The Influence of Job Satisfaction in Military Service as a Factor for Organizational Resilience in a VUCA/BANI Environment

Abstract
This report examines job satisfaction in the military service of the Bulgarian Armed Forces as a key factor for organizational resilience. In the contemporary environment, characterized by the VUCA and BANI models, job satisfaction has become increasingly important for the stability, adaptability, and effective functioning of military organizations. The analysis is based on data from two representative sociological studies among military personnel in Bulgaria, conducted in 2017 and 2025. The data were collected through direct anonymous surveys of two independent samples, each comprising approximately 1,500 respondents, using a standardized questionnaire with a five-point Likert scale. The results indicate an increasing level of satisfaction regarding job security, remuneration, training, career development, and the safeguarding of civil rights. Social and organizational factors, including relations within units and with direct commanders, remain stable, indicating sustained internal cohesion. Material and technical support remains the lowest-rated aspect of service. The findings emphasize the importance of job satisfaction as a factor for organizational resilience and the effectiveness of the armed forces. In the transition from a VUCA to a BANI environment, this resilience depends not only on structural and resource-related factors but also on human capital engagement and adaptability within the military organization.
© 2026 Teodora Grozdanova, published by Nicolae Balcescu Land Forces Academy
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