Low military morale may result in a lack of discipline, a high desertion rate, apathy and indifference to the outcome of a war, which could result in a government's or nation's fall.
Low military morale compounded the USA government's efforts in the Vietnam War, and was responsible for the high drug and alcohol abuse, military personnel crimes, and low re-enlistment rate that beleaguered the Soviet army during its operations in Afghanistan. The different components of the Soviet army faced further morale problems following the breakup of the USSR. Military morale has been a significant factor in the civil devastation in Zaire in the 1990s. In Italy in 1993, the corruption scandals touched the military at the highest level leading to the sacking of generals and low morale amongst officers. In the same year, German troops were reported to be increasingly demoralized and unmotivated. More were turning to drink, especially in the east. Among the few fully operational units overseas, both officers and men were increasingly isolated and unsettled because of the endless political and constitutional arguments about whether they should be there at all.