American Samoa: End-of-Shift Team Hymn and Harmony Circle

Singing Crew Solidarity, American Samoa

Context: Fa’aSamoa & Communal Song

In many Samoan communities (fa‘aSamoa – “the Samoan way”), shared singing extends beyond churches or ceremonies and is woven into everyday life for many families. At dusk, many villages observe sā (evening prayer), and families may sing hymns; at big gatherings, impromptu choirs sometimes form alongside conversation and speeches. The act of singing together can be a social adhesive that blurs hierarchy and binds groups in harmony, though practices vary by denomination, region, generation, and family. Many Samoans carry this choral tradition, which took shape through 19th-century missionization and local four-part harmonies, into diverse settings – including some of the world’s toughest workplaces. So it’s little surprise that a crew of American Samoan wildfire fighters recently turned their grueling job into a kind of mobile choir, using song as a signature practice for team unity and morale. What might seem unusual elsewhere felt perfectly normal under fa‘aSamoa: singing is simply “something that’s naturally born within us, and something that we do on a daily basis at home” *.

Meet Squad 61 – The Singing Crew

When Northern California’s devastating wildfires raged in 2017, Squad 61 – a 17-member hand crew from the National Park of American Samoa, a U.S. territory – deployed 5,000 miles from their tropical home to the firelines *. Armed with chainsaws, shovels, and a strong sense of camaraderie, the team quickly earned an unofficial title: “The Singing Crew.” Every morning, riding an old school bus into the blaze zone, the crew would unexpectedly break into Samoan hymns, their voices rolling out over the smoky hills *. After brutal days of cutting firebreaks and digging trenches, they closed each shift at base camp with the same uplifting anthem – a church song of thanks that affirmed their faith and unity *.

Crew veteran Anthony Wyberski explains that they “bring [their] culture, [their] fa’aSamoa, to stay positive,” and that fellow firefighters often remark they’ve “never seen a fire team so positive”*. Indeed, the Samoans’ contagious energy became a morale boost for everyone on the mountain. A bystander’s video of Squad 61 marching out of the forest singing in four-part harmony circulated widely online *. A U.S. Forest Service official honored the crew for their hard work and unwavering spirit *. While many observers saw this as extraordinary, the crew saw it as second nature: “It’s part of our Samoan way of life,” Wyberski says – something that kept them going when muscles ached and ash filled the air *.

“Marching Song” Ritual — Step-by-Step

Minute	Scene & Action	Purpose
0–5	Camp assembly: Crew gathers after gear check; one member strikes up the first line of a Samoan hymn.	Signal shift’s end; leader initiates shared focus.
5–10	Harmony in unison: All voices join, blending in tenor/bass parts as they stand in a circle or sit on the crew bus. Nearby teams pause to listen.	Physical recovery through controlled breathing; emotional bonding and collective pride.
10–13	Final chorus: Song builds to a heartfelt finale (often an amen or held note). Crew members exchange nods, some with eyes closed.	Celebrates day’s effort; reinforces group unity and gratitude.
13–15	Closure: A brief cheer or “tofa!” (goodbye) is shared. The crew disperses for water, dinner, and well-earned rest.	Marks a healthy work–life boundary; releases any lingering stress before downtime.

(On especially tough days, they might choose a more upbeat Samoan tune during the hike out, then the softer hymn at camp – adjusting the setlist to the team’s mood.)

Why It Works — The Chemistry of Chorus

Group singing is associated with reduced stress and improved social connection in many studies. Biologically, it can increase endorphins and oxytocin, which are linked to mood and trust, and may be associated with lower cortisol, the stress hormone. By synchronizing their breathing and voices, Squad 61 achieves a literal “one voice” synchrony that researchers say enhances empathy and social connection*. In Samoan tradition, communal song also carries spiritual weight – it’s a shared expression of values and support. That combination of cultural comfort and physical rhythm gives the crew a sense of control amidst chaos. Psychologists note that even simple rituals can reduce anxiety and boost confidence by providing a familiar anchor in uncertain situations *. For these firefighters, breaking into a hymn provides a reliable mental reset: the aches of the day ease, hierarchy feels less salient (on a chorus, a rookie’s voice is just as important as the captain’s), and what remains is pure team cohesion. The song functions as a debrief and shared closure, processing the day’s trials and reaffirming that “we’re in this together” in an emotionally resonant way.

