Background: The primary objective of this study was to empirically examine the influence of cadets’ resilience on their professional achievement within the unique context of a Military Academy. In doing so, the study sought to delineate the role of self-efficacy as a key mediator in the intricate relationship between the resilience of cadets and their professional achievements. The main focus of this study was to clarify the causal and effect relationships between the psychology and behavior mechanisms of the cadets. This was achieved through rigorous scrutiny of the moderated mediating effect of vocational calling within the multifaceted relationship involving cadets’ resilience, self-efficacy, and professional achievement.Methods: The study’s participant pool consisted of 121 individuals, comprising cadets in their third and fourth years of study, all of whom aspired to attain the rank of officer within the Military Academy. To rigorously investigate the hypotheses presented, a series of causal relationships among the four core variables were evaluated using a robust regression analysis methodology. To facilitate this analysis, the PROCESS macro 3.5v, a Hayes-developed tool, was effectively used.Results: The findings of this study revealed several critical insights. First, vocational calling emerged as a potent moderating factor in shaping the relationship between cadets’ resilience and self-efficacy. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that vocational calling exerted a conditional influence on the impact of cadets’ resilience on their professional achievement, with self-efficacy serving as a crucial mediating mechanism in this relationship. In particular, the study affirmed that self-efficacy functioned as a comprehensive mediator, elucidating the pathway through which the resilience of the cadets ultimately influenced their professional achievements.Conclusion: The results of this research contribute significantly to enhancing our understanding of the intricate connection between the resilience levels exhibited by cadets and their corresponding professional achievements. Furthermore, these findings have valuable implications for the ongoing refinement of military education and training programs. They offer insights that could inform the development of more effective testing and selection protocols for military personnel, ultimately benefiting the armed forces in their pursuit of excellence.

Innovation is important for the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, including those related to peace and justice, as well as strengthening defence and security institutions. In view of innovation and the creation of an innovative environment, the influence of leaders not only on the innovativeness of employees, but also of the organization as a whole, is considered one of the most prospective areas of future research. This article explores the influence of leadership behaviour (support for innovation, delegating, intellectual stimulation, and rewards) of top (sample size N = 275) and middle (sample size N = 891) management on the innovative behaviour of military officers. The empirical validation of the selected four leadership behaviours is based on the methodology of quantitative sociological research—a questionnaire. Research results show that strong and statistically significant correlation relationships were established at the level of top managers (commanders) between such factors as Intellectual Stimulation and Delegating, Rewards and Delegating, Delegating and Support for Innovation, as well as Support for Innovation and Rewards. Meanwhile, for middle-level managers (military officers) two strong relationships were found between such factors as Rewards and Delegating, and Delegating and Support for Innovation. Analysis of the compatibility of opinions showed that although commanders and military officers both appreciate the leadership behaviours of the top and middle management of the Lithuanian Armed Forces, it was also found that commanders are more positive about the opportunity to offer new ideas at their military unit. Furthermore, they are more positive about the statement that leadership grants them the right to take decisions and implement them, and they are also more positive about taking the initiative, when they feel support for innovation. The identified difference in the leadership behaviours of top and middle management leads to the conclusion that, at different hierarchical levels of leadership, innovative behaviour of subordinates is influenced differently in the innovation promotion process in the Lithuanian Armed Forces.

The high priority of military training programs in the army is to improve the resilience of its professional and reserve soldiers. In addition, resilience helps to maintain the optimal cognitive and physical performances necessary for mission success; it also has other positive effects that have not yet been studied. Therefore, the purpose of the current study is to understand the effect of psychological resilience (PRE) on the intention of reservists to remain in the active reserve (FMT) after the completion of combat training. In addition, we focus on the motivation (prosocial motivation (PRM) and intrinsic motivation (IMT)) and psychological capital (passion in the pursuit of long-term goals (LTGs), proactivity (PRO), and capability to harness the circumstances (SEF)), and achieved a level of competence after the completion of training (ACH). Building on the perspective of training sustainable reserve soldiers’ capabilities and the theory of psychological resilience, we hypothesize and assess the effect of psychological resilience on the intention of reservists to remain in the active reserve for future military training, as well as the mediating role of psychological capital, motivation, and the obtained training ratings. The study hypotheses are tested on a sample of 345 Lithuanian reserve soldiers. The mediating effects are tested by employing the PROCESS v3.5 macro program developed by Hayes, and bootstrap 10,000. The main findings propose that the total impact of psychological resilience is highly positive (β = 0.659, t = 7.670, p < 0.001) and influences the decision of the reservists to extend their capabilities in future military training. Furthermore, intrinsic motivation (β = 0.691, p < 0.001, and 58.6% of the total effect) and the achieved rating of completed training (β = 0.136, p < 0.01, and 21.2% of the total effect) positively mediate the relationship between psychological resilience and the intention to remain in the active reserve. Selected bootstrap confidence interval and Sobel test statistics with two-tailed probability values evidence the robustness of the mediating results. The significance of the theoretical and practical implications is discussed.

