is all the way in California and people will gladly help me out there and I can get a job to pay my bills. Now here comes my questions from this confusing post.

What happens if I go home to California wait 90+ days and then come back? Should I just receive the OTH that I read most other people are getting ?

What happens if I go home to California and for some reason I get caught? I read that I will probably be shipped somewhere after holding in a jail, but will I be shipped back to Bragg or will I be shipped to Ft. Sill to be out processed? If you get caught will you get a dishonorable instead of the OTH because you didn't turn yourself in?

(Sorry for so many questions!)

Last one - If I want to become a trainer at like my local Gym or work at a store in the mall for the time being, will the fact that I'm AWOL hurt me in anyway? Will it pop up when applying for a NON-Goverment job?

I know you guys answered a lot of these questions but I guess I'm just torn on what to do with my exact situation. I really appreciate any help and I think you guys do a FANTASTIC job helping out people like me and documenting everything. Thanks guys!!!

 

[bison]

Yes there's a federal warrant out for your arrest and you are a Deserter. It will pop up.

You won't get a dishonorable unless you REALLY mess up bad (murder, rape, serious stuff)

 

[Dirtybird]

Hey Bison,

I just got done reading your other posts about how you turned yourself in and the process doesn't seem to bad. What would you wait as the minimum to be dropped from the rolls? I'm just nervous because I don't have a way to make money to pay my bills but I don't want to turn myself in to early. On April 25th it will be about 30 days since they started looking for me/calling me. Do you think by like May 5th I will be good to go ? Or should I wait even longer? I know each case is different but I guess with your experience and seeing other people there I'm just asking what you would do in my situation.

 

[ElvisG]

When I was in the Navy, I saw people go UA for months and get jobs as a civilian contractor working on the next ship to us. Heck, I even had one of my airmen go UA for 4 months and be a bounty hunter and finally get caught. The point is that once you start getting taxes taken out it’s only a matter of time when someone will be knocking at your do.

This paragraph is not about how much time you need to be considered AWOL. This is about taxes and being AWOL.

 

[nooneyouknow]

Just a few quick points about this:

I've been AWOL OCONUS for about six months. I have yet to be dropped from the rolls and a warrant has not yet been issued for my arrest. I plan on taking a "vacation" to turn myself in as soon as possible.

I just got hired with a major corporation---passed a background check and everything. I've been there a few weeks. I've also been attending a state school on federal student aid. While being AWOL is certinaly something to be concerned about, don't starve over it. Most companies outsource thier background check services. These people WANT you to pass! The more people who pass background checks, the more money they make! ALSO-The only people who can usually see WARRANTS for your arrest are law enforcement officials. Criminal background checks are going to show CONVICTIONS. Make sense? Take from that what for you will, but you want to work at a gym, not corpoate IBM.

I hired a lawyer. I hear a lot of people talk about how they are a waste of money, and it could be. For the time being, it has given me a great peace of mind knowing that I have one on retainer and that if anything happens, he is just a phone call/plane ride away.

Best of luck to you!

 

[bison]

180 Days to be dropped from rolls, any less than that they can retain you.

 

[Dirtybird]

nooneyouknow : Wow! 6 Months and still no warrant or anything ? Did you call the DFR numbers and they said they didn't have your packet? What a joke that is! I want to get this taken care of way sooner than that! Thanks for all your information. I didn't think it would be too much of a problem to get a job at a gym even though some people say it would be.

Bison : Sh!t!! Not what I wanted to hear.. LOL Is that how long you waited? I guess I could try to live a normal life for the next 6 months and take a vacation like noyouknow said he is going to do. I can't afford to wait 5 more months unless I go back home and get a job. If I can actually get a hold of someone that will tell me that I have been DFR'd and they have my packet I shouldn't worry about turning myself in right?


Every time I read something I get more and more confused. The answers are out there but I can't choose what to do. I guess I hope to get dropped within 45 days of my departure but from the sounds of it, it could be wishful thinking. Maybe I should just cut my losses now and just got home and start over. Keep a low profile and take a "vacation" later on to ensure that I have indeed been dropped from the rolls.

 

[Dirtybird]

Another note to point out is that some people say when you get taxes taking out they will be knocking on your door and then there are stories (lots of them) of people being awol for like 20 years! So you're telling me that all these people had jobs that were paid in cash or under the counter? I think not bro....

 

[SHORTY LONG]

Instead of driving yourself crazy, why not give some thought as to returning,
and if your adamant about getting out at any cost, then stand your ground,
and make your position in stone to all concerned!

 

[ElvisG]

If you think that the U.S. Marshals won't show up then go on and live your life.