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In line of duty and not due to the member’s own
misconduct
Not in line of duty and not due to the member’s
own misconduct
Not in line of duty and due to the member’s own
misconduct
DEATHS
In cases of death, a fact-finding body should not
express opinions concerning the misconduct or line of
duty status of an individual in the report of investigation
of the death or in any endorsement thereon. However,
eligibility for payment of certain federal benefits that
may be due survivors is determined by the Department
of Veterans Affairs.
UNAUTHORIZED ABSENCE AND
DESERTION
The term absentee describes any member not
administratively classified a deserter who is absent
without authority from his or her unit, organization, or
other place of duty.
An absentee will be declared a deserter under the
following circumstances:
. The facts and circumstances of absence, without
regard to the length of absence, indicate that the member
may have committed the offense of desertion as defined
in Article 85 of the UCMJ and Part IV of the Manual of
Courts-Martial, United States, 1984.
. The member has been absent without authority
for 30 consecutive days.
l The member is absent without authority, without
regard to the length of absence, and has gone to, or
shown intention of going to, any foreign country, or
remains in any foreign country and requests or accepts
any type of asylum or residence permit from that country
or any of its governmental agencies.
Absentees may not be declared deserters when their
absence is determined to be unintentional and the
circumstances surrounding the absence are beyond their
control, such as civil arrest and confinement,
hospitalization, or other unusual circumstances. Parent
commands are responsible for monitoring a member’s
status while confined or hospitalized.
Every practical effort must be made by all
concerned to locate and return absentees and deserters
as quickly as possible. Parent commands must make a
vigorous effort to investigate circumstances
surrounding absences and to expedite appropriate
notification procedures. The parent command must
prepare a Deserter/Absentee Wanted by the Armed
Forces, DD Form 553 (figs. 11-5A and 11-5B),
including any information on the form that will assist in
locating and apprehending a deserter. The DD Form 553
is submitted to the Chief of Naval Personnel (PERS
843).
UNAUTHORIZED ABSENTEES
When a member is absent from an assigned duty
station, commands must list the member on the daily
absentee report prescribed by U.S. Navy Regulations
and provide a copy of the report to the disbursing office
or appropriate personnel support activity detachment.
The following actions (not all-inclusive) are
completed immediately:
l Inspecting local living quarters for clues to
member’s whereabouts
l Questioning cohorts about possible whereabouts
. Inquiring of member’s local next of kin or friends
about possible whereabouts
. Checking with local disbursing office for
member’s requested distribution of funds, then
inquiring of that banking institution as to recent, large
withdrawal of funds
. Inquiring of local hospitals (military and civilian)
l Inquiring of local law enforcement agencies
(military and civilian)
. Inquiring of local transportation management
office about member acquiring recent long distance
transportation arrangements
l Inquiring of local religious and counseling
services as to recent visits by member in which
overpowering personal concerns might have caused
member to leave without authority
If the member’s physical whereabouts remains
unknown and foul play is suspected, strong
consideration should be given to request the assistance
of professional criminal investigative agencies. This is
of special importance at overseas locations due to the
small number of personnel, particularly women, who
may fall under these circumstances while outside the
continental United States.
11-12
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