Reply #9: I am not saying that what he did was admirable..........

[Blue Wally]

What I am saying is that nonperformance of reserve components duty is not criminal AWOL or desertion. If you don't show up for a drill, you don't get paid for it (unless you pull equivalent training), but they don't send the police after you. Non-performing reservists are either (1) ordered to active duty or (2) transferred to the inactive reserve. In 1972, ordering to active duty was no longer an option. Lots and lots of folks who signed up for the reserve components to avoid being drafted took advantage of this fact in 1972-1974 to skip out on their reserve obligations. Now screw over the reserves in 1968, and, bang, you were on active duty and ticketed for the next plane to Nam. A NG or reservist can only be AWOL when they are called to active duty.