ERGOMAS' purposes are pursued through the activity of Working Groups and the Biennial conference.
ERGOMAS distinctive quality lies in the research activities of its working groups, which meet (virtually or face-to-face) on occasions outside the formal meetings of the Association as a whole. A working group need not follow the same pattern: it could range from sharing of knowledge and methods, to the development of theory and of a common framework and methods to conduct an international project.
ERGOMAS is not, therefore, just a conference based on panels for the delivery of papers. Rather, it is a meeting designed for the delivery of results and ideas of working groups that have been meeting and working beforehand. Working Groups can change their directions of work and can be joined by new working groups, while others may end their work and be dissolved if they decide they have no more to say on a topic.
ERGOMAS rests, therefore, on the dynamism and research collaboration of its constituent working groups.
As of today, ERGOMAS is home to twelve working groups:
WG "The Military Professions" - Co-ordinator: Dr. Thomas Crosbie
WG "Public Opinion, Mass Media and the Military" - Co-ordinators: Dr. Markus Steinbrecher and Thomas Ferst
WG "Morale, Cohesion and Leadership" - Co-ordinator: M.A. Sarah von Felten
WG "Military Families" - Co-ordinators: Dr. Rene Moelker and Dr. Janja Vuga Beršnak
WG "Civilian Control of the Armed Forces" - Co-ordinator: Dr. Maja Garb
WG "Soldiers in Operations" - Co-ordinator: Dr. Maren Tomforde and Dr. Saïd Haddad
WG "Military and Police Relations" - Co-ordinators: Dr. David Last, CD and Dr. Marina Caparini
WG "Violence and the Military" - Co-ordinators: Dr. Karl Ydén and Dr. Uzi Ben-Shalom
WG "Recruitment and Retention" - Co-ordinator: Dr. Tibor Szvircsev Tresch
WG "Veterans and Society" - Co-ordinator: Dr. Gielt Algra
WG "Military Conflict Management and Peace Economics" - Co-ordinators: Prof. Ashu Pasricha
WG "Critical Military Studies" - Co-ordinator: Dr. Erella Grassiani
WG "Total Defence Force" - Co-ordinator: Dr. Irina Goldenberg