{"id":50687,"date":"2020-10-15T22:30:14","date_gmt":"2020-10-15T22:30:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/uncategorized\/2020\/10\/15\/new-awol-policy-comes-after-macabre-summer-called-attention-to-missing-soldiers\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T03:45:43","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T03:45:43","slug":"new-awol-policy-comes-after-macabre-summer-called-attention-to-missing-soldiers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/news\/your-army\/2020\/10\/15\/new-awol-policy-comes-after-macabre-summer-called-attention-to-missing-soldiers\/","title":{"rendered":"New AWOL policy comes after macabre summer called attention to missing soldiers"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In the next two weeks, Army senior leaders expect to distribute a new policy governing how the absent without leave<\/a> status is applied to a soldier who doesn\u2019t report for duty, according to Army Chief of Staff James McConville.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The policy could address complaints from some families of missing soldiers<\/a>, such as the mother of Pvt. Gregory Morales<\/a>, who said military investigators were quick to dismiss his disappearance as a troubled troop intentionally absconding from post. They now think he was a victim of foul play.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen someone is not present for duty, the assumption [will be] that they are missing and not AWOL,\u201d McConville said during a telephone call with reporters Thursday at the Association of the United States Army conference. \u201cThe policy we had in place was somewhat confusing for some of our commanders, so we put out a new policy verbally, but it\u2019s in draft right now and next week or two, it\u2019ll be out in writing.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Army will essentially be creating a \u201cmissing category,” according to the chief.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201c[Soldiers] only become AWOL after a thorough investigation, a thorough look for the soldier, dealing with the family, dealing with law enforcement [and] we can prove that they are absent without leave,” McConville said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Traditionally, AWOL simply meant that a soldier was not present for duty. Service members who are AWOL for more than 30 days can be listed as deserters<\/a>. The offense is typically associated with intentionally slipping away from one\u2019s duty station, but disappearances that involve foul play complicate the practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\t