>>> My Freedom of Information Act request regarding deserters yielded the following documents from the US Army.

First is a PowerPoint presentation using data from fiscal year 1997 to May 2003. The two-page document is here, or you can view both pages as images below.

Second is an Army information paper regarding deserters. It's available as the original Word document here, and as text at the bottom of this page.

The official numbers:

FY 1997: 2,218
FY 1998: 2,520
FY 1999: 2,966
FY 2000: 3,949
FY 2001: 4,597
FY 2002: 4,021
FY 2003 (to May 2003): 2,096
TOTAL: 22,367

SUBJECT: Deserters

1. Purpose. To provide information concerning deserters.

2. Facts.

a. The number of soldiers deserting our formations has dropped over the last several years. Our Dropped-From-the-Rolls (DFR) personnel losses increased from 1,509 soldiers in FY95 (0.3 percent of the total enlisted force) to 4,739 in FY01 (1.2 percent of the total enlisted force). However, in FY02, we had 4,021 deserters (1.1% of the total enlisted force).

b. The response to this personnel readiness issue was the implementation of changes to AR 630-10, Absence Without Leave, Desertion, and Administration of Personnel Involved in Civil Court Proceedings, with the intent of reducing the number of desertions. The policy returns many deserters back to their parent unit, placing them and the entire chain of command in a better position to address the individual soldier issue and the systemic problem with desertion. Desertion must no longer be seen as an easy ticket out of The Army. Leaders at every level must examine their AWOL prevention programs and make greater efforts to instill the pride, professionalism, and commitment that our Army demands.

c. The Army is also conducting studies to analyze the impact on this policy. We intend to obtain current insights on desertion via Army records & questionnaires completed by supervisors of deserters and deserters who are returned to military control. Studies are ongoing and the data is not yet sufficient to draw conclusions.

MAJ(P) John Jessup/703-695-7989

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