US Army Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl, charged with deserting his post in Afghanistan in 2009, will face a possible life sentence if convicted.

Bergdahl has been charged with the rarely used infraction "misbehavior before the enemy." The charge claims Bergdahl “left without authority; and wrongfully caused search and recovery operations.”

Sgt. Bergdahl disappeared in eastern Afghanistan on June 30, 2009 and was held captive by the Taliban for nearly five years, until President Barack Obama agreed to exchange him for five Taliban detainees at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, in a deal that spurred criticism from Republicans.

"We ask all Americans to withhold judgment until all the facts emerge," his lead attorney Eugene Fidell said.

In court documents, Fidell has argued that Bergdahl is the victim of a “Niagara of adverse publicity” and has been hamstrung in his efforts to get his side of the story out.

Bergdahl has not been placed under arrest or any form of confinement. His initial court appearance, known as an Article 32 hearing, is set for September 17 at Fort Sam Houston, Texas.

Some members of Bergdahl's former unit have called for serious punishment, alleging that some soldiers died looking for him.