Espirit de Corps with Wayne Auton. Blog Post 5

In this special series, we’re bringing insightful and
thought-provoking blog posts to life in audio form, exploring the
human side of pre-hospital and emergency care. Today’s piece
reflects on Esprit de Corps, the pride, loyalty, and belonging
that exists within high-performing teams, and how it is built,
tested, and lived out in some of the most demanding environments.


Wayne Auton reflects on a career spent in small, high-performing
teams, from the Royal Marines to Search and Rescue to the
Emergency Medical Retrieval Service (EMRS) in Scotland. Across
these roles, one constant has been trust: the ability to rely on
teammates, get the job done, and know that everyone has each
other’s backs.


When asked recently about Esprit de Corps, it prompted
reflection. Often associated with the military, it is more
broadly defined as “a feeling of pride and mutual loyalty shared
by the members of a group.” For the author, it is about
belonging.


As a Royal Marine, that sense of belonging was immediate. From
day one of training, recruits inherit over 350 years of history
and pride. The Corps was more than a job; it was a culture and a
way of life. Paradoxically, it also provided psychological
safety, acceptance, trust, and respect within a close-knit
family.


These bonds often form in vulnerability, particularly under
threat. Research shows such conditions can strengthen Esprit de
Corps across dangerous professions. The author recalls a
helicopter mission where a suspected tail rotor failure forced
the crew into emergency decision-making. They landed safely,
closer than ever. That experience captured the essence of Esprit
de Corps: resilience, unity, and unshakable trust forged in
challenge.


You can read the blog post here:
https://wayneauton.blogspot.com/2021/03/espirit-de-corps.html





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