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Home Front: WoT
Navy says missing Whidbey officer's a deserter
2007-07-18
A Whidbey Island Naval officer, missing since May 26, has now been labeled a deserter. Whidbey Island Naval Air Station spokeswoman Kimberly Martin said Tuesday that paperwork has been filed on 31-year-old U.S. Lieutenant junior grade Jennifer Kincaid.

The Navy believes Kincaid is out of the country, possibly in Canada, since her car was seen crossing the border at Blaine a day after she was reported missing. Martin said Kincaid will remain a deserter until she is found or turns herself in. She could face charges for desertion.

Kincaid was commissioned into the Navy three years ago and had been stationed at Whidbey Island.
Posted by:Anonymoose

#2  True, UCMJ does say that. However commanders are given the leeway on when to officially start the AWOL process. After being 30 days on AWOL then they are dropped from the rolls as a deserter.

I personally have extended two soldiers leave to delay the AWOL process. Was I being soft? Nope. I was building a case for a future prosecution that showed my 1SG and I did everything possible to help these two soldiers out... bending over backwards if you will.

It worked. When they both came to trial, they didnt have a legal leg stand on. Most defense lawyers will try to show the commad is against them. That, in our case, was impossible.

Also, Commanding Generals reserve the right of UCMJ for all officers under their command. I would imagine it is similar in the Navy. The reason I bring this point up is that you can not really appreciate the time paperwork requires to get it right and through all the protocal hoops to get in front a Commanding General for approval.
With those two points, the timeline is not that unrealistic.

In the military, paperwork is our biggest enemy.
Posted by: Army Life   2007-07-18 17:58  

#1  WTF! UCMJ says 30+ days then declare as deserter. That's right, this is an "officer" so they get more leeway! Friggin' yacht club! Been out 20 years this August and those one-way effers still piss me off.
Posted by: Almost Anonymous5839   2007-07-18 12:12  

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