What discharge can I get if I’m considered awol already?

2021-02-24T09:57:25-05:00

I missed a weekend drill and they said I will be marked as awol, if I talk to someone about getting discharged is it possible?

Response by SFC Melvin Brandenburg made Feb 24 at 2021 10:29 AM

2021-02-24T10:29:01-05:00

Generally it takes 9 MUTAs of unexcused absence. Yeah you will be dogged out for missing, and should be, but as long as you don't accumulate 9 MUTAs in a 12 month period you will probably be ok. Just do a better job with attendance if you want the sham shield.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 24 at 2021 11:23 AM

2021-02-24T11:23:40-05:00

If you want out...and willingly stated you PLANNED ON NOT GOING......why do you care if you get nailed with AWOL? Play stupid games, win stupid prizes. I explained the process to you in your last post about this.....before it was removed because you are posting the same questions under two different profiles.....stating you had no intention of going to BTA and that you want out. Now you're worried about what will happen? And you can ask your Commander to discharge you....but chances are they will say no. And, even if they say yes, it can take MONTHS for a Chapter packet to run its course. And guess what, during that Chapter process....you will still be expected to show up to BTA.

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Feb 24 at 2021 11:42 AM

2021-02-24T11:42:34-05:00

To add to the responses, the AR is 135-178 and the discharge is unsatisfactory participation. There will be registered mail notifications as they describe and you can be discharged with or without your involvement on along a regulatory timeline.

Response by CW3 Kevin Storm made Feb 24 at 2021 12:48 PM

2021-02-24T12:48:42-05:00

NG question: Be a man, and not a kid, and call your unit. Do your time like you are supposed to. Take your lumps and move on. This is not an end all to everything. SFC Livingston is spot on. No Commander is going to let you go. You can be dumba$$ and just go about failing everything. But why? Explain why you deserve to be discharged? Explain why you can't fill your obligation? Explain to your next employer why you were a fuktard, and could not show for one weekend a month? Explain to me, your future potential boss, why I should hire you? This will follow you for years to come, so think long and hard about the choice you make today, because it will haunt you for decades.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 24 at 2021 1:34 PM

2021-02-24T13:34:15-05:00

Army Regulation 135-178 covers enlisted administrative separations for the National Guard and Reserves which is the regulation that will more than likely apply to you if you are racking up unexcused absences.

You're looking at separation under chapter 12 which is unsatisfactory participation. Chapter 12 can result in a separation characterization of Other than Honorable (OTH) which may adversely affect your Civilian prospects as opposed to Honorable or General under honorable conditions.

If you're looking to get out the best result to maintain your Honorable characterization of service would be to report as normal. Otherwise you could request to be discharged but there typically has to be a good reason for being discharged or transferred to the Individual Ready Reserve (IRR) before your Expiration of Term of Service (ETS) date such as a hardship.

The process can take 30 days to several months depending on your chain of command and a variety of other factors due to traditional M-Day service.

To make a long explanation short, you'll face OTH and OTH will lose you your benefits. It's your career and your life, make the decision that best helps you out.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 24 at 2021 2:11 PM

2021-02-24T14:11:29-05:00

You can but it doesn't work that way. First, they may try to start UCMJ action for being AWOL. Next, if you don't plan on coming back they can discharge you with a General Discharge at best. Then they will charge you full cost of all of your issued equipment that will be recouped by the IRS as a garnishment. This will affect you for the rest of your life and potentially prevent you from getting jobs.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 24 at 2021 2:31 PM

2021-02-24T14:31:53-05:00

It's up to the General to sign off on a Chapter Packet. If a new general has taken command the process could end up being fast if they are simply trying to clean house.

As mentioned you need 9 U's to execute that packet, and 6 to get the ball rolling.

It is also important to be aware you can still be given a "U" even if you attend drill. For example, telling a SFC he's BSing you in a public way would easily justify that in a BA environment. It would probably get a smoke session with a SGT or SSG, but yea a SFC, I'd give a "U" if the SFC wanted, and document it with a conuseling and be ready for a call from the IG or JAG.

While a chapter packet might be submitted and you are in the cross hairs of getting chaptered out, the best way to derail a Chapter Packet is to attend BA. The vast majority of soldiers that are past 9 U's will get to stay in if the General sees in their attendance reports the soldier is making an effort to stay in.

