Abstract
This qualitative phenomenology study aimed to address the experiences of Philippine Air Force officers stationed at the Air Education Training and Doctrine Command (AETDC) and their strategies for coping with challenges through in-depth interview and focus group discussion. There were ten participants for IDI and ten for FGD. For the first research question, five significant themes emerged related to the challenges faced by participants at AETDC, including adaptation, military learning curve, impact of military service, compliance and communication within the military, and ranking and length of service in the military. The second research question revealed four coping mechanisms adopted by the participants: adaptive resilience, psychological strategies in military service, collaborative support network, and creating a professional and resilient work environment. Lastly, the third research question exposed three insights from participants, namely workplace resilience, adjustments, and the dynamic and context-dependent nature of workplace strategies. The study concluded that participants shared similar challenges, coping mechanisms, and reflections, emphasizing the complex and multifaceted nature of military service and the importance of adaptive strategies for effective work adjustment.
