THE ROLE OF A SOCIAL WORK MANAGER IN THE LITHUANIAN ARMED FORCES
Greta Selvianė, Laimutė Anužienė
St. Ignatius Loyola College, Kaunas, Lithuania
Keywords: artificial intelligence; sustainable gastronomy; ethical hospitality; R&D restaurant; carbon labelling; circular economy; applied research.
Abstract:
The Lithuanian Armed Forces operate in a complex and demanding security environment, where military personnel are exposed to prolonged stress, organisational pressure, family separation, and potential crises. Contemporary military effectiveness increasingly depends not only on tactical and technical capabilities but also on psychosocial stability, organisational cohesion, and long-term personnel sustainability. In this context, social work management plays an essential role in maintaining soldiers’ psychosocial well-being and supporting operational readiness.
This article analyses the role, functions, challenges, and strategic significance of social work managers in the Lithuanian Armed Forces, drawing on a review of contemporary scientific literature. Research Objectives:
- To analyse the role and main functions of social work managers in the armed forces.
- To examine the contribution of social work management to soldiers’ psychosocial well-being and organisational functioning within military institutions.
- To identify the main challenges, ethical dilemmas, and development directions for strengthening social work management in the Lithuanian Armed Forces.
A narrative literature analysis was conducted using peer-reviewed international publications published between 2011 and 2025. The analysis focuses on military social work, psychosocial support systems, leadership processes, ethical dilemmas, organisational resilience, and adaptation to military culture.
The results demonstrate that social work managers perform multifunctional roles, including psychosocial counselling, crisis intervention, preventive support, mediation between soldiers and command structures and civilian institutions, and coordination of multidisciplinary support services. Effective social work management contributes to improved psychosocial adaptation, reduced stress-related difficulties, enhanced morale, strengthened organisational trust, and increased institutional resilience. At the same time, the findings reveal persistent challenges such as limited institutional resources, role ambiguity, ethical tensions, professional isolation, and stigma related to psychosocial support within military culture.
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