deserter
n.a soldier who leaves their army without permission and does not return. This is a serious crime because it puts the rest of the team in danger.
n.a person who leaves their military post or unit without authority and with the intent to remain away permanently. Often carries a legal or disciplinary connotation.
“The soldier was labeled a deserter after he fled the camp.”
“During the war, the general issued a warning that any deserter would be treated as a traitor.”
“The historical record shows that while some soldiers were genuine deserters, others simply sought to avoid the horrors of the front lines for a short period before returning to their units.”
Borrowed from Latin desertor (“deserter”), from desero (“to forsake, to abandon”); or from desert + -er.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.