Us Code § 885 - Art. 85. Desertion
Full text of Us Code United States Code § 885 — Art. 85. Desertion, with citation guidance and answers to common questions.
§ 885. Art. 85. Desertion
(a) Any member of the armed forces who—
(1) without authority goes or remains absent from his unit, organization, or place of duty with intent to remain away therefrom permanently;
(2) quits his unit, organization, or place of duty with intent to avoid hazardous duty or to shirk important service; or
(3) without being regularly separated from one of the armed forces enlists or accepts an appointment in the same or another one of the armed forces without fully disclosing the fact that he has not been regularly separated, or enters any foreign armed service except when authorized by the United States;
is guilty of desertion.
(b) Any commissioned officer of the armed forces who, after tender of his resignation and before notice of its acceptance, quits his post or proper duties without leave and with intent to remain away therefrom permanently is guilty of desertion.
(c) Any person found guilty of desertion or attempt to desert shall be punished, if the offense is committed in time of war, by death or such other punishment as a court-martial may direct, but if the desertion or attempt to desert occurs at any other time, by such punishment, other than death, as a court-martial may direct.
(Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 67.)
| Revised section | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
|---|---|---|
| 885(a) 885(b) |
50:679(a). 50:679(b). |
May 5, 1950, ch. 169, §1 (Art. 85), 64 Stat. 135. |
| 885(c) | 50:679(c). |
In subsection (a), the word "unit" is substituted for the words "place of service" to conform to clause (2) of this section and section 886(3) of this title. The word "proper" is omitted as surplusage.
In subsection (b), the word "commissioned" is inserted for clarity. The word "before" is substituted for the words "prior to". The words "its acceptance" are substituted for the words "the acceptance of the same". The words "after tender of" are substituted for the words "having tendered" for clarity. The word "due" is omitted as surplusage.
In subsection (c), the words "attempt to desert" are substituted for the words "attempted desertion".
About This Section
10 U.S.C. § 885 is part of Title 10 of the United States Code. The United States Code is the official codification of federal statutes maintained by the Office of the Law Revision Counsel of the U.S. House of Representatives. Congress amends the Code through new public laws, which are eventually incorporated into the relevant title.
This section may be cited in legal writing as 10 U.S.C. § 885. For the most current official text, including any recent amendments, use the official source links below. Do not rely on this page as the sole authority for legal citation or litigation.
How to Read This Statute
Statutes are organized by title, chapter, section, and subsection. Pay attention to words like "shall," "may," "and," and "or," because they determine whether a requirement is mandatory or permissive and whether multiple conditions must all be met. Historical notes and amendments often appear at the end of a section.
Using This Page
This page is intended for research and educational use. Lawyers, students, journalists, and compliance professionals can use it as a starting point, but should always verify the current text through an official government source before relying on it for legal advice, filings, or compliance decisions.