Esprit de corps

The Phrase

I was first introduced to the phrase, Esprit de Corps, at MCRD San Diego in 2006 during my recruit training. Webster dictionary defines it as the common spirit existing in the members of a group and inspiring enthusiasm, devotion, and strong regard for the honor of the group. I always had only associated it with the military and never considered its use in the civilian world. All of that changed on the 16th of May 2026, following our match with Monterey Bay FC.

The meaning

This matchday started like the rest. The excitement, pregaming at Brown Beard Brewing, The River Guard pre-match setup and the march to Les Bois Park. This match was our first home Cup match and everyone was stoked for the night that lay before us. The match started a bit chillier than the last and with the wind howling into the faces of the supporters section. I’m doing my part to try and keep my flag from smacking those standing behind me. We started our chants, the stadium loud as always. We go to our AC Boise call to the main stands. They pick it up, first time and right from the start, and we continue without us having to reset.

The ninth minute comes and Monterey Bay FC scores their first goal. We are not fazed and keep the chants going. It quickly became obvious how much that wind was really fighting against us. Then comes the twentieth minute and Monterey Bay FC scores again. This is where I felt a little wind get knocked out of me and thought “this game is about to get out of hand”. Our fearless Capo was not having it. He let us know we keep on cheering and it does not stop; we do not look at that scoreboard. We went down 3-1 after the first half but we kept cheering and yelling for our team.

The second half began. Spirits were high and the wind now in our favor. The 51st minute comes. Dominic Gasso scores! We’re now within a goal and the winds of change could be felt throughout. As loud as we were in the first half, we just kept seeming to get louder and you felt it in your bones. Just a few minutes later came the equalizer from Jake Crull! It didn’t feel like we were just back in this game, but we were about to mop the floor with them. Over the next half an hour we got so close to several go-ahead goals. Monterey Bay FC received a red card. Finally, in the 86th minute Thomas Amang did what everyone knew was inevitable. Amang rushes over to the supporters section; he is just mobbed with dozens of stoked River Guards celebrating. The match ends and the stadium erupts in celebration! Nate Miller comes running out facing our section pumping his fist in raw excitement. Players are out giving autographs and celebrating with the fans and we couldn’t get enough.

Esprit de Corps

I, finally, got home that night and like everyone else who watched the game was living on a high. My family and I, immediately, put on the replay of the game to catch everything we missed. I was too busy screaming and chanting. Sometimes we are given a phrase, and we know its definition, but it takes 20 years before its true meaning is realized. It was that night as I was drifting off to sleep and the only thing running through my head, with a giant smile on my face, was Esprit de Corps.

Written By: Robert McIntosh, River Guard Member