Can a soldier fight for a non-state cause while on leave

gandalf

Hi I thought this would probably be the best place to ask this question.

If someone is an active member of a countries armed services can they go and fight for a "cause" during their leave?

My suspicion is they are not allowed but maybe some of you more knowledgeable people can confirm this for me.

This comes from this revelation today.

Separatist leader Alexander Zakharchenko told Russian TV that 3-4,000 Russian citizens were fighting in their ranks.

He said many of the Russians were former service-people or current service personnel on leave

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-28967526

pablomakaveli

Not 100% sure on the actual specific rules forbidding it but if i did something like that i would be posted AWOL and probably charged with bringing the army into disrepute if not worse.

gandalf

So reading between the lines they wouldn't be fighting on "leave" unless they actually had permission.

I read this article after posting this question, which confirms from my perspective that this is an organised "leave".

Russian conscripts are forced to sign contracts saying they’re volunteering to fight with the separatists, said Melnikova, and “if the guys refuse to sign, their commanders sign the paperwork for them.”

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/08/28/russian-moms-denounce-putin-s-not-so-secret-ukraine-invasion.html

Manach

Offhand from my readings of WWI/II sources there are precedents. American aviators flew in combat for France and the RAF during these conflicts and when the US joined the war, they were re-incorporated into their Army air force.

pablomakaveli

That would be the case by the looks of it. I can't speak for how the Russian military work in that regard but i've never heard of serving personnel getting permission to do mercenary work on leave.

Lemming

pablomakaveli wrote: »

That would be the case by the looks of it. I can't speak for how the Russian military work in that regard but i've never heard of serving personnel getting permission to do mercenary work on leave.

Nor take military hardware with them either.

It has been reported (BBC if I recall) about a massive upsurge in casualties at Russian military hospitals, so if it was unsanctioned I imagine they'd be ejected as soon as admitting to fighting out of uniform. But they're not [being ejected/charged/etc.] which makes me think this has all been sanctioned. There was also reports about Putin awarding a paratrooper unit for "unspecified actions" following the death of servicemen recently. All fits in with VDV being picked up inside the Ukraine.

uncle_sam_ie

Manach wrote: »

Offhand from my readings of WWI/II sources there are precedents. American aviators flew in combat for France and the RAF during these conflicts and when the US joined the war, they were re-incorporated into their Army air force.

These were non military private citizens volunteering to join a foreign military when the US was a neutral country. They could have been imprisoned if caught but, the US government turned a blind eye to it. Mainly because the US figured they would need experienced war hardened pilots if they were to get involved in a war.