In this new military environment, a silent challenge now facing the military is similar to how “quiet quitting” has challenged the civilian workforce: personnel who disengage without formally leaving their posts to threaten military effectiveness and cohesion.
Recent studies have shown that military personnel could be quietly quitting on the inside, parallel to what was found in the civilian trend where nearly 60% of employees globally are disengaged. Quiet quitting often stems from growing stress, a lack of acknowledgment, and fuzzy boundaries between duty and personal life.
Quiet quitting within the military has many causes. The pressures of continuous readiness, extended deployments, and an ever-present demand for perfection have, over time, created a cadre of burned-out personnel. The pandemic just exacerbated these stressors and left many service members questioning their roles and commitments.
Quiet quitting in the military is a subtle yet powerful manifestation. Personnel strictly observe basic duties and responsibilities, avoid extra work, and participate minimally in unit activities. Lower morale and effectiveness in a unit and cohesion can damage its operational readiness.
The antidote to the roots of quiet quitting is leadership. It’s about creating an environment where service members feel valued, heard, and recognized for their hard work by offering career development opportunities and respecting personal time. These are some of the essential strategies that will keep engagement and morale going.
Then there is the insidious “hustle culture” that prevails in the military and celebrates unrelenting hard work and sacrifice. While at times eminently useful as a driver of success, it more often yields burnout and disengagement. Again, a balance that views wellness as readily important as duty will help the military get ahead of this quiet quitting trend.
The quiet quitting tendency must be analyzed and reconsidered to sustain a resilient, effective military force. With the silent battle against disengagement raging on, it is paramount that the military adapt to ensure personnel are still committed and prepared for what’s coming.