Bergdahl freed
 

With nothing more than a dishonorable discharge and will forfeit his pay of $1000 per month for ten months.

Out free with a $10,000 fine and a piece of paper.I'm pretty sure the Go Fund Me page has the fine covered and then some.

Sickening.

Show me where he left to serve with the tablan and fought against his country and his fellow solider or gave them aid to kill Americans . did he make videos for them? if any of those things happened put a bullet in him ..



I dont let emotion overshadow reason . desertion is desertion their are no good ones or bad or worst kinds of desertions..

FYI Historically the US does not aggressively go after deserters

Didn't the terrorists released in exchange for him kill Americans? So should we put a bullet in Obama?

Are you stupid or just have some kind of brain disorder?Did you even read my post?Nothing in my post suggested that he left to "serve" the taliban or fought against this country.

In your own words he's guilty of DESERTION.Under the UCMJ that is punishable by death.The prosecution wanted 14yrs to serve.He WALKED!!!

Btw tell the family of MSGT Mark Allen what you think,he can't speak or walk because he was out looking for a puke who voluntarily DESERTED HIS POST!!!

And you bet your sorry ass I let emotion play a role!I'm a Fvcking vet.

Glad your not a judge We were not at War so the death as punishment would not apply .. so it seems the judge went with sec 3 a felt 5 years as a prisoner of the Taliban fit the max he could impose

Article 85 - Desertion

(3) If the member deserted with the intent to avoid hazardous duty or to shirk important service (and example of this would be a member ordered to deploy to Iraq and then deserts to avoid the deployment): Dishonorable discharge, forfeiture of all pay and allowances, reduction to the lowest enlisted grade, and confinement for 5 years.

(4) If the member deserts during time of war: Death or such other punishment (such as life in prison) as a court-martial may direct.




An Associated Press examination of Pentagon figures shows that 174 troops were court-martialed by the Army last year for desertion — a figure that amounts to just 5 percent of the 3,301 soldiers who deserted in fiscal year 2006. The figures are about 1 percent or less for the Navy and the Marines, according to data obtained by the AP under the Freedom of Information Act.
Some deserters are simply allowed to return to their units, while the majority are discharged in non-criminal proceedings on less-than-honorable terms.

I am a Vet and I am not surprised by the verdict as I said seeing they couldn't get him for aiding the enemy .. as for the argument tell the family of MSGT Mark Allen the missions the mission its called combat I had troops get IED escorting Christmas decorations shot at going on missions based on cell phone tip lines in Iraq . I feel for the families who lost any one in combat . combat patrols are dangerous Bergdahls action exposed more troop but he did not make Afghanistan more dangerous ... this argument if felt by leaders and troops that we wont search for missing troops because we think is this another Bergdahl or until we know and feel the missions its worth it .... is just not compatible with how the Military works

a good read about what hasn't been said in the media .. look at what they call the Bergdahl effect http://www.newsweek.com/2016/02/05/s...ow-419962.html

Bergdahl's little walkabout cost the lives and futures of several of his Company.

I see your point regarding not wanting to cloud further searches for Americans, but instead it has clouded what may or may not be done when someone deserts his post.

So counter argument, "pour les encouragement des les autre"


https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/...ury/798813001/

I dont dispute his actions cost lives .Rather based on the details of the case as a whole 5 years being held by the Taliban is punishment enough ..

Seeing the Military makes little effort to punish deserters
Although numbers rising, only 5 percent of lawbreakers reprimanded
all influenced the judge and i think many in the public think deserters are treated harshly or Shot as the POTUS suggested or a guy i heard at dinner last night 1 table over

I personally don't know how court martials and punishments actually work. But I'm curious as to what your opinion on how punishments would be meted if all of the deserters in your survey had been similar to Bergdahl's--going over to the enemy and costing lives. Would there be a more severe punishment if that were the case, in order to discourage such desertions.

And would, if all desertions were the type of Bergdahl's, would it be proper for a presidential administration to treat the deserters with honor before they were even tried?

The military said that no lives were lost. However a dog was lost and soldiers were severely and permanently injured looking for him. He had mental health problems before and was treated horrendously in captivity and I believe will have permanent injuries because of that. President Trump's comments did not help. I can see both sides to this argument.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

While I completely get the stigma that desertion deserves, how the mental health aspects of this don't get any consideration is beyond me. Sounds like the court did take this into account and found it significant.

That Trump would blast the very process he's in charge of is laughable. Note to everyone in uniform. POTUS doesn't have your back.

Not if you're a deserter.

Is that his fault?

He's not blaming the military for allowing Berghdal to serve, he's blaming the court who served the justice. Trump is completely out of touch.

Ahhh, again with the stigma. Perhaps if people wanted to engage openly this could enter into a constructive dialogue about the realities of mental health and war...both going in and coming home.

I think desertion was a charge, not a stigma, for which he was found guilty. Calling it a stigma would be no different then calling murder a stigma.

Has there not been a constructive dialogue about the realities of mental health and war? Or do you mean in this thread? I suppose you could insert that discussion. But, then, that might be a more laughable discussion than Trump blasting whoever he blasted.

Exactly.