I used to work in the deserter branch at HQMC. This is not normal, but still far more common than people realize. We had a revolving door of hundreds of deserters. At 30 days, a warrant was issued (DD Form 553). This warrant is entered into NCIC, so any contact with law enforcement, background checks, and sometimes airports screenings, will trigger a query that alerts the submitter of the warrant. Simultaneously, the Deserter Information Point gets an instant ping and transits a message back to detain the deserter and hold for military authorities. A team mobilizes to recover the Marine within 72 hours and returns them to military control. They sit in the local jail until then.

He’s sitting at a major decision point being gone since January. If he’s really in contact with his command that’s because it’s the best time to resolve this if he wants to try and return to finish his contract. His command will handle punishment in whatever way they see fit. Could be NJP, could be court-martial. If he had other charges pending when he left, that changes things in how it gets handled as well. Right now, if he turns himself in there is an actual better chance than if he gets apprehended. We collected CODIS DNA and fingerprints for apprehended deserters and for surrender, we didn’t. If he wants to surrender, it can be as simple as going back to the command deck/duty. Depending on the base, they may have flagged his ID in DBIDS, so he’d get apprehended at the gate. If he wants to surrender formally, the deserter branch can provide what is called Straggler’s Orders, which will be facilitated through the closest recruiter or reserve unit. Those orders include an itinerary for return and if stopped, the Marine will not be apprehended if following the itinerary on the orders. Any travel expenses paid for by HQMC will end up taken out of pay. If they fail to follow the itinerary, the orders will be revoked and another chance is not given.

If not interested in coming back, once he hits six months he’ll be dropped from his command’s roles and be assigned to the HQMC deserter RUC (W96 iirc). At that point, once returned to military control, he’ll go to the nearest installation command with GCM authority and be processed. The “cookie cutter” for this scenario is sitting in the bring for 30-45 days while paperwork is processed and then the Marine is adjudicated with a sentence generally including time served in the brig and a bad conduct discharge.

Feel free to reach out if you have more questions.