Number of personnel going AWOL in Defence Forces to hit 10-year high 

Having personnel go absent without leave further compounds the difficulties the country’s military is encountering in maintaining home and overseas operations.

The number of personnel reported as AWOL (absent without leave) in the Defence Forces is set to reach a 10-year high by the end of this year, further compounding the difficulties the country’s military is encountering in maintaining home and overseas operations.

Up to the end of September this year, there were 151 reported AWOL incidents, which is just one behind the highest annual figure reported in the past 10 years, which occurred in 2017. If this year’s average trend is maintained, it could reach nearly 200 AWOL cases by the end of December.