UA/AWOL/Desertion Status

If a service member is absent without leave (AWOL) from the military, then the member probably knows that he or she has left the service illegally, that is, committed an offense against the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ). In other words, the member has committed a criminal offense and is in an illegal status. To complicate matters, the service member is probably in the midst of complicating personal, medical, or family circumstances, and this may be why the member went AWOL in the first place. If you are in this situation, you need an experienced military attorney, such as Mr. Karns, to help you resolve the matter. Without an experienced military attorney, you are entrusting the resolution of your case entirely to the same military from which you went AWOL.

Whatever your status, UA (unauthorized absence), AWOL, or Deserter, Mr. Karns can help you resolve your case with the military. If you are given “deserter status” (AWOL for thirty days or more and dropped from your Unit’s rolls), your case is most serious. The military will likely issue a federal “deserter” warrant for you, which is entered into the federal NCIC warrant database. This makes the warrant known to law enforcement nationwide. At this point, you could be arrested as the result of a random, minor traffic stop, arrested leaving or entering the country, or picked up at your home by the local sheriff or constables. Once apprehended, you are placed in the local jail, where you will wait, sometimes in solitary confinement away from other civilian prisoners, with limited or no contact with your family, until the military comes and picks you up.

Mr. Karns can represent you whether or not you are in military custody. If you are still in military control or have recently returned on your own, contact or have your family contact Mr. Karns. If you are still in the civilian world and want to resolve your case prior to being apprehended, you will have to return to military control. It is critical that you hire Mr. Karns prior to returning to military control. When and where you turn yourself in is something you will need to discuss with an experienced military attorney. In addition, you will likely need to have certain records, statements, and other evidence gathered and prepared prior to going back to military control. This evidence may be essential to resolving your case in a manner most favorable to you.

Depending on the circumstances, you may end up being separated administratively, without a conviction, jail time, or a punitive discharge. On the other hand, you may be court-martialed, face significant jail time, and receive a punitive discharge. This type of outcome to your case could follow you for the rest of your civilian life. That is why it is imperative to hire an experienced military attorney such as Mr. Karns. He will be your representative, advocating and negotiating for your side with the military. He will guide you through the process of resolving your AWOL or deserter status with the military.

In most AWOL cases, the service member is looking to get out of the military. But a basic fact regarding AWOL cases is that there is no legal mechanism available for the service member to compel or force the military to separate him or her. Bottom line, this is why you need to hire an experienced military attorney, because even though he cannot force the military to separate you, he can present the best case possible given your particular circumstances that it is in the military’s interest to separate you. In addition, Mr. Karns can fight to have your case handled administratively rather than prosecuted via a court-martial.

Mr. Karns handles many of these cases, takes the time to listen to your concerns, and provides you with a seasoned, realistic evaluation of your case moving forward. If you have been in a situation where you have experienced medical or psychological conditions, abuse from your immediate superiors or other unit personnel (hazing), or other family or hardship issues, Mr. Karns will fight to have your side of the story respected so that your receive the most just result possible.

Past Cases

Soldier was AWOL for 60 days in time of War. Soldier received an Article 15 and Chapter Separation with an Honorable Discharge.

Client was a Private First Class in the USMC before going AWOL for approximately one month. Client wanted out the Marine Corps but was afraid he would get jail time if he returned. Client hired Mr. Karns to represent him. Client was administratively separated and according to his goal received no jail time and no conviction.

Client was a Seaman Recruit in the U.S. Navy before going AWOL for five months. Client wanted to get out of the Navy without having to do any jail time or receive a conviction. Client hired Mr. Karns and received a General Discharge with no jail time or conviction.

Client was a Private in the USMC before going AWOL for eight months. Client wanted to get out of the Marine Corps without having to do any jail time or receive a conviction. Client hired Mr. Karns and received a General Discharge with no jail time or conviction.

Client was a Private First Class in the U.S. Army before going AWOL for ten months. Client wanted to get out of the Army but was afraid to turn himself in because he didn’t want to be prosecuted or receive any jail time. Client hired Mr. Karns and was administratively separated with no jail time or conviction.

Client was a Private First Class in U.S. Army before going AWOL for two and a half months. Client wanted to get out of the Army but was afraid to turn himself in because he didn’t want to be prosecuted or receive any jail time. Client hired Mr. Karns and was administratively separated with no jail time or conviction.

Client was a Private in the USMC before going AWOL for four months. Client wanted to get out of the USMC but was afraid to turn himself in because he didn’t want to be prosecuted or receive any jail time. Client hired Mr. Karns and was administratively separated with no jail time or conviction.

Client was a Private in the Army National Guard who stopped drilling with his unit and was AWOL for approximately one year because of a family tragedy. Client wanted to get out of the Guard but was afraid to turn himself in because he didn’t want to be prosecuted or receive any jail time. Client hired Mr. Karns and received a General Discharge with no jail time or conviction.

