Does anyone know how to turn in an AWOL marine?

[Pool Hall Ace]

Googling hasn't been very helpful.

[Midlodemocrat]

1. Even if I did, I wouldn't tell you.

If this guy is AWOL from Iraq, more power to him/her.

[Pool Hall Ace]

2. Actually, he wants to go to Iraq.

He's incredibly stupid, and just tired of being in the military.

[Tian Zhuangzhuang]

5. Yeah but there is a difference between missing for a week awol

and missing much longer awol. The former can get you some discipline at worst a discharge. The later can get you some brig time and ruin your life.

Your not doing a young person any favors unless you explain to them the REAL consequences of their actions.

[Pool Hall Ace]

7. He's been gone now for over 30 days.

He's currently at my house, and I do not want him here. I told my husband either he goes or I go, but my husband doesn't want to turn him in.

However, if someone from the Corps shows up at our door, he says he will point out where he is.

[Tian Zhuangzhuang]

8. He needs a lawyer stat.

This is no joke he could do real time and be unemployable for the rest of his life.

[Tripper11]

12. I beleive he's considered a deserter after 30 days

So I think he's taken it to the next level.

On edit : Found some info

Many people confuse the terms "Desertion" and "Absent without Leave (AWOL).

It's commonly believed that if one is absent from the military for more than 30 days, they are "deserters." That's only partially true. Article 85 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) defines "desertion" as being absent from the unit (without authority) with the intent to remain away permanently, or being absent with the intent to avoid hazardous duty or shirk important service.

http://usmilitary.about.com/od/justicelawlegislation/a/desertionrates.htm">U.S. Military Desertion Rates

[DS1]

18. I knew a guy who had left for 3 months

he came back and they gave him barracks restriction for 96 hours, took a rank, 2 paychecks and that's it.

Not everyone will be so lucky, of course, missing rotations is where the hammer comes down

[Breeze54]

48. Tell him you're going out for ice cream and invite him to go.

Drop off at nearest homeless shelter. Only do this during the day though.

He won't get a bed or a meal at night.

But don't turn him into anybody! He has been trained to kill. Stay out of it!!

Just tell him, times up! He's all grown up. He will find his way.

He found his way to your door, didn't he?
-----------------------------------------

Punitive Articles of the UCMJ

Article 85 Desertion

http://usmilitary.about.com/od/punitivearticles/a/mcm85.htm

snip-->

Guide Note: The offense of Desertion, under Article 85, carries a much greater punishment, than the offense of AWOL, under Article 86. Many people believe that if one is absent without authority for greater than 30 days, the offense changes from AWOL to Desertion, but that's not quite true.

The primary difference between the two offenses is "intent to remain away permanently." If one intends to return to "military control," one is guilty of "AWOL," under Article 86, not Desertion, under Article 85, even if they were away for ten years. The confusion derives from the fact that, if a member is absent without authority for longer than 30 days, the government (court-martial) is allowed to assume there was no intent to return. Therefore, the burden of proof that the accused intended to someday return to "military control" lies with the defense.

A person who is absent for just a day or two, then apprehended, could still be charged with the offense of Desertion, but the prosecution would have to show evidence that the accused intended to remain away permanently.

[LeftyMom]

3. Don't feed the war machine.

If they want to find him, let them do it themselves.

[Bucky]

4. Call him a lawyer first

Yes, he sounds stupid.

[Orsino]

20. And maybe one for the OP, too?

Is there any law about abetting AWOL or desertion? Are the owners of the home somehow criminally liable?

[Bucky]

22. Couldn't hurt, beyond the usual lawyer fees. But I doubt giving him a place to crash overnight...

...is something you'd get prosecuted for. Seven years ago I'd be 99% sure there's nothing to worry about. Today it's more like 80% sure.

[GOPisEvil]

6. Tell your friend to contact an attorney who specializes in military law.

Edit - or contact one yourself on his behalf.

[Dangerously Amused]

9. If he stays away from the military long enough,

and snorts a little coke along the way... he might end up as President.

[Pool Hall Ace]

10. He was not born in the United States.

Otherwise, yes, he would be a good Republican candidate for President.

[rakeeb]

14. not born in the U.S.

