Abstract The Swedish Armed Forces prioritize leadership, values, and employee satisfaction, aiming to create good conditions for career advancement and to foster diversity. However, despite recruitment efforts, significant personnel turnover continues, challenging the organization's ability to meet its own and parliamentary goals for capability and readiness. The purpose of this sociological study is to identify and analyze the circumstances that influence employees' decisions to stay or leave the organization within the navy. The methodology uses qualitative research with semi-structured interviews, selected for its ability to delve into social interactions and reveal nuanced perspectives. Semi-structured interviews provide flexibility while maintaining some structure, allowing for in-depth exploration of interviewees' thoughts and experiences. A thematic analysis is conducted to identify patterns and themes related to employment, motivation, organizational culture, leadership, and personal circumstances. The selection process ensures a diverse representation of former and current employees to capture a range of experiences and perspectives.Drawing upon the sociology of emotions, a field that underscores the centrality of emotions in social interactions, this study examines concepts such as trust, solidarity, and belonging. By integrating this theoretical framework with empirical research, a deeper comprehension of employees' decisions to stay or depart from the organization is achieved. Key findings from the study include insights into organizational belonging, trust, and leadership. Furthermore, the study explores the role of culture and emotional labor in shaping employees' sense of belonging. Additionally, the study explores interviewees' experiences in juggling family and personal life responsibilities and explores the impact of demands and workload on employee well-being.