The aim of this study is to investigate the mediating effect of job satisfaction with its drivers and retention. The Sri Lanka Army, like many military organizations worldwide, faces challenges related to retention of skilled and experienced officers, which are critical for maintaining operational effectiveness and institutional knowledge. The overall objective of this study is to comprehensively examine and analyses the elements that influence the Retention of Army officers. The study specifically concentrates on investigating the impact of job satisfaction, leadership, rewards and retention and it seeks to derive insights from Human Resource Management (HRM) theories. This is a quantitative study. Data collected through a self-directed questionnaire distributed among Sri Lanka Army officers. Unit of analysis is individual. Selected sample size is 232 officers in various ranks in the Army. Sampling technique is non-probability convenience sampling. This cross-sectional study was done in a non-contrived environment under minimum researcher interference. As per the findings Leadership and Rewards have an impact on Job Satisfaction and Retention. Also, Job Satisfaction has a partial mediating effect on officers’ Retention. This knowledge will aid in the development of evidence-based strategies to enhance the Retention of officers, improve the overall morale and Job Satisfaction, and subsequently bolster the Sri Lanka Army’s long-term operational readiness and effectiveness. Furthermore, the research may provide valuable insights for other military organisations facing similar challenges in officer Retention.