Also, if you manage to convince your company commander your performance is changing then he can submit a Memo up stating to the effect to be included in your Chapter Packet and the whole thing will be put on hold.

A properly compiled chapter packet with 9 U's gives the General the right to chapter a soldier, but that is not their objective. It's the last thing they want to do.

It is so astronomically easy to stay in the USAR, but if you blow it off, and don't give anyone a reason to help you then your Commander is motivated to improve his readiness numbers by reducing the denominator of his ratios of soldiers that are dragging his numbers down.

*********
Honestly............ if you managed to get kicked out simply for non attendance that takes more work than trying to stay in the USAR, and you will regret it the rest of your life.

The Ranks of PV1 to SPC are very powerful special ranks. You can get away with a lot of nonsense. What I am saying, is if you feel like your path to success has been ruined it has not. Every day for SPC and below can be a new day to start fresh. Only the most serious of failings are documented and iPerm'd. Even these U's roll off every 12 months.

Whereas if you were an E5+ even small to modest failings can be documented in a Performance Evaluation that gets iPerm'd and might take 3+ years to rotate out of a promotion board review cycle (which domino effects everything else in life). For example 6 U's wont get you kicked out as a SGT it could end up documented on an NCOER that will be iPerm'd forever. Anyone SPC and below would simply have them roll off in 12 months.

At the very least try and get out of the USAR as a SPC. Other vets will know you were a special kind of soldier if your DD214 has you only as a PFC or lower. Don't think a civilian employer who was in the service as well wont notice that.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 24 at 2021 5:59 PM

2021-02-24T17:59:35-05:00

You are required to inform your supervisor in advance if you are going to miss a drill. In the case of an emergency, you need to call your supervisor as soon as possible and advise them of your circumstances.
As for a first time missed drill, you will not be marked AWOL or discharged. You will likely be counseled by your supervisor and advised what I wrote above. If you stop attending drills or you continue to miss drills without notifying your supervisor, you will likely face disciplinary action and then possible discharge.

Response by CSM Charles Hayden made Feb 24 at 2021 8:48 PM

2021-02-24T20:48:20-05:00

We used to activate AWOLs in the CAARNG. They did show up for Active Duty orders to Vietnam.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 25 at 2021 3:07 AM

2021-02-25T03:07:33-05:00

Like others have said, Speak to the full time staff, Maybe lose a stripe for a while but if you show up come a pass everything and do well you will pretty much be forgiven after a year or so. Like others have said, once you make the rank of sergeant or higher, They don't get away with anything. Missing a 3 day Is a big deal . You could always work in the unit or added 2 days before your next drill. Talk to your full time leadership and maybe the chaplain as well. Chaplains have the oath of secrecy and you could discuss things with him and it won't come back and bite you. This will only be the end of your career if you decide to not play by the rules. If you take your discipline and do a good job in 2 or 3 years, you may actually be able to go in front of a sergeant board. The army is all about responsibility but they also want you to be successful.SFC Melvin Brandenburg CSM Charles Hayden MSG Private RallyPoint Member

Response by CPT Jerry Lucas made Feb 25 at 2021 4:42 AM

2021-02-25T04:42:47-05:00

AR 135-91,Unexcused absences from training (chap 4, sec III), should answer most of your questions.

Response by LTC Ken Connolly made Feb 25 at 2021 11:21 AM

2021-02-25T11:21:21-05:00

You signed a contract...man up and live up to it. See if you can make the missed drill up. You really do not want to receive a less than honorable discharge. That will haunt for the rest of your life.

Response by CSM Tim Bebus made Feb 25 at 2021 5:36 PM

2021-02-25T17:36:00-05:00

you don't have enough information in your question to receive a proper response. Have you been to basic training? Are you in the USAR or ARNG. Based on your MOS that is on your profile I am assuming ARNG. If you are MOS qualified, and continue to no show for drill you will be discharged as a unsatisfactory participant. This will be at a minimum under other then honorable and a re entry code of 3. There is actually no AWOL in the reserve components because you actually do not accumulate leave in the reserve components. You were actually put in the books as an unsat. I agree with the majority of responses on here. You made a commitment and should honor it.

