The difference between Desertion and AWOL

is intent to come back or not. If you do not know the person's intentions, how can you claim desertion. Desertion is very hard to prove for just that reason. Unless the person stated beyond any shadow of doubt that they had no plans of returning than you can't really prove intention. All those people that are calling Bergdahl a deserter have no idea at all what his true intentions really were. A person can be gone for up to a year or more and still be classified as AWOL. Desertion is extremely hard to prosecute. No one knows the inner thinking of a person's mind. No One...So get a grip people and let the whole thing play out before spouting off and making a fool of yourselves.