While imprisonment's impact on correctional staff has been widely studied, little attention has been given to military prisons. Addressing this gap, the study examines role perception and mental well-being among 18 former Israeli soldiers who served as correctional guards. Using qualitative methodology and semi-structured interviews, the research reveals three key themes: the complexity of working with diverse inmate populations, navigating multiple prison authorities, and balancing burnout with a strong sense of mission and responsibility. Findings highlight the unique dual identity of military prison guards, caught between rigid military discipline and rehabilitative mandates. This tension shapes a paradoxical maneuvering space: while military discipline can heighten burnout, commitment to rehabilitation sustains meaning and purpose. By focusing on this overlooked context, the study offers practical insights for military correctional systems and introduces a dynamic theoretical model explaining how these competing institutional logics simultaneously challenge and motivate correctional officers within military settings.
Lea Itzik (Tue,) studied this question.