Unless his naturalization is complete, he really needs to go back.
If he drives back to his commander in Lejeune or Havelock or Cherry Point or whereever he left from, he might end up in the brig for a few days at most, (doubt it though, probably just the barracks) but the important thing is that the Marines will separate him with a general discharge that he can then take to the VA in a year or two and appeal to change it to an HD, (that never gets denied).
If he doesn't do this he will have a hell of a time with citizenship, student loans, background checks for any job that requires one, etc.

Even if he is "stupid" and "wants to go to Iraq"...they aren't going to do anything but outprocess him, since he will just be one more guy that should have gotten a failure to adapt in boot camp or at his first assignment.

[Blue Diadem]

11. Found this law firm in Virginia, they are a military litigation firm,

http://www.militarylawyers.org/awol-desertion-cases.htm

[Tektonik]

13. Don't turn him in

but try helping him find another place to live

[Heidi]

15. How to do it is logical, but why on earth would you want to do such a thing?

I read upthread that you don't want the guy in your home, but if you and your husband are equal partners, I'd call this situation a draw.

Edited to add: This is something you and your husband need to work out between yourselves. Does he know you're at DU trying to find a way to narc this guy out to the military? (Sorry, but that's just the way I see it, and when history looks back on this war, it's not going to look kindly on those of us who show no compassion toward those who refused to serve or return to service as matters of conscience. Harsh, I know, but there it is.)

[AlCzervik]

16. why do you want to turn him in? You said he wants to go to Iraq

so why doesn't he just turn himself in?

[Pool Hall Ace]

21. He keeps saying he will turn himself in.

There are a few reasons I want to turn him in.

1. for his own good. I have a feeling the longer he stays away, the heavier the consequences will be.
   
   
2. I don't want to cook for him and do his laundry while he goes out and parties every weekend.
   
   
3. My tolerance for stupid is low, and this kid is stupid.

This is someone who has not been to Iraq, but wants to go. We tried talking him out of joining the service to begin with, but he wanted to "be on the front lines." He's been in a little over a year, and now he's tired of it.

He expects to do some time for this, but I don't see a light at the end of the tunnel.

[Book Lover]

24. Wait - why are you doing his laundry in the first place?

Does he drop it into the hamper? Toss it back into his room/on his couch. Cook enough food for you and your husband only.

[Tian Zhuangzhuang]

37. Wow!!!!

I never had a safe-house with a laundry service..... Perhaps you could but me and the um boys up for a while. Are there any large banks near where you live?

[AlCzervik]

40. ok so he's tired of the military but wants to be on the front lines in Iraq, is that correct?

does he want to be a paid mercenary? Is he tired of the military because they've not sent him to Iraq?

[Breeze54]

49. You want to turn him in "for his own good"? WTF?

You aren't his Mom!! And stop doing the fucking laundry for him!! :silly:

[jmowreader]

51. Just call the cops. They'll come by and get him.

All police departments have deserter apprehension procedures.

[DS1]

17. The last time I ran across one I said "Hey, what's up"

and left him alone.

[Heidi]

19. .

:thumbsup:

[DS1]

28. He was in my unit, a bunch of us saw him at an outdoor concert on a ranch in Hawaii

We caught up, made sure he was actually 'living' somewhere, and bugged out before anyone 'official' saw us with him lest we also get in trouble for not detaining him and bringing him back. He wasn't right for the service, they knew it, he knew it, and when he came back there wasn't much done about it at all.

Great concert, too. First time I ever saw Tool and Primus and Stone Temple Pilots together

[LaurenG]

23. I do but I won't tell you... nt

[SoxFan]

25. This guy is scum

I am absolutely disgusted at the number of people who seem to think that this guy is some sort of hero.

He's not.

Anyone who bails out on his unit and hides is a contemptible piece of scum. If this person has a genuine moral problem with military service, he needs to show courage and accept the consequences of his actions.

Remember, he is a member of a UNIT. The military is not comprised of individual agendas, but of men and women who operate as a team towards a common goal. When one bad apple decides to undercut that ethos, the entire system falls apart. In war time, this puts the lives of innocent service members at risk.

[Bucky]

26. I agree with your philosophy, but your scorn seems a bit misplaced.

Anyone who wants to go to Iraq but just can't hack barracks life isn't dealing with a full deck.

[DS1]

29. barracks life is totaly bullshit. on that I can relate. it's enough to make you want

to marry the first girl out there you meet, just so you can live off base or in base housing and not have your 'boss' follow you home every night and make sure your room is neat and tidy.

still, you suck it up. that's a weak excuse for going awol

[Tektonik]

27. While I think the person in question may have made a bad choice in joining the military

(assuming he joined after the lead up to war, and also assuming he made a decision to not want to go to Iraq after all)

If your life was on the line because of a false war, you wouldn't consider ditching the military?

