Things are changing in the laws.Lt.Watada refused to go to Iraq and won his case and will not be prosecuted.He refused to go, for him ,the war in Iraq is illegal.This may set a precedent for refusing to go to a war that a soldier does not believe in.Deserting is a different matter and they will still look to prosecute.It is better to claim homosexuality,get to overweight,get caught using drugs,or get pregnant. This a legal ways to break the contract and get out of the military.

You will do hard time in Fort Leavenworth. That is if they don't decide to give you the death penalty. 885. ART. 85. DESERTION (a) Any member of the armed forces who-- (1) without authority goes or remains absent from his unit, organization, or place of duty with intent to remain away therefrom permanently; (2) quits his unit, organization, or place of duty with intent to avoid hazardous duty or to shirk important service; or (3) without being regularly separated from one of the armed forces enlists or accepts an appointment in the same or another on of the armed forces without fully disclosing the fact that he has not been regularly separated, or enters any foreign armed service except when authorized by the United States; is guilty of desertion. (b) Any commissioned officer of the armed forces who, after tender of his resignation and before notice of its acceptance, quits his post or proper duties without leave and with intent to remain away therefrom permanently is guilty of desertion. (c) Any person found guilty of desertion or attempt to desert shall be punished, if the offense is committed in time of war, by death or such other punishment as a court-martial may direct, but if the desertion or attempt to desert occurs at any other time, by such punishment, other than death, as a court-martial may direct.

I don't think things will be as bad as CarcinomaAngel imply (Desertion), but AWOL (Absent With Out Leave) is treated as a serious offense and multiple days of AWOL can be charged as Desertion. You are probably looking at several months or years in Ft. Leavenworth KS. followed by a Dishonorable Discharge. There are extenuating circumstances, but those are more rare than likely.

I think that would depend upon what country you live in.