Response by SSG Brian G. made Feb 25 at 2021 9:24 PM

2021-02-25T21:24:22-05:00

So you missed a drill. Big deal. It is not like Active Duty where you miss formation or a movement. You missed a drill. Call them and explain the situation and make it up and move on. You are not going to be marked as AWOL.

What is it that you want here? Are you wanting to get out? If so go to your COC and explain that. The military wants personnel that want to be in. Nobody wants a slack ass that does not want to be there. But you need to be clear on something. Be sure that getting out is what you really, really want to do because once you go down that road it is a stiff climb back out should you change your mind.

Response by SFC Craig Titzkowski made Feb 25 at 2021 10:27 PM

2021-02-25T22:27:30-05:00

PFC Don't get too worked up yes you did screw up if you can't make a drill you need to notify your chain of command before drill. The chain of command just needs to make sure you don't take this violation lightly. You could get the same punishment afforded to you on active duty will that happen lets see lets look at the best option your chain of command have available to them. #1 and the most likely 15 day restriction and 1/2 months pay for 1 month and reduction in rank by 1. The punishment depends on your work reputation at the unit if that is outstanding you can plan of Everything I said and it all will be suspended for 6 months so you miss one promotion cycle to E-4 (SPC). Why do I think that is because the guard spent money on you and commanders are not into throwing money away and good people are hard to find. Any good leader knows even the best soldier has his or her moments. Showing understanding is a great tool to build alliances at all ranks. Putting you on orders cause money and time retraining cost money as well because you have people drilling extra you have to pay them to be there. I don't know your chain of command but I was in the ARNG for 13 years and retired with 20 years active duty. I think you go in be accountable do what your asked to make things right and be the better for it.
SFC Titzkowski (Ret)

Response by 1SG Dennis Hicks made Feb 26 at 2021 5:49 AM

2021-02-26T05:49:31-05:00

You didn't miss a drill you made a choice not to attend a drill a report to you designated place of duty. Everyone else has explained what you need to do and how to do it and you seem to not like what you are hearing. When you enlist you make a contract that you swear to honor. If you can not do that then life will be nothing but one problem after the other. Unless you get right in the head and do what you are supposed to do you will find the repercussions from failing to live up you your commitments will follow you you everywhere.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 26 at 2021 12:02 PM

2021-02-26T12:02:58-05:00

Go to sick call and see if they will give you some vagisil

Response by SGT Lorenzo Nieto made Feb 27 at 2021 6:33 AM

2021-02-27T06:33:27-05:00

See it through you’ll be the better man for it, if you have a family crisis that’s a whole different thing.

Response by CSM Darieus ZaGara made Feb 27 at 2021 6:41 PM

2021-02-27T18:41:40-05:00

A single awol does not usually merit a separation. Be careful how you go about things. You can receive a negative chapter separation, you could receive UCMJ, you could receive a dishonorable discharge. If you are looking for a quick out, that isn’t the way to go. Fulfill your commitment. Do the honorable thing.

Response by CW3 Susan Burkholder made Mar 1 at 2021 10:33 AM

2021-03-01T10:33:51-05:00

I'm skeptical of all the responses saying this will hurt you in civilian employment. I think they are all generational responses (as in they are old!). You don't have to claim military experience later when applying for future civilian jobs. Employers are permitted to ask limited questions related to an applicant’s military service. Questions that are relevant to work experience and training received are permissible. But an employer can not ask an applicant the reason they were discharged from the military.

Some employers will give hiring preference to veterans or give them a higher starting salary, or credit when accruing benefits, which of course you would not get because you no longer qualify. If you are hired under a veteran preference because you did list your experience, then they can only get your DD 214 from you. They will ask for a copy from you, at which time you would be able to explain your circumstances of being discharged for lack of participation. But again, this will hardly apply to you. You haven't accumulated any significant time in the military to be credited anything really.

Chalk it up to a learning experience and move on.

Response by SSgt Daniel d'Errico made Mar 6 at 2021 10:19 PM

2021-03-06T22:19:42-05:00

A "Less than Honorable" discharge comes to mind. You could wind up on active duty, like a guy I served with in the Air Force. He missed two weekends and had to finish up his time in the Air Guard at three years.

