Deserteur (Дезертир), by Ilya Repin, 1917 In armed forces terminology, desertion is the abandonment of the responsibility or post with out authorization (a go, liberty or leave) and is done Using the intention of not returning. In contrast, Unauthorized Absence (UA) or Absence Devoid of Go away (US: AWOL; http://israelbpewh.targetblogs.com/1957542/about-desertion-novel-read-online