What Sentence Follows an Army AWOL Conviction?

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Based on 92 cases · 2021–2025 · Army records · data updated October 24, 2026

Few Sentences Longer Than One Year

Only 8 of the 92 AWOL convictions included more than one year of confinement. Of those, 4 were more than 1 year and under 5 years (4%, compared with 20% Army-wide), and 4 were 5 years or more (4%, compared with 8%).

Terms under 6 months made up 54% of convictions, compared with 39% Army-wide. Terms of 6 months to 1 year made up 16%, the same as across the Army. Another 19 convictions (21%) had no confinement, compared with 17%.

Median and Upper Quarter

Confinement was part of 79% of the 92 convictions. Half of those terms were 4 months or less, and a quarter were 7 months or longer.

These are adjudged sentences, announced at trial before any plea-agreement cap, clemency, or appeal. Each covers every charge in the case, not just the absence.

AWOL Charged With Other Offenses

Article 86 was the only charge in 20 of the 92 cases. The other cases included more charges: Article 90 (disobeying an officer) in 22 cases, Article 112a (drug) in 17, Article 128 (assault) in 16, Article 89 (disrespect) in 15, and Article 134 (general article) in 15.

The records do not divide a sentence among charges. Each sentence covers all the offenses of which the accused was convicted. A case with an assault or drug charge may therefore have a longer sentence than a case with an absence charge alone.

More Special Than General Courts-Martial

Of the 92 cases, 50 were special courts-martial and 39 were general courts-martial. The level is not listed for 3. Among the 89 cases with a court level listed, the general share was 44%, lower than the 72% across Army convictions. A special court-martial caps confinement at one year and cannot adjudge a dishonorable discharge. A general court-martial can impose any lawful sentence.

At general courts-martial, 85% of convictions included confinement, and the median was 6 months. At special courts-martial, 80% did, and the median was 2 months. Since 2019, a special court-martial can also be tried by a military judge alone, with a six-month cap and no punitive discharge.

Discharges and Dismissals

A punitive discharge was adjudged in 67% of enlisted convictions, lower than the 73% across Army convictions. There were 49 bad-conduct discharges and 8 dishonorable discharges.

Of 7 convicted officers or warrant officers, 4 were dismissed. Dismissal is the officer equivalent of a punitive discharge. A sentence without a punitive discharge does not rule out a later administrative separation.

Pleas and Forum

There were 72 guilty pleas and 20 contested cases. A contested case is one where the accused pleaded not guilty to at least one charge. The contested share was 22%, about the same as the 21% across Army convictions.

A partial acquittal is a finding of not guilty on at least one charge or specification and guilty on another. 12 of the 20 contested cases ended in a partial acquittal (60%).

Of the 72 guilty pleas, 63 are recorded with a plea agreement and 9 have no entry. Army records show whether an agreement existed, not its terms.

A military judge alone decided guilt in 82 cases. Members decided the rest: 9 cases with enlisted panels and 1 with an officer panel. Members heard 11% of cases, compared with 12% Army-wide. Among contested cases, members heard 8 of 20 (40%). The accused usually chooses the forum.

Rank, Years, and Installations

By rank, 56 accused were junior enlisted (E-1 to E-4), 29 were NCOs (E-5 to E-9), and 7 were officers or warrant officers. Across Army convictions, 57% were junior enlisted. This group was more junior.

There were 27 cases in 2021, 18 in 2022, 17 in 2023, 19 in 2024, and 11 in 2025. Fort Riley had the most cases, with 12. Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wheeler Army Airfield, and Fort Hood had 8 each, and Fort Bragg had 7. Those five installations had 47% of the cases. Larger installations try more cases of every kind.

What the Records Do Not Show

Absences handled through nonjudicial punishment, administrative separation, or no action are not included. The records do not describe the evidence or the plea terms. They give trial dates, not offense dates, so they cannot show which trials from 2024 on were sentenced under the parameters for offenses after December 27, 2023. Army records in this data are sparse before 2021.

For what the offense covers and how it is defended, see Article 86 on the law firm's website. Dates and sources for the law changes: UCMJ change timeline.

About the author. Jocelyn C. Stewart is a retired Army JAG with more than 24 years of trying courts-martial and more than 200 jury trials. She hosts Where All The Bodies Are Buried and runs the Law Office of Jocelyn C. Stewart. This analysis is for education and information only. It is not legal advice, and every case is different.