Legal Question in Military Law in Missouri

Re: Going AWOL before basic training.

You could be treated as any other AWOL soldier. The time will come when you will have to pay for this decision. If you decide not to go, the result will be that you will have a difficult time, in the years to come, of providing for that child. Don't you want your son to look up to you and see you as a man who fulfilled his responsibilities?

Basic training is 8 weeks. You'll have your son for a lot longer than that. The time to be a man and accept the responsibilities you signed up for is now.

If you get into the military and find out that you can't make the grade, there are ways to seek a discharge. Similarly, if you go in and find that you cannot adapt to military life, there are ways to seek a discharge. But if you go AWOL, you risk jail and other sanctions down the road.

If you are concerned about this matter, talk to your recruiter, or see an attorney about getting out of your contract, but under no circumstances should you miss your report date.