The article is part of the “Family Matters / Work‑Life” section and focuses on mental health strategies for military officers. It emphasizes that while officers are trained for endurance, crisis management, and high‑stakes decision‑making, they also face a hidden battle: maintaining mental resilience and work‑life balance outside of duty.

✨ Key Points

• Constant pressure: Military officers operate under intense physical, mental, and emotional demands.
• Impact on families: Stress can spill into personal life, leading to fatigue, withdrawal, and strained relationships.
• Resilience strategies:
  • Practice mindfulness and stress regulation.
  • Set healthy boundaries despite service demands.
  • Reserve evenings/weekends for family and friends.
  • Use non‑operational tours or downtime to focus on personal identity.
• Leadership role: Officers in command should support their teams’ balance with flexible policies, which improve productivity and morale.
• Perspective: A military career is described as a marathon, not a sprint — pacing oneself and intentionally prioritizing time off duty is essential.