WINGS AND MOTHERHOOD: NAVIGATING LIFE AS MARRIED MOTHERS IN THE PHILIPPINE AIR FORCE
Description
This study provides one of the first in-depth qualitative examinations of the work-life balance experiences of married female Non-Commissioned Officers (NCOs) in the Philippine Air Force. While previous studies have predominantly focused on military spouses, deployment outcomes, or the experiences of military personnel in Western contexts, limited empirical evidence exists regarding the lived experiences of active-duty military mothers in Southeast Asia, particularly within the Philippine military. By exploring how military mothers negotiate competing professional and family responsibilities, this research addresses a significant gap in the international literature on military psychology, gender studies, occupational health, and work-family research. The study contributes to the growing body of evidence on gender-responsive military organizations by demonstrating how institutional demands, cultural expectations, and maternal responsibilities intersect to shape the everyday experiences of female service members. Through a qualitative exploration of participants' narratives, the findings extend Role Theory by illustrating the dynamic processes through which military mothers experience role conflict, develop adaptive coping strategies, and cultivate resilience while maintaining commitment to military service and family life. Beyond its theoretical contribution, the findings offer practical implications for military leadership, policymakers, and mental health professionals. The study highlights the importance of implementing family-supportive organizational policies, flexible work arrangements where operationally feasible, gender-responsive leadership practices, and accessible psychological support services that strengthen both personnel well-being and organizational effectiveness. These insights may inform policy development not only within the Armed Forces of the Philippines but also in comparable military organizations seeking to improve the retention, well-being, and professional advancement of women in uniform. Overall, this research contributes internationally by expanding the geographic and cultural diversity of military family research and providing evidence from a developing-country military context that has been substantially underrepresented in scholarly literature. The findings offer transferable insights for researchers, practitioners, and policymakers interested in work-life balance, women's leadership, military families, occupational psychology, and organizational resilience.