My brother went AWOL after months of defying everyone's advice and joining the army as 11B, all gung-ho wanting to kill Taliban and blah blah blah. After a partial tour of 8 months in Afghanistan he showed up on my parents' doorstep, which of course being the loving parents they are, allowed him to stay with them; but were harping on him so extremely for him to go back that he moved out and found friends to stay with. About a year later, as the war was dwindling down, the army started playing catch-up, and I got a phone call from some MP's asking if I knew where he was (which I didn't at the time). Gave me their contact info, told me to tell my brother he turns himself in or they put out a warrant for his arrest. Probably the first and only smart thing he ever did in his life was turn himself in (after much deliberation and tears, of course). Somehow he missed out going to Leavenworth and instead just went to the jail at the local Army Post. They kicked him out early and told him to never show his face around a military installation ever again.
Now he tells everyone he's a former ranger, has 2 purple hearts, and served 3 full tours in an 8 year contract with the army. Carries it like a trump card and crutch, when the sad reality is that he did 8 months of it and ran away. Granted, I'm sure it was hell...but ultimately it was his choice to go there.
I have zero respect for deserters, especially after what I witnessed with my brother. We have a military that does not force conscription during peacetime, and all service is completely voluntary, up to and including the field which you enlist for. Everything this girl did was by her own will and accord. No doubt she wanted to be some role model for women but it sounds to me like she stubbed her toe really bad and decided she doesn't want to play army anymore.
She'll also miss out on going to Leavenworth, too, because all the eyes are on her. Some officer looking to make himself look good to his superiors will probably see to it that she gets a slap on the wrist and sent back to work, where she'll then endanger the lives of those around her by being worthless, arrogant, and maybe another Bergdahl.
This is what happens when you inject politics into warrior traditions.