Desertion
Desertion is the act of abandoning or withdrawing support from someone or something to which you owe allegiance, responsibility or loyalty.
In a military unit, it is the act of leaving the unit without intention of returning.
In the U.S. military, a person becomes AWOL when he or she is absent from their post without a valid pass or leave. That person is dropped from their unit rolls after 30 days and is listed as a deserter.
However, as a matter of U.S. military law, desertion is not measured by time away from the unit, but rather:
- by going or remaining absent from his or her unit, organization, or place of duty with intent never to return;
- to avoid hazardous duty or shirk important responsibility;
- if he or she enlists or accepts an appointment in the same or another branch of service without disclosing the fact that he or she has not been properly separated from current service; or
- if he or she enters a foreign armed force not as authorized by the United States.
A person who is away for more than 30 days but returns voluntarily or indicates a credible intent to return may still be considered AWOL, while a person away for fewer than 30 days who can credibly be shown to have no intent to return (as by joining the armed forces of another country) may nevertheless be tried for desertion.
