DODI 1325.02 - Desertion and Unauthorized Absence or Absence Without Leave

Scope

DODI 1325.02 establishes DoD policy on desertion and unauthorized absence (UA) or absence without leave (AWOL). The instruction assigns responsibilities to the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, the Military Departments, the Defense Manpower Data Center (DMDC), the Defense Office of Hearings and Appeals (DOHA), and other DoD Components for the administration of UA and desertion cases across the Active Component, Reserve Component, and National Guard. The instruction is the parent DoD framework underneath which the Marine Corps Absentee and Deserter Apprehension Program (MCO 1620.3A) operates.

Audience

Military Department deputy chiefs of staff for personnel. Service absentee and deserter program managers. Adjutant General staff. Marine Corps PP&O Security Division (PS) Law Enforcement and Corrections Branch (PSL). DMDC desertion and UA data managers. DOHA hearing officers.

Content scope

• DoD policy on UA, AWOL, and desertion.
• Definitions and reporting thresholds.
• Military Department responsibility for absentee and deserter administration.
• Cross-Service coordination for apprehension and return to military control.
• Defense Manpower Data Center (DMDC) reporting requirements.
• Coordination with civilian law enforcement and the Federal Bureau of Investigation NCIC.
• Disposition of absentees and deserters on return to military control.
• Pay and entitlements implications cross-referenced to DoDFMR Vol 7A.

Connection to Marine Corps policy

• MCO 1620.3A Marine Corps Absentee and Deserter Apprehension Program. Marine Corps implementation.
• MCO 1640.6 Marine Corps Confinement Manual. Adjacent confinement program.
• MCO 5800.16 Legal Support and Administration Manual. UA and deserter processing rules.
• JAGINST 5800.7G Manual of the Judge Advocate General. Judicial procedure.
• UCMJ Articles 85 (Desertion), 86 (Absence Without Leave), 87 (Missing Movement).
• DoDFMR Vol 7A Chapter 34 Pay Entitlement of Members Missing.
• DoDFMR Vol 7A Appendix B Disposition of Forfeitures and Fines.

Status

Active. Effective 26 October 2021. Reissues and cancels DoD Instruction 1325.02 of November 16, 2012, as amended. The Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness sponsors. Approved by Gilbert R. Cisneros, Jr., Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness.