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Strange AWOL Situation...

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SkyBlue1220

Junior Member
In Dec. 2000, my husband went AWOL. He was young, he was homesick, and he says he knew the military wasn't for him. In Feb. 2001, he tried to turn himself in to the US army reserve base, Ft. Hayes, and they found no record of him so would not take him. He then called the local police and asked if there was a warrant for him, but again nothing. Years go by and in 2003 his car catches on fire while driving and the local police come out, run a check on him, and again nothing. Also in 2003, he gets a job which runs a background check on him that comes up clean. In 2004, he is at a concert with friends who litter and campus PD checks them all, he is still clean. In 2005, we began dating and moved to Cali where he is pulled over for speeding in our car that still had Ohio plates, CHP runs a check and nothing. He goes to court for the speeding ticket and still nothing. In 2008, we are married. Later in 2008, we receive a letter from the IRS stating that he earned $4k from the army during 2006...impossible as we were both living and working in Cali the entire year and both work for the same company. In March 2010, our company runs an e-verify check against homeland security on our entire company and he comes back clean. August 2010, we move back to Ohio. Sept. 28th he is pulled over for having a headlight out and suddenly there is a Federal Warrant to detain him. So, after 24 hours in county jail, he is released with a bus ticket to Ft. Hood and goes...afterall he has tried to turn himself in before and has not been hiding. He wants it to be over...has always wanted it to be over. October 4, 2010, his 1st. Sgt. informs him that his personnel file was lost somewhere between his 1st. Sgt. in 2000 and the final point it should have reached to trigger a warrant in a timely manner. 1st. Sgt. goes on to tell him that they are really not sure when his warrant was even issued, but it was definately sometime after his original out date in 2004 and possibly as late as 2010. While I know he will/should be punished for AWOL, it is the extent of the punishment I am concerned about. Who he was then and who he is now are two entirely different people...then he was a naive child and now he is a mature man with obligations to me and our life together. I have been told he will probably be offered chapter 10, but the loss of his personnel file is holding things up. I have involved my senator who is initiating a congressional inquiry regarding the strange IRS reporting of income and the loss of his entire personnel file.

So here it is...I know how some on here will react which is what took me so long to post a question. But for those of you that are willing to help, do you have any advice? Is there anything you see here that could possibly speed things up? Without his income, my life is quickly becoming a financial disaster. Between the financial hardship and the terrible discharge he will receive should be sufficient punishment. And to be brutally honest...I miss him so much it makes my soul ache. He is my life, and besides being a dim-wit in 2000, he is a very good man-especially to me. Whatever he did then does not change the man his is now. Thank you for any clarity you can provide.
 
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bestdecisioneve

Junior Member
SkyBlue,

Im sorry that this has happened to you and you family. I cant clarify on this exact situation, but I was dishcharged with a CH. 10 back in 2005 after going AWOL. To date nothing bad has come from it. He will more than likely receive an "under other than honorable conditions" discharge. This is NOT a Dishonorable Discharge. It is an administrative discharge. He will likely be out-processed and sent on his way. I have yet to have my discharge stop me from getting a job, Financial aid, Voting, or purchasing a weapon. I actually went and purchased my first handgun yesterday and had no issues with the background check. It took me less than 2 weeks to get through the out-processing. He will be treated with respect and will not be placed in jail (although they will shave his head). I hope this will give you some hope.
 

SkyBlue1220

Junior Member
Appreciate it...

bestdecisioneve,

Thanks for all of the info...I really appreciated it. I really hope it goes as fast for him as it did for you. I have called and called and called until I am blue in the face and the answers I get just frustrate me more. All of the soldiers are very nice to me, but they really just don't seem to have much information...and I have spoke with his command up to Command Sgt. Major so far. As soon as the legal process starts, I will probably contact his Command Colonel. I just want them to know how it is for me right now. I know they probably have an idea...but I want them to hear it from me before they judge the situation.

They finally are getting his in-processing started today and said it should be done by Friday, but he's been there for 3 weeks already. Not only am I dealing with this, but I am also fighting with his employer (my employer too) up here to try to save his job and our future. And they say it is likely that he will be offered a chp. 10 in lieu of summary court martial, but can't guarantee it and can't tell me the likely time frame. They say it will be sometime between 7 weeks and 1yr. & 7weeks. There's no way I can save his job if it's 1yr. & 7 weeks. I tell them all that I understand what's going on and I understand they are going to punish him...all I want to know is how long. If they could tell me how long a lot of the anxiety I am dealing with will probably subside...I would have a date to look forward to. Not knowing is killing me...that really is the worst of it. I would love to get him a civilian lawyer, but with him not working & getting paid for almost a month now that's just not a financial possibility. Anyway, I just really want to say thank you.
 

bestdecisioneve

Junior Member
If they are starting his In-processing today he "should" be out by Friday. I was there for 2 weeks but I showed up late on a Tuesday and couldn't get started until Wednesday. They only send you home on Fridays. I suggest you ask his employer to use his vacation time if he has any and hopefully he will be home in the next few weeks. read through this Beginning to end! http://www.nlgmltf.org/pdfs/2-16-08 AWOL FROM THE ARMY.pdf It documents the whole process!
 

SkyBlue1220

Junior Member
Not PCF Eligible

bestdecisioneve,

That link is good...I found it a couple of days ago and it is very informative. However, my husband is not PCF eligible. He was in for almost 3 years and completed his AIT. His unit is handling this and they will not be sending him to either Ft. Sill or Ft. Knox. While I have faith and hope that his 1st. Sgt. is honest and will be offering him the option of a Chp. 10 as he said, my gut is telling me that he won't be home until at least Thanksgiving. Apparently, the units themselves are not on the ball to get AWOL guys out. There's 2 others in his unit that are in similar (though not same) situations. 1st. Sgt. tells me that he will need to have 2 physicals and a mental exam before they will approve the Chp. 10 and how fast it moves depends on how quickly he can get scheduled for them. God I wish he was PCF eligible...but Ft. Knox MPs are the ones that sent him the bus ticket for Ft. Hood. Do you know of anyone or any credible stories posted regarding being processed out from your unit and not PCF? Thanks again for all the help!
 

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