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/L25/2077330836/x42/Monster/Mil_House_ROS_300x100_PayCharts_2015/300x100-PayCharts-v2-FNL.JPG/474c4e475446555a7156634141366263?x> "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. On Monday, March 30, 2015 at 10:20:26 AM UTC-5, Travis wrote: > > > > > Dr. Eowyn posted: "A United States Marine did something that the > phalanxes of America's military officers are too timid to do. This is the > sign he held up before passing motorists about what his supposed commander > in chief did (source): Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl deserted" Respond to this > post by replying above this line > New post on *Fellowship of the Minds* > <http://fellowshipoftheminds.com/author/eowyn2/> U.S. Marine’s stunning > sign reminds us of the costs of Obama’s Bergdahl swap > <http://fellowshipoftheminds.com/2015/03/30/u-s-marines-stunning-sign-reminds-us-of-the-costs-of-obamas-bergdahl-swap/> > by > Dr. Eowyn <http://fellowshipoftheminds.com/author/eowyn2/> > > A United States Marine did something that the phalanxes of America's > military officers are too timid to do. > > This is the sign he held up before passing motorists about what his > supposed commander in chief did (source): > > [image: Marine on Bergdahl swap] > <https://fellowshipofminds.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/marine-on-bergdahl-swap.jpg> > > Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bowe_Bergdahl> deserted > his post in Afghanistan and was held captive by the Taliban from June 2009 > until May 31, 2014 when the Obama administration negotiated his release as > part of a prisoner exchange for five high-level Taliban members who were > being held at the detention center at Guantanamo Bay. > > On June 25, 2014, the U.S. Army stated that there is "no evidence" that > Bergdahl had "engaged in any misconduct" during his years in captivity. > > Nine months later, on March 25, 2015, the Army announced that Bergdahl had > been charged with two counts under the Uniform Code of Military Justice: > one count of “desertion with intent to shirk important or hazardous duty” > and one count of “misbehavior before the enemy by endangering the safety of > a command, unit or place.” > > Here's a reminder of what Obama gave up and what America sacrificed in > exchange for this deserter. > 5 High-Level Taliban Terrorists > > [image: Bergdahl prisoner swap] > <https://fellowshipofminds.files.wordpress.com/2014/06/bergdahl-prisoner-swap1.jpg> > 6 U.S. Army Soldiers who died looking for Bergdahl > > [image: soldiers died looking for Bergdahl] > <https://fellowshipofminds.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/soldiers-died-looking-for-bergdahl.jpg> > > *Staff Sergeant Clayton Bowen, 29, of San Antonio, Texas, and Private 1st > Class Morris Walker, 23, of Chapel Hill, N.C.*, were killed by a roadside > bomb in Paktika province on Aug. 18, 2009, while trying to find Bergdahl. > Like Bergdahl, they were part of the 4th BCT from Fort Richardson, Alaska. > > *Staff Sergeant Kurt Curtiss, 27, of Murray, Utah*, died Aug. 26 in > Paktika Province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when he was shot while > his unit was supporting Afghan security forces during an enemy attack. Like > Bergdahl, Bowen and Walker, he was part of the 4th BCT. > > *2nd Lieutenant Darryn Andrews, 34, of Dallas, Texas*, died Sept. 4 in > Paktika Province when enemy forces attacked his vehicle with an improvised > explosive device and a rocket-propelled grenade. Like Bergdahl, Bowen, > Walker and Curtiss, Andrews was part of the 4th BCT. > > *Staff Sergeant Michael Murphrey, 25, of Snyder, Texas*, died Sept. 6 in > Paktika province after being wounded by an IED. Like Bergdahl, Bowen, > Walker, Curtiss and Andrews, Murphrey was part of the 4th BCT. > > *On Sept. 4, 2009, Private 1st Class Matthew Martinek, 20*, of DeKalb, > Ill., was seriously wounded in Paktika province when Taliban forces > attacked his vehicle with an improvided