Client enlisted in the U.S. Army but never reported to basic training. After being AWOL for approximately five years, Client was arrested when he crossed the border into the United States. Client hired Mr. Karns and was administratively separated with no jail time or conviction.

Client was a Seaman Recruit in the U.S. Navy before going AWOL for three months. Client wanted to get out of the Navy but was afraid to return to the Recruit Training Command at Great Lakes. Client hired Mr. Karns who arranged for him to return to Naval Station Norfolk instead, where Client was administratively separated with no jail time or conviction.

Client was a Specialist in the U.S. Army before going AWOL for one month. Client wanted to get out of the Army but was afraid to turn himself in because he didn’t want to be prosecuted or receive any jail time. Client hired Mr. Karns and was administratively separated with no jail time or conviction.

After four years of prior service in the U.S. Marine Corps, Client enlisted in the U.S. Army as a Specialist but went AWOL after five months. Client wanted to get out of the Army but was afraid to turn himself in because he didn’t want to be prosecuted or receive any jail time. Client hired Mr. Karns and was administratively separated with no jail time or conviction.

Client was a Private in the U.S. Army who lost his brother in a tragic automobile accident four months prior to going AWOL. Client wanted to get out of the Army but was afraid to turn himself in because he didn’t want to be prosecuted or receive any jail time. Client hired Mr. Karns and was administratively separated with no jail time or conviction.

Client was a Specialist in the U.S. Army before going AWOL for nine months. Client wanted to get out of the Army but was afraid to turn himself in because he didn’t want to be prosecuted or receive any jail time. Client hired Mr. Karns and was administratively separated with no jail time or conviction.

Client was a Private in the U.S. Army who was arrested by local law enforcement after having gone AWOL. Client’s family hired Mr. Karns and Client was administratively separated with no jail time or conviction.

Client was a Private in the U.S. Army before going AWOL for two months. Client wanted to get out of the Army but was afraid to turn himself in because he didn’t want to be prosecuted or receive any jail time. Client hired Mr. Karns and received a General Discharge with no jail time or conviction.

Client was a Specialist in the U.S. Army before going AWOL for over five and a half years. Client wanted to get out of the Army but was afraid to turn himself in because he didn’t want to be prosecuted or receive any jail time. Client hired Mr. Karns and was administratively separated with no jail time or conviction.

Client was a Private in the U.S. Army who was arrested by local law enforcement after a traffic stop. Client had a federal deserter’s warrant because he had been AWOL for over two years. Client’s family hired Mr. Karns who persuaded the local Judge to grant Client time served for the citations so that he could be released and returned to the Army where he was administratively separated with no jail time or conviction.

Client was a Private First Class in the U.S. Army who went AWOL for two months after being injured in training. Client wanted to get out of the Army but was afraid to turn himself in because he didn’t want to be prosecuted or receive any jail time. Client hired Mr. Karns and was administratively separated with no jail time or conviction.

Client was a Private First Class in the U.S. Army and single mother of a seven year old boy. Client’s mother had been caring for Client’s son while she completed her training. When her mother could no longer care for her boy, Client went AWOL. Client wanted to get out of the Army but was afraid to turn herself in because she didn’t want to be prosecuted or receive any jail time. Client hired Mr. Karns and received a General Discharge with no jail time or conviction.

Client was a Private First Class in the USMC before going AWOL from Camp Lejeune for approximately one month. After Client was arrested by local law enforcement he hired Mr. Karns. Client was returned to the USMC and placed in pretrial confinement pending his prosecution. Client was administratively separated with no further jail time and no conviction.

Client was a Private in the USMC who was being discharged for going AWOL but left again before the process was completed. He remained AWOL for approximately eight years before he was arrested and returned to Marine control. Client hired Mr. Karns and was administratively separated with no jail time and no conviction.

Client was a Private in the U.S. Army who had a positive urinalysis and went AWOL twice. Client hired Mr. Karns and received a General Discharge with no jail time or conviction.

Client was a Private in the Army National Guard who went AWOL from training. Client wanted to get out of the Guard but was afraid to turn himself in because he didn’t want to be prosecuted or receive any jail time. Client hired Mr. Karns and was administratively separated with no jail time and no conviction.

Client was a Specialist in the U.S. Army who was involuntarily mobilized from the IRR and went AWOL for six months. Client wanted to get out of the Army but was afraid to turn herself in because she didn’t want to be prosecuted or receive any jail time. Client hired Mr. Karns and was administratively separated with no jail time and no conviction.

Client was a Private First Class in the U.S. Army who was AWOL for almost three years.

Client wanted to get out of the Army but was afraid to turn himself in because he didn’t want to be prosecuted or receive any jail time. Client hired Mr. Karns and was administratively separated with no jail time and no conviction.

Client was a Private First Class in the U.S. Army Reserve who was AWOL for almost eight months. Client wanted to get out of the Army but was afraid to turn herself in because she didn’t want to be prosecuted or receive any jail time. Client hired Mr. Karns and was administratively separated with no jail time and no conviction.