US POW Bowe Bergdahl Returning from Afghanistan After 5 Years

[Boggit]

???

I actually don't know where to go with this.
I'd like to know more about the reasons of why he left his post.

It doesn't matter. There can be no excuse.

I almost totally agree with Jarhead. O0 Reports from his colleagues indicate that he deserted, and may even have gone over to the enemy as much for propaganda purposes.

He abandoned his friends, and as an indirect result some of them died for him. He must have been aware of the risks he was putting his team members into. I can't believe he is being treated as softly as is happening. On active duty, abandoning his squad, ostensibly in the face of the enemy - Court martial should be the least of his worries. In almost any earlier period of history, but for shell shock, PTSD etc he'd probably have been shot for desertion in the face of the enemy.

Look also how his family have been feted by the government - have any of the real heroes who gave their lives for him had their families feted by government? Of course not. In many ways I'm quite a "liberal" by Jarhead's standards, but we're one here. What a CF! Let's get the media attention, and public support for the families of the real heroes who have suffered real loss, not this apparent deserter, and highly probable traitor. Unbe-f***ing-lieveable!  :(

The only possible excuse he can have is really bad PTSD, so not being in his right mind when he abandoned his post. From what I've seen from the TV reports of his colleagues that probably wasn't the case.

[Boggit]

forgive my ignorance, he may just like it that way but does the father's beard suggest a certain sympathy for those in Cuba?

Not sure. What about ZZTop?

[Boggit]

This is so f'ed-up, I don't what to say.  When I first saw the headlines, I couldn't help but think of the TV show "Homeland".

I'm fine with negotiating with enemies to get POWs home.  But it sure sounds like this particular dude should see the inner workings of a Court Martial.

First thing I thought too.Spooky!

[undercovergeek]

Zz top are in the Taliban?  ???

[Boggit]

Zz top are in the Taliban?  ???

Check it out... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_EFdod4YDo
Not really the Taliban style is it? ;D

[MikeGER]

...the father just got (understandably) crazy about "the loss" of his son... so he learned a local Afghan dialect and sports a Taliban look to gain their respect ... (i think Taliban had a good laugh... yeah, learing German and dress like a SS-Sturmbanführer to beg to get someone free from a concentration camp?  )
me thinks continuesly blowing up Radical-Islamic centers around the world on a one-man-mission , with a symbol (deathcard style)  left and a release demand linked to it somewhere online would really work better with those folks. Fighting fire with fire.

[Airborne Rifles]

http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2014/06/bowe_bergdahl_desertion_charges_army_prisoner_trade.html#incart_river_default

Found this encouraging story in my local paper today. JCS Chairman General Dempsey issued a statement that charges are on the table for Bergdahl, and that his automatic promotion to staff sergeant will no longer happen because he is no longer a prisoner and and his promotions are now tied to his performance. Hopefully this is moving in the right direction.

Also, the Taliban released video of the actual prisoner exchange:

http://www.cnn.com/2014/06/04/politics/bowe-bergdahl-release/index.html?c=homepage-t

[Centurion40]

Please tell me AR, what is the range of punishment for battlefield desertion?

[Jarhead0331]

Please tell me AR, what is the range of punishment for battlefield desertion?

UCMJ Article 85(c):

Any person found guilty of desertion or attempt to desert shall be punished, if the offense is committed in time of war, by death or such other punishment as a court-martial may direct, but if the desertion or attempt to desert occurs at any other time, by such punishment, other than death, as a court-martial may direct."

There is a fine distinction between the offense of desertion and the lesser offense of AWOL. The key element differentiating the two offenses is the element of permanence. Desertion requires proof that the absence from duty was intended to be permanent. Although there has been no trial and all the evidence is not in, there seems to be the indication that Bergdahl's offense rises to the level of desertion.

[Airborne Rifles]

The last person executed for desertion in the US armed forces was PVT Eddie Slovik in France during WWII:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eddie_Slovik

He is the only soldier executed for desertion in the US since the Civil War.

I've dealt with deserters back here in the states. Anyone AWOL for more than 30 days is classified as a deserter and dropped from unit rolls, their case handed over to the provost martial. If they come back or are apprehended (these guys get arrested surprisingly frequently for other offenses by civil authorities), they are usually administratively separated from the army with something less than an honorable discharge. Basically that means that they lose all their veteran's benefits, can never reenlist, and will have a hard time finding someone to hire them in the civilian sector. That's how it's usually handled when it happens back back here. As far as I know, we a haven't had someone desert in the face of the enemy in so long. I have no idea how they will handle if if they decide to go ahead with a court martial.

[Gusington]

In the current political climate I wonder if there is any will to prosecute and beyond that, punish.

[bayonetbrant]

I only dealt with one guy that was classified as a deserter and that's b/c he was AWOL more than 30 days.  When they picked him up at his girlfriend's house he'd been gone about 45 days or so.  The only reason I had to get involved was that he accused his chain of command of harassing him, so they had to have a "disinterested party" do the investigation.  When you're the HHC XO, you're the go-to guy for "disinterested party" and whatever other "hey you" job rolls by.
He was a douchebag who would do stupid shit, which is why everyone was so hard on him.  He would forget his TA-50 when we were headed to the field, or not grab his helmet on a day we were headed to the range.  He'd start trying to PMCS a vehicle without the -10 out.  Just idiot stuff because he was careless.  Truthfully, he just wasn't mature enough to be in the military.  He was 19 when he joined, but mentally he was about 12.  The chain of command rode his ass to try to get him squared away and it never worked.

They reclassified it as AWOL, reduced him to E1 and kicked him out.  Not sure if it was dishonorable, or OTH, when it was all said and done.

[Jarhead0331]

I'm currently representing a Marine before the Naval Discharge Review Board in an appeal to get BCD status changed.  He was discharged for desertion after he refused to report for duty, instead going on tour with a VERY famous punk rock band.

Its a very interesting case. Slim chance of success, but very interesting, nevertheless.

[Centurion40]

In the current political climate I wonder if there is any will to prosecute and beyond that, punish.

It is interesting to me, in that you have a volunteer military engaged in combat operations.  If you still had conscription, I would think that the government would need to prosecute Bergdahl, so as to give the message that it is not okay to desert your post, no matter what the circumstances may be.

A conscript may or may not understand honour and duty in the same way as a volunteer, mental health issues notwithstanding.  I would think that most volunteer soldiers understand honour and duty, and would have no inkling to desert their units; therefore the government might not feel the imperative to send a message to the troops- especially as combat operations wind-down.

At the same time, wrong doing is wrong doing. Personally, I'd recommend prosecuting him.  Let the Courts Martial do their work.  Politics can play out in that arena.

[Gusington]

From the info coming out it does sound like he has mental issues.