Come join our group if you have gone AWOL from any millitary branch and "survived" Tell your story here... We need a place for AWOL’ers to get better information than what is available out there... If you have any GOOD information to let us know...Please post here...
It is illegal to actively advocate desertion so I am not recommending you go AWOL. It is your own personal decision to go AWOL. As a matter of fact I think going AWOL should be a last resort. Call the GI rights hotline at 1-800-394-9544 if you feel you are being mistreated or that your rights are being violated. They will give you options and advice.
What I can tell you is what is likely to happen to you if you do make the choice, and I can tell you, you definitely wouldn’t be the first person to make the choice.
Here are favorable conditions to you getting out through desertion:
1. You are in TRADOC (particularly IET). This generally means you are in Basic Combat Training (BCT) or Advanced Infantry Training (AIT).
2. You are stationed OCONUS (Outside the Continental United States). I personally was stationed in Germany. Other OCONUS sites include Alaska, Hawaii, Japan, Korea, Guam, Turkey, and Italy.Puerto Rico I believe is regarded as CONUS. Iraq, Kuwat, Qatar and Afghanistan are OCONUS sites but from those places it is very DISfavorable. Deserting from anyplace you get combat pay makes it nearly certain the military will choose to prosecute you.
3. You are a Veteran of a Combat Zone
4. You are Junior Enlisted
5. Your unit is Deactivating
6. You get a lawyer. This lets them know they can’t cross the line.
Here are some detrimental conditions to getting out through desertion:
1. You are currently deployed or your unit has orders to deploy to the Middle East.
2. You have pending UCMJ action such as an article 15 or a court martial
3. Your unit is CONUS (Inside the Continental United States) and you have already graduated AIT.
If any of the above are true you should think of getting out a different way. Consciencious Objection is an option as is a Medical Discharge. Ask me about those its not my area of expertise but I can point you in the right direction.
Here is how to prepare
1. Save money. You will still be paid by the Army until you are dropped from your unit’s rolls, but it is best to have a cash reserve incase you need to run, get a lawyer etc.
2. You should acquire a passport. To get a passport all you need is your birth certificate and a valid form of ID and some cash. A military ID will work. I used my military ID in the United States to get a passport while I was AWOL unbelievably. It is extremely important to have a passport if you are not stationed inside the United States. Otherwise the only way to get to the United States is through army paperwork (orders or a leave form). Plus for everybody else if the sh-t hits the fan you can always head for Canada.
3. Find a place to stay. I’m not going to publicly post people who help deserters though Mennonites and Quakers have a long tradition of sheltering them. If you need help finding a place to stay ask somebody in this group it wouldn’t be a good idea to arrange this kind of thing over myspace. You obviously definitely don’t want to stay at your home of record, or barracks, or military housing.
If any of you have anything else you would like to add feel free. If any of you have something to ask this is definitely the place for advice, just message somebody in this group.