explosive device, a > rocket-propelled grenade and small-arms fire. (Source: Time > <http://time.com/2809352/bowe-bergdahl-deserter-army-taliban/>) > > Note: According to *The Daily Beast* > <http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/06/02/we-lost-soldiers-in-the-hunt-for-bergdahl-a-guy-who-walked-off-in-the-dead-of-night.html>, > > seven U.S. soldiers were killed looking for Bowe the deserter. > > See also: > > - The law that Obama violated in releasing 5 terrorists from Gitmo in > exchange for Bowe Bergdahl > > <https://cofda.wordpress.com/2014/06/03/the-law-that-obama-violated-in-releasing-5-terrorists-from-gitmo-in-exchange-for-bowe-bergdahl/> > > - Delusional Obama compares self with George Washington for > Bergdahl prisoner-swap > > <http://fellowshipoftheminds.com/2014/06/09/delusional-obama-compares-self-with-george-washington-for-bergdahl-prisoner-swap/> > > - Obama ignored advice of military & CIA against Bergdahl prisoner swap > > <https://cofda.wordpress.com/2014/06/09/obama-ignored-advice-of-military-cia-against-bergdahl-prisoner-swap/> > > > *~Éowyn* > *Dr. Eowyn <http://fellowshipoftheminds.com/author/eowyn2/>* | March > 30, 2015 at 5:34 am | Tags: 2nd Lieutenant Darryn Andrews > <http://fellowshipoftheminds.com/?tag=2nd-lieutenant-darryn-andrews>, > Bergdahl > court martial > <http://fellowshipoftheminds.com/?tag=bergdahl-court-martial>, Private > 1st Class Matthew Martinek > <http://fellowshipoftheminds.com/?tag=private-1st-class-matthew-martinek>, > Private 1st Class Morris Walker > <http://fellowshipoftheminds.com/?tag=private-1st-class-morris-walker>, Staff > Sergeant Clayton Bowen > <http://fellowshipoftheminds.com/?tag=staff-sergeant-clayton-bowen>, Staff > Sergeant Kurt Curtiss > <http://fellowshipoftheminds.com/?tag=staff-sergeant-kurt-curtiss>, Staff > Sergeant Michael Murphrey > <http://fellowshipoftheminds.com/?tag=staff-sergeant-michael-murphrey>, > Taliban > terrorists in exchange for Bowe Bergdahl > <http://fellowshipoftheminds.com/?tag=taliban-terrorists-in-exchange-for-bowe-bergdahl>, > > U.S. soldiers who died looking for Bergdahl > <http://fellowshipoftheminds.com/?tag=u-s-soldiers-who-died-looking-for-bergdahl> > > | Categories: Afghan war <http://fellowshipoftheminds.com/?cat=1405004>, Bowe > Bergdahl <http://fellowshipoftheminds.com/?cat=22973840>, Islam > <http://fellowshipoftheminds.com/?cat=420>, Liberals/Democrats/Left > <http://fellowshipoftheminds.com/?cat=115894710>, Middle East > <http://fellowshipoftheminds.com/?cat=3250>, Military > <http://fellowshipoftheminds.com/?cat=33806753>, Obama > <http://fellowshipoftheminds.com/?cat=376320>, Obama scandals > <http://fellowshipoftheminds.com/?cat=12028321>, Terrorism > <http://fellowshipoftheminds.com/?cat=35034649>, United States > <http://fellowshipoftheminds.com/?cat=5850>, US Presidents > <http://fellowshipoftheminds.com/?cat=212737370> | URL: > http://wp.me/pKuKY-uaU > > Comment > <http://fellowshipoftheminds.com/2015/03/30/u-s-marines-stunning-sign-reminds-us-of-the-costs-of-obamas-bergdahl-swap/#respond> > > See all comments > <http://fellowshipoftheminds.com/2015/03/30/u-s-marines-stunning-sign-reminds-us-of-the-costs-of-obamas-bergdahl-swap/#comments> > > > Unsubscribe > <https://subscribe.wordpress.com/?key=eaced905935c28c895fe4e47a2730614&email=bovinescatologists%40gmail.com&b=Ls-U%2CKyqFcb%7C%2C%2BdW%2CAlfuGv5Oekz8bZVTHs1CF7YY%3FSa5a%2F8Oyd> > > to no longer receive posts from Fellowship of the Minds. > Change your email settings at Manage Subscriptions > <https://subscribe.wordpress.com/?key=eaced905935c28c895fe4e47a2730614&email=bovinescatologists%40gmail.com>. > > > > *Trouble clicking?* Copy and paste this URL into your browser: > > http://fellowshipoftheminds.com/2015/03/30/u-s-marines-stunning-sign-reminds-us-of-the-costs-of-obamas-bergdahl-swap/ > > Thanks for flying with WordPress.com <http://wordpress.com> > > > -- -- Thanks for being part of "PoliticalForum" at Google Groups. 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