Response by LtCol Dennis Ivan made Mar 19 at 2021 8:34 PM

2021-03-19T20:34:37-04:00

Hopefully, you get a Big Chicken Dinner for efforts. Ensure you tell your Bn CO that.

Response by SSG Vernonball75@Gmail.Com Ball made Mar 21 at 2021 9:20 PM

2021-03-21T21:20:54-04:00

I am a retired military police, would you like for me to come and take you back to your Commander? Or I can take you to jail and let the commander come and get you

Response by CW4 Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 17 at 2021 9:22 PM

2021-04-17T21:22:29-04:00

Marked as AWOL for missing a drill?
Someone please correct me if I'm wrong, as I dont know if the NG Mark's their BTA periods differently, but in the USAR you'll get recorded for two Unsat Performance Unit Training Assemblies (UTAs) per day. That's not the end of the world. Sometimes it happens when something comes up and a Soldier just can't or won't make it to drill without prior approval. When I was a drilling Soldier I had a few for work related issues that I couldn't control.
I know the USAR can transfer a Soldier to the Inactive Ready Reserve (IRR) for a whole list of reasons, and a lot of Commanders are just as likely to do that just to get an Unsat performer off their books. They'd rather have a vacancy than someone that sucks their time and kills their metrics.
Again, I dont how how that works in the NG... maybe someone else can add some more information.

Response by SPC Tommy Dean made Apr 22 at 2021 3:47 PM

2021-04-22T15:47:10-04:00

You missed a weekend drill. Well you poor pitiful SOB. Lets look at this.. (once a month) (discharge). I'd recommend a Pamprin.

Response by SSG Rick Miller made Apr 26 at 2021 8:15 AM

2021-04-26T08:15:07-04:00

Hopefully, your Commander will tell you to go piss up a rope when you ask for a discharge. Keep hiding behind your "new" religion, you gutless wonder. Just don't show up for drill, and soon enough, you'll be administratively discharged with a character of service that says less than honorable. Then go be a loser for the rest of your miserable existence. Quit now, and you'll keep quitting all your life.

Response by LTC Leonard M. Manning, Sr made May 3 at 2021 12:03 PM

2021-05-03T12:03:15-04:00

I was a Commander in the Georgia Nation Guard. The state of Georgia has a State UCMJ and under the State UCMJ I could ask for 100 days of confinement for a BTA because there are 4 periods in a weekend. I always asked for the maximum. However, I never received the the maximum punishment. The military judge gave a sentence of 6 days - Saturday and Sunday for 3 weekends with 1 weekend available for the next BTA. After 6 Courts Marshall my AWOL problem disappeared as it became clear that if a soldier did not perform their duty I was more than willing to exact a punishment for their failures.

Response by CPL Private RallyPoint Member made May 4 at 2021 8:50 PM

2021-05-04T20:50:51-04:00

Technically you are AWOL. The reality is that you would get four "U's" for the weekend (assuming it was a two day drill). You are allowed 9 before they can start papers on you to put you out. The kicker to that is that if you have eight "U's" and then attend even one day of drill the count restarts. We just talked about that at drill last weekend. We had a guy do that. He would miss eight UTA's and then show up in the morning, sign in and then leave. He did that for over a year until his ETS date so that command could not take action against him for something he had done while on AT.
My suggestion would be to contact your FLL and talk to him/her. Go back to drill as scheduled. Sign your counseling statement. Embrace the suck of whatever punishment they may hand out to you and move on. But do it sooner rather than later so that it does not snowball into something that can not be fixed.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made May 5 at 2021 6:50 PM

2021-05-05T18:50:55-04:00

I missed 2 drills 1 I totally forgot about the 2nd I showed up a month late. My advice man up take the smoke sessions and fulfill your contract.

Response by Brad Miller made May 10 at 2021 2:08 PM

2021-05-10T14:08:10-04:00

This sounds like "they" are willing to let things slide ... IF you keep your mouth shut.
Man up, shut your mouth, take your punishment, and make sure you never do it again.

