Ministry of Defense explained which payments remain after AWOL

A serviceman who voluntarily left his military unit does not lose the right to monetary allowance earned before AWOL. If payments for the previous month have not yet been credited to the account, the mere fact of subsequent unauthorized absence does not cancel them.

This is stated in the clarification of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine on the procedure for payments to servicemen in case of unauthorized absence.

The department explained that the termination of monetary allowance occurs from the date of AWOL. The basis is the order of the unit commander, and the corresponding rule is provided by the order of the Ministry of Defense No.260.

Thus, if a serviceman served during the previous month and went AWOL already in the next month, the monetary allowance earned for the previous period must be paid to him. The date of actual transfer of money to the bank account does not change this.

For example, if a serviceman fully served in July and voluntarily left the unit in August, the right to regular monetary allowance for July remains, even if the money was to be received after the start of AWOL.

Payments terminate from the day of AWOL

The Ministry of Defense emphasizes that monetary allowance is terminated from the day of unauthorized absence from the unit or place of service, and not from the date of entry of the relevant information into the database, the appearance of the status in the "Army+" application, or the opening of criminal proceedings.

Monetary allowance includes not only the official salary. It includes the rank salary, length of service bonus, other allowances and additional payments, as well as bonus.

For the period of AWOL itself, payments are not made. After the return of the serviceman, they are resumed from the date of return and proper registration in the military unit. In this case, money for the time of unauthorized absence is not compensated retroactively.

Separate rules apply to "combat" payments

Additional remuneration for participation in combat operations is calculated according to separate rules. A serviceman who committed AWOL is not included in the order for such payment for the entire month in which the violation occurred, for the entire period of AWOL, and for the month of return.

That is, if AWOL occurred in August, additional combat payment for August is not accrued regardless of the specific date of unauthorized absence. In this case, payments that the serviceman already earned for periods before AWOL are not annulled only because of the subsequent violation.

After return, regular monetary allowance is resumed after actual arrival and registration of the serviceman. For "combat" payments, the right may arise from the following month if the established conditions are met.

Based on materials from: Ministry of Defense of Ukraine