{"id":1016844995,"date":"2026-06-03T21:19:05","date_gmt":"2026-06-03T21:19:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gapasinlaw.com\/punishment-for-going-awol"},"modified":"2026-06-03T21:19:05","modified_gmt":"2026-06-03T21:19:05","slug":"punishment-for-going-awol","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gapasinlaw.espresso.themodernfirm.com\/?p=1016844995","title":{"rendered":"Punishment for Going AWOL"},"content":{"rendered":"

Punishment for Going AWOL<\/a><\/h1>\n

Posted by Ernesto Gapasin<\/a> | May 23, 2016<\/span> | 0 Comments<\/span><\/p>\n

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Failing to show up for work is never a good idea, whether you’re a teacher, a nurse, a pilot, or an army private. In the military, it is actually a crime. Defined in Article 86 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ), unauthorized absence (UA) or absence without leave (AWOL) is a very common offense in the military. The circumstances surrounding the absence can have a significant impact on the accused’s punishment for going AWOL.<\/p>\n

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Punishment for Going AWOL<\/h2>\n

Before we dig into the punishment for going AWOL, let’s review the exact nature of the crime, as defined in UCMJ Article 86:<\/p>\n

Any member of the armed forces who, without authority (1) fails to go to his appointed place of duty at the time prescribed; (2) goes from that place; or (3) absents himself or remains absent from his unit, organization, or place of duty at which he is required to be at the time prescribed; shall be punished as a court-martial may direct.<\/em><\/p>\n

As we mentioned above, the circumstances surrounding the AWOL offense can exacerbate its severity and increase the likelihood of a strong punishment. For example, the following factors can aggravate the crime:<\/p>\n