A US Army medic who refused to return to Iraq with his unit has been found guilty and sentenced to eight months in jail for desertion - far short of the maximum seven-year sentence.
A US military court also ruled that Agustin Aguayo, who has already spent 161 days in prison, should forfeit paid allowances and be given a bad conduct discharge.
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Aguayo has been fighting for three years to be recognised as a conscientious objector.He served one term as a medic in Iraq in 2004, during which he said he refused to load his gun while on guard duty.
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A deserter is defined by the US department of defence as a member of the armed forces who is absent from their unit or post without authorisation, quits their unit to avoid duty or enlists improperly in another service.It can also apply to people who are absent without leave for 30 straight days or more.
The US defence department recorded a total of 4,494 deserters in 2005, according to official data.
By Nicole Belle
— March 6, 2007
