Isn’t it time we all showed a little more camaraderie? We could learn a lot from those on the battlefield…

How do you like to celebrate your birthday?

Most people might say a few drinks down the pub or even a sunny getaway. But my colleague Craig didn’t opt for either of those. Instead, he went to Auschwitz… An unusual choice, you might think. However, Craig’s fascination with all things WWII made it a fitting place to learn more  about this dark chapter in human history. On his return to the office, he and Scott (who had recently visited Bastogne) spent many lunch breaks discussing what life must have been like for the soldiers who endured brutal and relentless warfare (who said office chit-chat was all light-hearted banter and Netflix recommendations?!).

Trips like these show humanity at its worst. But they also highlight incredible acts of heroism, along with remarkable camaraderie. Lying in the freezing foxholes, these young men were prepared to selflessly sacrifice their own lives for the lives of their comrades, and for their cause. That same spirit – the one that compels you to look after those around you – feels oddly distant in today’s world. Since the pandemic, the sense of community isn’t what it used to be. If you’ve seen the video of a Royal Mail worker doing the rounds, you’ll know what I mean. The postie was subjected to a physical assault and shoved into his van during an apparent road rage incident.

Rather than try to help, bystanders stood around filming it. And for what? A few social media clicks. When did we start prioritising views over values? Likes over lives? Fortunately, not everyone thinks this way. A few weeks ago, I wrote about a security guard in Leicester Square who stepped in to stop a knife attack. It’s people like that who keep the idea of community alive. Now, I’m not recommending everyone jumps into dangerous situations, but if we all showed even just a little more camaraderie and compassion, society would be better for it.

Remember the recent talk about bringing back National Service? Sure, some might argue it was an election gimmick, but maybe there was something to it. Whether it’s military service or picking up litter, the act of working together for a common goal, or the good of society could be exactly what we need. At Advantage One, community spirit is alive and well. It makes me proud to say we’re a tight-knit work family. Just like the soldiers in Band of Brothers, our men and women always have each other’s backs.

Even though our guards are spread across the country, everyone in the business knows everybody else (nothing stays secret for long – but that’s another story!). Our WhatsApp group chat is always buzzing with updates, photos and advice. Guards in Sutton Coldfield swap stories with their comrades in Nottingham. Officers in Birmingham are chatting with colleagues in Cambridge. We might not all be in the same place physically, but we feel it together. And that’s what gives our team its strength. It’s why our guards don’t just clock in and clock out. They come to work because they know and trust their colleagues. They don’t want to let them down – whether they’re standing shoulder to shoulder or hundreds of miles apart.

This sense of community extends to clients too. Many retailers have gone out of their way to recognise our guards’ hard work, handing out accolades like ‘Colleague of the Month’. I watched American Sniper on TV the other week, and one thing really stuck with me: Navy SEALS do everything together. Whether charging up a hill or wading into the sea, they move as one. That’s what makes them strong. They’re unstoppable as a unit. Maybe that’s what the world is missing right now. A little camaraderie. A little more community spirit. After all, as the wise apes of Planet of the Apes said, “We’re strong together.”