Washington: US Army Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl, who was held captive by Taliban, was charged with desertion and misbehavior before the enemy on Wednesday.
If convicted, he could face upto life term in prison, dishonorable discharge and even reduction in rank.
Bergdahl was abducted by the Taliban after he left his post in Afghanistan on June 30, 2009 after expressing misgivings about the US military's role, as well as his own, in the Afghanistan war.
He was released after five years of Taliban captivity in May last year as part of controversial deal in which five Taliban commanders, who were imprisoned at Guantanamo Bay, were released.
He was admitted at a US military hospital in Germany for two weeks and then sent to Brooke Army Medical Center at Fort Sam Houston in Texas.
The case now goes to an Article 32 hearing to be held at Fort Sam Houston, Texas and could be referred to a court-martial and go to trial.
A date for that hearing was not announced.
