COUNTERING MILITARY RECRUITMENT
Articles: Leaving Military: AWOL
Marine desertions up in 2005
David Montero, Rocky Mountain News
September 8, 2006
There were 1,170 desertions in the U.S. Marine Corps in fiscal year 2005 - a
sharp uptick from the previous year when 744 Marines were classified as
deserters. But 2005 also was the first year in which the number of Marine
deserters increased after a steady three- year decline.
According to the Marine Corps, fiscal 2002 was the height of
desertions, with 1,721 personnel leaving without authorization.
But getting accurate, overall numbers of desertions or those absent
without leave - AWOL - are tougher to track down.
The U.S. Army reported 2,011 desertions in fiscal year 2005 and there
are widely circulated reports from magazines and newspapers saying there
have been 5,500 total desertions from the armed forces since the start of
the Iraq war.
The reasons for desertion or going AWOL are varied, and don't always
center on a fear of being killed, or of killing, in a combat zone.
U.S. Army Reserve Maj. Sheldon Smith said many of those who run from
their military obligation are experiencing stresses away from their units and
feel as if they can't handle it anymore.
In many cases, he said, the Army tries to rehabilitate such soldiers
and bring them back into the fold.
"If you can preserve an effective soldier, you not only have done the
unit a world of good, but you've also helped the nation defend itself," Smith
said. "You have to look at the big picture."
Penalties for desertion are varied, according to Smith and U.S. Marine
Corps 1st Lt. Blanca Binstock. In some cases, the penalty might be a few days of
extra duty. In extreme cases, desertion during wartime could result in a death sentence.
Binstock said it's impossible to know why the number of deserters has
increased recently, but the American Friends Service Committee said going
AWOL is usually a desperate move by military personnel who feel there
are no options left open to them within the service.
Robert Dove, a counselor for the American Friends Service Committee who
fields phone calls from those who have gone AWOL, said he never recommends
that anyone go AWOL, but he understands how some can feel cornered by
an inflexible entity like the military. Many times when they call, Dove
said, they want him to tell them what to do because they can't think for
themselves.
"They've been taught to follow orders," Dove said. "But we're not in
the business of giving orders."
Dove said that since the Iraq war started, the committee has seen a
rise in calls from those who have gone AWOL. He said that by Dec. 31, 120
counselors across the country will have fielded about 35,000 calls this year from
those either considering going AWOL or who have already gone AWOL.
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