Airman Apprentice Antonio D. Miller, who ditched his unit back in 1978, tried to pass himself off as his brother. The problem: His brother died in 2010.
Despite the reward for the missing soldier, Morales still appears to be listed as a deserter by the Army, with the date of desertion one month after he was last seen.
“With that in mind, we will immediately transition to prospecting exclusively via digital and telephonic means, and no longer initiate in-person interviews. We remain committed to recruiting the highly-qualified men and women our Nation needs for its Marine Corps."
Under the new memorandum, the defense secretary would have the authority to determine whether collective bargaining at certain department agencies and subdivisions hampers national security efforts.
Some group comments question the official version of events, but most want to see the 22-year-old Marine continue his run or at least to avoid a tragic ending.
Senior Chief Special Warfare Operator James Hatch's military career ended after he was seriously wounded in 2009 during a mission to find Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, who had walked off his post.