WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. Army has prosecuted about 1,900 cases of desertion since 2001, despite tens of thousands of soldiers fleeing the service in the face of deadly combat, long and multiple deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan and strains on military families.
The data reflects how rarely the military takes desertion cases to court. And it underscores the complexities of such cases as a top military commander reviews the investigation of Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, who left his Afghanistan post in 2009 and was captured and held by the Taliban for five years. More than 20,000 soldiers have been dropped from the rolls as deserters since 2006, Army data show. Totals for earlier years weren't available, but likely include thousands more. In trial cases over the last 13 years, about half the soldiers pleaded guilty to deserting their post. Another 78 were tried and convicted of desertion. Desertion is relatively easy to prove, former Army lawyer Greg Rinckey said, but circumstances such as post-traumatic stress or family problems are also taken into account. <http://oas.monster.com/RealMedia/ads/click_lx.ads/us.military.en/daily-news/2014/12/26/army-data-shows-rarity-of-desertion-prosecutions.html/L25/804971292/x42/Monster/2000110984-1_Cons_Mil_ROS_Featured_Placement_CPC/2000110984-1_Cons_Mil_ROS_FeatPlace_CPC_7B-Memberships.html/474c4e475446555a7156634141366263> "A lot of deserters suffered from PTSD or other mental health issues, or they were on their second or third deployment," said Rinckey. Numbers spiked as soldiers began returning to the battlefront, sometimes for up to 15 month deployments. Some disappearances involved divorce issues or sick children, he said. In other cases, soldiers deserted bases in the United States. Many are of these are handled without going to court martial, with soldiers administratively punished or sometimes medically discharged. Soldiers who avoid deployment or leave posts in combat zones are more serious cases, particularly if the deserter is responsible for standing guard or protecting others in dangerous places. "Those are looked at very harshly," said Rinckey, now a partner with the Washington law firm Tully Rinckey, "because commanders have a unit of other people who are looking at that soldier and saying, 'I don't want to go either,' so obviously there has to be an example made." Rinckey and other military officials say the Bergdahl case will be difficult. It's now in the hands of Gen. Mark Milley, head of U.S. Army Forces Command at Fort Bragg, N.C. Even if Milley concludes Bergdahl deserted his post, he may consider mitigating circumstances while weighing whether to charge the soldier with desertion or being absent without leave (AWOL). He may also handle the matter administratively. Milley has broad discretion, Army spokesman Wayne Hall said. Beyond court martial, possible actions include counseling, a reprimand, forfeiture of pay, reduction in rank or involuntary separation from the military. Bergdahl could receive an honorable, general or other than honorable discharge. That decision can determine whether he gets as much as $300,000 in back pay and other benefits, including continued health care. On Friday, March 27, 2015 at 10:07:06 AM UTC-5, Travis wrote: > > > > Muzzy traitor should have his throat slit. > BFH posted: "NYP_WASHINGTON — He’s being charged with desertion and > faces the possibility of life in prison, but Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl could end > up cutting a deal that keeps him out of jail while receiving health > benefits from the Veterans Administration, legal experts s" > New post on *iotwreport.com <http://iotwreport.com>* > <http://iotwreport.com/?author=16> Bergdahl could avoid jail, keep > VA benefits <http://iotwreport.com/?p=279742> by BFH > <http://iotwreport.com/?author=16> > > NYP_WASHINGTON — He’s being charged with desertion and faces the > possibility of life in prison, but Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl could end up cutting > a deal that keeps him out of jail while receiving health benefits from the > Veterans Administration, legal experts say. “I think it’s a very messy case > for the government to actually try. I […] > > Read more of this post <http://iotwreport.com/?p=279742> > *BFH <http://iotwreport.com/?author=16>* | March 27, 2015 at 10:15 am | > Categories: Home <http://iotwreport.com/?taxonomy=category&term=home> | > URL: http://wp.me/p5b0K0-1aLY > > Comment <http://iotwreport.com/?p=279742#respond> See all comments > <http://iotwreport.com/?p=279742#comments> > > Unsubscribe > <https://subscribe.wordpress.com/?key=3f96765902cf8f30343e79ba8d9d77a4&email=armyofbacon%40gmail.com&b=sCem8%2Fl6Sy6F.na%26zQmpyqNW%26CBjnpe1JCoP4%26l%5DA%5DahQ%5BJ%5D%5DV> > > to no longer receive posts from . > Change your email settings at Manage Subscriptions > <https://subscribe.wordpress.com/?key=3f96765902cf8f30343e79ba8d9d77a4&email=armyofbacon%40gmail.com>. > > > > *Trouble clicking?* Copy and paste this URL into your browser: > http://iotwreport.com/?p=279742 > > > > -- -- Thanks for being part of "PoliticalForum" at Google Groups. 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