During peacetime during the carter years our unit had three UAs. One was apprehended by the OSI/FBI one had to be escorted back from his home of record where he turned himself in, and one just disappeared. Not new, not news and not a trend.
You're right. This isn't a new thing. You will have them. We had a couple when I was in. And it wasn't a trend. Some people get in over there head and make bad decisions that make it worse.