DSK wrote:


Yet another point:
Military personnel fleeing to Canada from Stateside posts aren't even

deserters. They're AWOL. To be a deserter, you have to flee your post
in
a war zone.

DSK

Desertion is defining as leaving with "intent to remain away
permenantly"
(Article 85 UCMJ.) Since the intent is often difficult to prove, most
cases
are simply charged as Unauthorized Absence (Article 86 UCMJ).
Virtually all
Article 86 cases serious enough for court martial will go to a Special
Court
Martial where the maximum penalty is Confinement for 6 months,
reduction to pay
grade E-1, forfeiture of pay, and a Bad Conduct Discharge.


If Charged with Desertion, the case is usually heard at a General Court
Martial, where the Maximum punishment for Article 85 (IIRC) is 5 years
confinement and a Dishonorable Discharge.

Joe