What is Article 86 Absence Without Leave ?

UCMJ Article 86 Absence Without Leave ? The Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) is a federal law that applies to all members of the United States military. Article 86 of the UCMJ deals with the offense of Absence Without Leave (AWOL), which occurs when a service member fails to report for duty or goes missing without permission. Under UCMJ Article 86 , a service member who is absent from their unit or place of duty without permission is considered to be AWOL. The offense of AWOL can be punished in a number of ways, depending on the circumstances surrounding the absence. If the absence is for less than three days, it is considered a "simple" AWOL and can result in a maximum punishment of confinement for one month and forfeiture of two-thirds pay for one month. If the absence is for more than three days, it is considered to be an "aggravated" AWOL and can result in more severe punishments. For example, a service member who is AWOL for more than 30 days may be cha...