Step-by-step guide: Returning from AWOL (Absent Without Leave) via the Army+ app using the simplified procedure is possible until August 30

Service members who went AWOL before May 10 this year can return to service through a simplified procedure via the Army+ app. To do so, they must submit the relevant report. Returning to service is possible until August 30.

The Ministry of Defence reminds service members of the step-by-step procedure to follow if they wish to use the simplified process. 

A service member shall submit a report via Army+, which takes approximately five minutes to complete. The Main Directorate of the Military Law Enforcement Service (Military Police) receives the report and contacts a service member at the provided phone number to verify their information. 

A service member must report in person to the Military Police (MP) station selected when submitting the report within 24 hours of the report approval. Contact details for the selected Military Police station can be found in the report by clicking ‘View Details’ before signing. At the Military Police (MP) station, the necessary paperwork will be processed, a travel order will be issued, and secure transportation to one of the reserve military units will be arranged. The commander of such a reserve battalion has 72 hours to restore a service member’s financial allowances and social benefits.

After being reinstated in a reserve unit, a service member may submit a report to request a change of duty station. To do this, when prompted with the question ‘Why do you wish to change unit?’ in the Army+ app, a service member should select ‘Returning to service after AWOL.’ The report must include a recommendation letter from the military unit where a service member wishes to serve, indicating their position in the current reserve battalion. On the ‘Additional Documents’ screen, a service member must attach a certificate confirming that this is their first instance of AWOL. This certificate can be obtained from the Military Police representative assigned to the reserve battalion. This allows the Personnel Center of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, which handles duty station change requests, to initiate the transfer procedure.