JOINT BASE CHARLESTON, S.C. –
Unauthorized Absence
We've all experienced situations in which punctuality has been a challenge. Some have resulted in being late for work, a scheduled meeting or an appointment. This can cause work delays or stoppages, broken project timelines and waste of funds that may ultimately result in mission failure. Often times, people miss medical appointments altogether, costing Joint Base Charleston approximately $265,000 annually.
You may not realize it, but these forms of unauthorized absences are punishable under Article 86 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice and constitute absence without leave. Article 86 states that "any member of the armed forces who, without authority - (1) fails to go to his appointed place of duty at the time prescribed, (2) goes from that place or (3) absents himself or remains absent from his unit, organization or place of duty at which he is required to be at the time prescribed, shall be punished as a court-martial may direct."
Steps you can take to avoid similar absence situations include giving yourself a little more time to get to work, making sure to adequately plan for meetings and determining a reliable way to remind yourself of upcoming appointments. At the very least, notify someone when your lateness is unavoidable as soon as possible.