Final answer:
Military laws dictate the duration for retaining the personal effects of deserters and vary by jurisdiction. Desertion is viewed as a serious offense, and the handling of personal belongings follows strict legal procedures.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question refers to regulations concerning how long a military command must retain the personal effects of individuals who have deserted. When it comes to the treatment and protocol for deserters, military law often stipulates that their personal belongings are managed with care and kept for a specific length of time in case the deserter is captured or returns. This can be somewhat paralleled to the procedures followed for prisoners or soldiers, where there is a stripping away of individual identity for resocialization purposes, but with deserters, it is more a matter of legal and procedural safeguards.
For example, desertion is considered a serious crime in the military and is dealt with severely in many countries. Under the law, desertion often impairs the military power of the state and can result in harsh penalties including the rigor of the law. The USSR, for instance, viewed desertion as a heinous crime against the state. Specific duration for retaining personal effects may vary by nation and military regulation, but it is typically bound by military law and is part of the larger process of handling desertion. Given the seriousness of high treason and desertion, proper procedures are critically important. Personal effects are likely held for a duration that allows for potential legal proceedings or the return of the individual to military custody.