 Editor in Chief Bill   | 11 Jun 2018 3:17 a.m. PST |
William Howard Hughes Jr., a former Kirtland Air Force Base officer with top security clearance, was apprehended at his home after a fraud investigation involving a fake identity he had been using, the Air Force Office of Special Investigations said in a news release… link |
| Ed Mohrmann | 11 Jun 2018 4:55 a.m. PST |
35 years of looking over his shoulder ? What a
life. |
79thPA  | 11 Jun 2018 5:47 a.m. PST |
I guess he never thought of trying to resign his commission. |
 Legion 4 | 11 Jun 2018 7:33 a.m. PST |
Really … what a moron !  |
| Oberlindes Sol LIC | 11 Jun 2018 9:11 a.m. PST |
This story does not add up: "Hughes told authorities after his capture Wednesday that he was depressed about being in the Air Force and decided to leave. He created a fake identity and lived in California ever since." Officers aren't slaves. He could have just resigned, as 79thPA mentioned. According to link $28,000 USD in 1983 (the amount Hughes withdrew before he vanished) had the buying power of $70,724 USD today. That's not a huge haul, but I guess that it would have gotten him started on a new life. |
| Ed Mohrmann | 11 Jun 2018 11:17 a.m. PST |
Resigned ? Maybe yes, maybe no. Depends upon what,
if any, his specialty was and a couple/three other
factors. He was a captain, so not a new nugget. |
| mckrok | 11 Jun 2018 1:39 p.m. PST |
One cannot be compelled to be serve as a US military officer. Of course, the military can compel an officer to serve out the rest of any obligation they might have as an enlisted service member. |
| Lion in the Stars | 11 Jun 2018 4:15 p.m. PST |
Just like Enlisted, officers agree to an 8-year obligated service. They can resign their commission but still have to show up as a reservist for the remainder of those 8 years. I think there's an exception for a 'resignation in lieu of disciplinary discharge', but that's it. |
| IGWARG1 | 11 Jun 2018 10:25 p.m. PST |
He made a wrong turn at Albuquerque… |
| Ed Mohrmann | 12 Jun 2018 6:30 a.m. PST |
It is an 8-year obligation for OR now ? When I
enlisted, it was for 6, with 4 years active (normally). Of course, an enlistment could be involuntarily extended
based upon one's skill set, specific duty and
assignment. Mine was. |
| coopman | 12 Jun 2018 6:08 p.m. PST |
Is he in trouble? After all this time…come on…cut him some slack. |
| Lion in the Stars | 13 Jun 2018 2:03 p.m. PST |
Some of it is a matter of sending a message to the troops. Desert and you will be chased down. Regardless of how long it takes to find you. Hell, I had to declare an officer a deserter once. Poor dude had his very first day after duty filled with critique after critique because something that happened on his watch wasn't right. Next day, he didn't show up. We were honestly going to let it slide, since he'd had a crappy day. But when he didn't show up the day after that, it became an issue. Found him about 30 days later. But I've also heard of guys who turned themselves in after 40+ years on the run and basically getting told 'go forth and sin no more'. Story was that a Marine Raider in WW2 was home on leave before loading up for the next island assault, and never came back to his command. Some 50 years later, he finally turns himself in to the Recruit Depot in San Diego. Big court martial and all, then it's time for sentencing. 'Go forth and sin no more.' |