Response by MSG Paul L. Ruiz made May 11 at 2021 5:20 PM

2021-05-11T17:20:08-04:00

Contact your NG readiness NCO, your 1SG, or your PLT SGT; it's not to late to repair the situation, but time is counting down. You need to ask yourself what is important in your life, what are your big picture goals, and knowing that this may turn into a big problem for you, if not corrected immediately. Remember the reason why you joined the military, to serve our country, and make something better for yourself, even though you may not know what that is yet. Your leadership will understand and work with you, but you have to make the first step and trust them. Contact your leadership and go from there, you may get in a little trouble, but it won't be that bad, and time is counting against you. Please take my advise and contact your leadership, you can recover from this, and then seek counsel to seek the path in which you wish to go.

Response by SFC Don Lawrence made Jun 6 at 2021 9:18 AM

2021-06-06T09:18:53-04:00

You are marked as Unauthorized absence. It is not as serious as it sounds. Just call your unit and make sure you attend the rest of your drills. You will not be discharged for missing one drill.

Response by Cpl Alex Moore made Jun 16 at 2021 8:05 PM

2021-06-16T20:05:50-04:00

If you are marked AWOL, you cannot be discharged. There are still service members from Vietnam that are marked AWOL and are returned for trial to their old unit. Of course, after 30 days they are marked as a deserter.
After they are tried they are discharged. We had one come back to my old unit, when I served. The MP's brought him back, he was there a day, they tried him, convicted him, and discharged him with an OTH that day.

If you want out, go back to your unit and talk to them about it. You will also need to be tried for being AWOL. Hopefully your unit will work with you on a discharge but don't expect them to be gentle. As for being tried, you can do NJP which probably not result in a discharge or a court martial which may result in a discharge. Keep in mind a court martial conviction is a FELONY conviction. It will be treated as a FELONY conviction. That limits your work options. Your VA benefits are pretty much gone. Student loans will be limited. You will have done serious damage to your life for the remainder of it. Any other discharge but honorable will have this result.

Your best bet is work with your unit, take an NJP, fulfill your commitment and hope for an honorable discharge. Next time, seriously think about signing a contract and making a commitment you are incapable, or unwilling, to keep.

Response by SSG Jack Scott made Jun 18 at 2021 1:44 PM

2021-06-18T13:44:07-04:00

It’s the NG there are no call ups for on going conflict do your damn time. You are not going to get a welcome on this page with people who have multiple deployment like myself. It’s the NG do the little time get your check and use it as a positive later for career placement. Grow up!

Response by CPL Joseph Elinger made Jul 22 at 2021 5:34 PM

2021-07-22T17:34:20-04:00

None. You have to be present & out process to be discharged.

Response by SSG Greg Cueto made Aug 3 at 2021 10:38 AM

2021-08-03T10:38:52-04:00

I was deserter apprehension for 2 years. I moved about 100 deserters a year. 90% of the deserters I dealt with received a general discharge. About 3% received a dishonorable discharge, or worse but they had other charges pending at the time. The rest returned to service. If you would like advice, turn yourself in before you are a deserter and given a federal felony.

Response by PO2 Nathan Meyer made Aug 3 at 2021 12:42 PM

2021-08-03T12:42:51-04:00

Alright here’s the simple answer. AWOL in the guard is not the same as the regular army. Specifically, it is not AWOL, it’s UA (unauthorized absence)

You can get 8 in a rolling year before any discharge action could theoretically take place.

Here’s the thing about being UA though. Don’t be a jerk when they call on Saturday morning wondering where you are, answer your phone. The first priority of that phone call is to make sure you’re okay. I would rather a knucklehead private who didn’t show up for drill, but did answer his phone to let me know he’s okay. Why? My first priority is the care and safety of my guys.

Communication is really the biggest thing in the guard.

Also, you should’ve just asked for a SUTA or AA.

Response by PO3 Kathy Getchey made Aug 22 at 2021 12:44 AM

2021-08-22T00:44:43-04:00

Maintain your integrity and do the right thing. Worst case scenario is lockup, best case, wrist slap and a fine. Plan for the worst to be safe.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 16 at 2021 6:17 AM

2021-09-16T06:17:37-04:00

You’re making a huge, life altering mistake. AWOL is serious, even for an M-DAY soldier. My advice to you would be to show up next month, take your lumps and ultimately finish your contract.