This paper seeks to encourage deeper scientific discussions about the country’s modernisation in the context of social environmental sustainability. Emphasizing the importance of this study, the research problem was identified in response to the questions of how the country’s modernisation manifests itself in the context of social environment sustainability and what are the consequences for the society. This paper is based on a quantitative empirical study to support the structural perspective of the modernisation of the country, to develop an integrated system of indicators for the formation of a modern country following an analysis of the country’s modernisation trends in terms of the social environment. The scientific value of the study: the present paper investigates the ‘soft’ determinants of social environmental sustainability of the country; provides a methodological framework for the methods used (descriptive statistics, confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and structural equation modelling (SEM). A three-dimensional research approach, covering the education system and educational culture; socio-economic integration; the legal system and the importance of public administration and citizenship, was utilized. A cross-sectional survey of 1021 respondents and structural equation modelling were selected as the main research tools. Lithuania served as an empirical basis for the research. It was revealed that the most important factors in shaping the modernisation of the country through the lens of social environmental sustainability are the participation of citizens in social communities and social activities. Factors that need improvement are public participation and tolerance for the disabled.

The main finding of this paper is presented as a theoretical model of the development of public citizenship in a sustainable environment that has been created for the case of Lithuania. Revealing the relevance of this phenomenon and the level of its research, the authors notice that the studies of other researchers lack a holistic approach and present a clearer systematic assessment, presenting research on public citizenship and modernization in a sustainable environment. Additionally, the interaction between these two components and the corresponding directions was not analyzed at all. By naming the existing scientific problem, the authors of the article aim to fill this conceptual and empirical gap. The stated goal and tasks of the article respond to the scientific problem and the achieved results. The authors studied the variables of public citizenship assessment; performed an analysis of social, economic and environmental aspects and substantiated the interaction between the expression of modernization changes and the formation of civil society, distinguishing the factors promoting and limiting community citizenship. Therefore, the authors emphasize that the new theoretical construct proposed in the presented model will help to fill methodological gaps in the scientific literature and, in making practical decisions, will stimulate scientific debate. First of all, the paper discusses the conceptual issues of the expression of modernization of civil society, highlighting and justifying the interaction of social changes and sustainable environment in economic, social, political, environmental, and cultural aspects, presenting the case of Lithuania (The Case of Lithuania). On the other hand, following the document of the Sustainable Development Strategy of the United Nations, the field of progress and resilience of Lithuanian society in a modern society is discussed, identifying and analyzing various criteria that have been empirically tested. The authors noted that the democratic cube model was used to create a theoretical model of public citizenship development in a harmonious environment, and the HDI model (human development index) was also integrated. The model created by the authors systematically explains the analysis of the relationship between the expression of modernization changes identified in the research and the formation of civil society; second, it substantiates the process of interaction between modernization changes and public citizenship, discussing four fields of expression. Practically, the model will help researchers conceptually analyze and empirically study public citizenship; will help public policymakers and implementers to manage effectively, ensuring quality changes in society and managing new challenges, and it will also contribute to the conceptual formation of the country’s long-term development strategy.

In order to develop broader scientific discussions, the authors analyze a contemporary social phenomenon in the field of sustainability—the modernisation of the country in order to preserve the ecosystem, emphasizing one of the most important aspects of modernisation—the context of economic environmental sustainability. Underscoring the importance of this study, the research problem was identified by answering the questions of how the modernisation of the country manifests itself in the context of economic environmental sustainability and what are the consequences for the society. This article examines the factors behind the country’s modernisation through the lens of its citizens. The purpose is to analyze the development of modernisation in Lithuania from the perspective of a sustainable economic environment and to form a complex system of indicators for the formation of an effective governance of a modern country. The paper is based on a quantitative empirical study to support the structural perspective of modernisation of the country, to justify an integrated system of indicators for the formation of a modern country following an analysis of the country’s modernisation trends in terms of the economic environment. The scientific value of the study: the presents paper investigates the main determinants of economic environmental sustainability of the country (effectiveness of digitalisation, infrastructure, environment, and interoperability of natural resources); behavior in line with environmental trends of the EU and subjective factors (interest in opportunities and benefits of renewable energy) was investigated; provides a methodological framework for the methods used (descriptive statistics, factor analysis (FA) and path analysis (PA). A representative cross-sectional survey of 1015 respondents are selected as main research tool. Lithuania (Case Study) served as an empirical basis for the research.