{"id":57340,"date":"2014-12-26T08:00:43","date_gmt":"2014-12-26T13:00:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/valorguardians.com\/blog\/?p=57340"},"modified":"2014-12-25T19:56:09","modified_gmt":"2014-12-26T00:56:09","slug":"bergdahl-non-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.azuse.cloud\/?p=57340","title":{"rendered":"Bergdahl non-news"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Bergdahl<\/a><\/center><\/p>\n

So the news and my inbox is full of non-news about the Bergdahl case – you remember, the fellow who left his post and as a result was a guest of the Haqqani Network for the next five years. The Associated Press<\/a> doesn’t want you to get your hopes up for a desertion prosecution;<\/p>\n

In trial cases over the last 13 years, about half the soldiers pleaded guilty to deserting their post. Another 78 were tried and convicted of desertion.<\/p>\n

Desertion is relatively easy to prove, former Army lawyer Greg Rinckey said, but circumstances such as post-traumatic stress or family problems are also taken into account.<\/p>\n

“A lot of deserters suffered from PTSD or other mental health issues, or they were on their second or third deployment,” said Rinckey. Numbers spiked as soldiers began returning to the battlefront, sometimes for up to 15 month deployments.<\/p>\n

[…]<\/p>\n

Rinckey and other military officials say the Bergdahl case will be difficult. It’s now in the hands of Gen. Mark Milley, head of U.S. Army Forces Command at Fort Bragg, N.C.<\/p>\n

Even if Milley concludes Bergdahl deserted his post, he may consider mitigating circumstances while weighing whether to charge the soldier with desertion or being absent without leave (AWOL). He may also handle the matter administratively.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Now I’m no expert on the Uniform Code of Military Justice, but I know that if the military wants to burn you, they’ll find a way – there are enough catch-all provisions in that manual that, undoubtedly, you’ll be guilty of something. So, if and when they ever come to a conclusion in this case, you’ll know whether its a political decision or not.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, in Bergdahl’s hometown<\/a>, Hailey, Idaho, they’re being a little more forgiving than those of us wore the uniform and followed the laws;<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have a soldier who\u2019s been returned to America, who\u2019s been in captivity for 5 years under extremely adverse circumstances. I would hope that at this point, everybody would just support Bowe going on with his life,\u201d said Sue Martin, owner of Zaney\u2019s Coffee.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think the community in general is glad to read about Sgt. Bergdahl and glad to know that there is progress being made. I think those who care about him want there to be resolution for his sake and the sake of his family,\u201d said Schoen.\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n