Legal Question in Military Law in Washington

Re: Awol or desertion

You should immediately return yourself to military control. Your problems grow exponentially with every day you remain awol. You are considered awol for the first 29 days. After 30 days you are classified as a deserter. Your name is currently in the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) database and warrants have been issued for awol. A routine ID check or computer entry through the airlines or DHS will trigger an arrest. If you get stopped, or pulled over, and your SSN is run through the system, you'll be arrested on the spot.

Only bad things can happen to you while you are AWOL. The longer you're gone, the more serious the infraction. Two days might get you an article 15; a week is going to get you a field grade article 15, and if you stay gone much longer than that, you'll be looking at a summary or general court martial. Again, only bad things can happen as a result.

Call your unit, tell them you want to return, and in most cases, they will arrange transportation back to your unit for you.

You made a mistake. That happens. That's why they put erasers on the end of pencils. But don't make the mistake bigger. Do the right thing. In the end, you'll be glad you did.