You wouldn't leave the armed forces whose welfare is continually ignored by the powers that be?

Fuck team and unit mentality when the system is so damaged.

[SoxFan]

30. He's a coward

The guy is a coward. If he feels that he has a moral obligation to defy the legal and political systems, he needs to be brave enough to face the consequences. Civil disobedience isn't about bugging out when things get dicey. It's about having the courage of your convictions. This asshat isn't showing courage in any way, shape or form.

[hedgehog]

31. He's not a coward, he just chooses poorly.

I won't say he's stupid because that can be confused with being mentally handicapped. From hat the OP says in all her threads, this guy can't think past his next beer. The real question is how he didn't wash out in basic. I suspect the Marines aren't looking very hard for him.


On edit - he's probably the last guy you want in a touchy situation such as we have in Iraq. He sounds like the kind that ends up shooting 12 civilians.

[Tian Zhuangzhuang]

39. Actually he sounds like the kind of guy still smoking pot

on his moms couch at age 30.


If he doesn't straighten out now he is going to have a much harder life then he can imagine.

[rasputin1952]

43. When I was iin the Army, we lived and fought for each other, we

made sacrifices and put ourselves in harms way to ensure as many as possible came home intact. This is the part of the military that many who have never served fail to "get".

I agree with your principled stance, but I might have chosen a better way to put it, however, I also understand why you posted the way you have. FWIW, this individual has already shown himself to be considerbly less than what is required for service. If he would leave over essentially nothing, I dread to think what would happen if this Marine found himself in a firefight. People die because others will not hold up their side of the requirement. Few things aggravate this old vet more than someone who would let the others down in a time of no duress, for it shows me that there is no way a person like this would be able to be counted on when things got rough. Men and women could die because of one person's failure to maintain themselves.

The USMC, or any other branch would be better off if this person just turned himself in and took whatever punishment was coming, and then received a discharge.

As for those that are "harboring" him, they could be liable for criminal penalties, but I seriously doubt anything would come of it.

[IndianaJones]

32. Is that the name of the new Sandra Bullock flick? nt.

[HEyHEY]

34. "Sandra Bullock, Vin Diesel *explosion* AWOL marine"

[IndianaJones]

35. I'm thinking a romantic comedy. nt.

[HEyHEY]

33. Yeah, call "1-800-I'm a finking piece of shit"

[The Straight Story]

36. I'll tell you - but would help if there was more info here (and you should not call....)

Call sheriff dept.

When I was a cop (A deputy) we had more than a few in our cells for holding before transport.

That said - THINK about it first. Was his life threatened and that is why he/she left?

Call an attorney FIRST and get them to talk to one. There could be very valid reasons why they are AWOL. That is not up to us to decide, so an attorney would be the safest best (and they can help that person surrender and have a better chance at fighting this).

[leftofthedial]

38. how about an AWOL National Guard "pilot"?

[Exultant Democracy]

41. Wow, this is pretty fucked up, I don't care what the reason is better here then there.

Don't help march another dumb ass into the desert. Blackwater is already filling the place up with assholes. Tell the kid to leave don't turn him in.

I bet if you posted this on the FreeRepublic they would be more then happy to help you.

[datasuspect]

42. snitching is the lowest thing a person can do

it turns the snitcher into what is known in the vernacular as a "trick" or a "rat."

these are not good things to be.

[EFerrari]

44. No, but I know how to put that Marine on the underground railroad.

In a heartbeat.

[struggle4progress]

45. I don't know how accurate the comments at the following link are:

http://www.lawguru.com/cgi/bbs/message.php?i=57932274

[Pool Hall Ace]

47. Thank you for that link; it is very helpful.

:hi:

[TreasonousBastard]

46. Do NOT do anything before calling the...

GI Rights Hotline.

http://www.objector.org/girights/

1-800-394-9544

Much of the "advice" here is guesswork and could cause trouble for him. The Hotline has some experts who can help sort things out to limit punishment, and has connections with law firms specializing in these things.

He might get a separation or he might be sent back to his unit with some punishment, often as little as an Article 15. Things are changing, though, and there might have been big changes since I was a Hotline counselor.

[Pool Hall Ace]

50. Thank you, that looks very helpful.

:hi: