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What does it mean to be AWOL?

On Behalf of | Sep 8, 2024 | MILITARY LAW - Military Law

When a soldier is accused of being AWOL, they could face a court martial. This can have severe ramifications, both for their freedom and for their career in the military.

AWOL simply means that a person is “absent without leave.” Being a soldier is not like having a normal 9-to-5 job. Most employees have no obligation to actually show up for work. They simply do so because they want to continue being paid. But soldiers in the military have very strict regulations about when they can and cannot leave their posts, so they could face a court martial for doing so without the correct authorization.

5 examples of going AWOL

There are many different ways that going AWOL can happen, but five of the main categories are as follows:

  • Leaving an assigned place of duty 
  • Refusing to go to a new place of duty, or failing to show up when ordered 
  • Being absent from the unit 
  • Intentionally leaving a unit to avoid maneuvers or exercises
  • Abandoning a guard post or a watch location

How long a soldier is gone can have a major impact on the potential ramifications. For instance, if a soldier is AWOL for less than 36 hours, it could lead to up to a month behind bars and the loss of two-thirds of their pay. If that same soldier was AWOL for 30 days or more, though, they could face a year of confinement and be dishonorably discharged from the military. 

Those facing these accusations certainly understand the impact this can have on their career moving forward. They need to know exactly what legal options they have and what defense tactics are available to them at this time. It may help to work with an experienced legal team.