By Angela Hatton
Fort Campbell, KY – An AWOL soldier turned himself in today at Fort Campbell. Specialist Jeff Hanks chose not to go back to Afghanistan after his mid-tour leave in September. Hanks says the army would not treat him for post traumatic stress disorder. Before a press conference this afternoon, Hanks says he's hoping for the best, but expecting the worst.
"I have no problem going back to Afghanistan. I've already done six months there. I have no problem I just need some help. And after I get that, great. I'll go back. But what I think what they're probably going to do is article 15 me, and kick me out. And, y'know, that's really unfortunate. I didn't want to have to leave, but I felt like I had no other choice."
Fort Campbell spokesperson Kelly DeWitt says Hanks will receive the same treatment as any other AWOL soldier. Soldiers who have gone AWOL face jail time or less-than-honorable discharge. DeWitt says around 15,000 soldiers from the 101st Airborne Division are deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan.