As precisely defined by the dictionary, the term AWOL stands for a prolonged leave of absence or a period of absence without any prior notice or word of permission taken, where the individual taking the leave is visibly crazed. The word is often used as slang.

However, what is AWOL means can also refer to the abandonment of any military post or desertion without prior permission, which is generally done without the intention of resuming the duties the individual had abandoned. 

If the said individual is AWOL for over a month, they could face serious judicial consequences for their actions when convicted of abandoning their service.

Hence, the term AWOL can be defined broadly as ‘absence without leave’.

History of the system of Desertion or AWOL

In the Army of the United States, all Military forces or Military personnel would be labelled as AWOL if they are suddenly absent from their post without any such valid reason, liberty or the issuing of a leave of absence.

As an integral part of the United States military law, desertion is not, however, assessed by the time the individual has been away from the unit, but rather depends on the flowing:

Suppose the individual has left without any notice or prior information accounting for their reasons to abandon their duties and has shown no interest in returning to their duties. In that case, AWOL can be considered if this information of no return is verified.

If the concerned individual is seen as a dangerous entity and could prove a threat to the system and the authorities, AWOL can be considered right away.

If the individual has sought other services similar to the one abandoned and has been accepted in the field without informing the current place of work, they can be held against the charges of desertion in that case.

The Punishments against AWOL

It is highly unlikely for the said individual who has been held against the AWOL or been involved in any such desertion status would receive the extreme lengths of punishments, as termed by the law.

• The maximum or extreme length of punishment reported by the law is either death or life in prison as per a given life sentence, only if desertion or AWOL is carried out to avoid war or mishaps.
• The maximum of AWOL and desertion cases are concluded legally with a set administrative discharge.

We hope that this blog helped you to figure out what is awol means and the elated questions to it.