Outcomes & Impact

The immediate impact of the ritual is written on the crew’s faces each evening – exhaustion gives way to laughter and a palpable sense of relief. Over the course of a 14-hour shift, knowing there’s a sing-along at the end helps crew members pace themselves psychologically. It’s no wonder retention is high: many Squad 61 members volunteer summer after summer, prioritizing camaraderie over easier desk jobs back home * *. The singing tradition has also transformed the crew into unlikely cultural ambassadors. Their viral videos and news profiles describe “harmonic voices” as the team’s “most powerful tool” on the fireline *, shining a positive spotlight on American Samoa. During one deployment, a neighboring U.S. fire crew was so moved that they invited the Samoans to perform a traditional chant for a birthday – a request handled with pride and respectful ceremony *. The Squad’s supervisor reported that other fatigued firefighters would gravitate toward the group’s camp, drawn by their “infectious energy” and hopefulness *. Coverage quoted officials saying the team “put their heart and soul into everything they do,” and linked their work ethic to the singing ritual *. In short, a simple daily hymn has boosted team resilience, earned public admiration, and left an enduring echo – one that says this is what solidarity sounds like.

Lessons for Global Team Leaders

Principle	Why It Matters	How to Translate it
Unified rhythm	Synchronized actions (singing, clapping, moving) spur bonding chemistry and group flow.	Start meetings with a quick team clap-along or a unison cheer. Use an anthem or motto to open/close big projects.
Cultural authenticity	Teams gel when they can bring their “whole selves” to work. Leveraging a native tradition builds pride.	Invite team members to share a cultural song, dance, or ritual in low-stakes settings if they wish, and avoid pressuring anyone to perform or disclose identity. Rotate who leads a brief cultural moment each week, credit the origin clearly, and if partnering with community groups or sharing publicly, obtain permission and compensate participants.
Positive closure	A deliberate end-of-day or end-of-week ritual relieves pressure and prevents burnout carryover.	Implement a closing tradition: a Friday shout-out circle, a collective deep breath, or a quick group walk to “clock out” together.
Safe vulnerability	Singing or playful acts require dropping guards – a key to trust and psychological safety.	Leaders should participate with humility (yes, sing off-key!) in fun rituals. Normalize silly or creative team moments where titles melt away.
Make it contagious	An uplifting ritual can become a signature that attracts and inspires others beyond the team.	If you choose to share the practice, obtain explicit consent first and use a neutral name without religious references. Share its story only with opt-in consent and clear no-share alternatives, and avoid recording by default. Focus on internal belonging and well-being rather than external promotion, and never tie participation to performance or hiring.

Implementation Playbook

Gauge interest & comfort. Poll your team for morale-boosting ideas and share a one-page overview that spells out that participation is voluntary, includes a socially safe opt-out, and sets expectations for time (5–7 minutes), frequency (1–2x/week), group size (≤12 or split), pilot length (6 weeks), and accessibility. Is there a song everyone knows, or a secular non-vocal option like breathing or humming? A pastime from home they’d enjoy together?
Start small and voluntary. Introduce an optional 5–7 minute ritual at a natural break (e.g., end of Friday) with an equivalent alternative (quiet gratitude or breathing) for those who opt out. Make it participative but pressure-free – people can hum along, clap, type gratitude in chat, or simply observe, and there are no solos or call‑outs; never link participation to performance.
Nominate rotating leaders. Follow Squad 61’s lead by rotating who kicks off the ritual, rotate timing across time zones when relevant, and assign an owner/facilitator plus a data custodian for any pulse metrics. This builds ownership and lets different cultures or personalities shine, and a small pilot with 2–4 teams helps you compare outcomes with a similar control group.
Adapt to context. If belting a song in the office feels odd, try a low-key alternative (a team Spotify playlist session, a chant via Slack, a 5‑minute group stretch), offer non‑vocal options for those with voice/hearing differences, allow camera/mic‑off participation for remote staff, rotate quiet spaces, and skip singing on days when voices need rest (e.g., after heavy smoke exposure). The key is synchronous, shared activity.
Reinforce and celebrate. After a few cycles, run a short anonymous pulse (e.g., 2‑item belonging and 3‑item psychological safety) and a brief debrief on how the ritual feels. Swap stories of when it lifted someone’s mood. Track leading and lagging indicators (opt‑in rate, cross‑team replies/help requests, and handoff defects per sprint), set success thresholds (for example, ≥70% opt‑in and +0.3 on a 5‑point belonging scale), and stop or adjust if any safety or privacy complaint arises; retain any identifiable feedback data for no longer than 60 days.

Common Pitfalls

Forcing festivity. A ritual of joy shouldn’t feel like a chore. Avoid making participation mandatory or policing people’s enthusiasm – genuine buy-in beats perfect attendance. Lead by example and invitation.
Half-hearted leadership. If leaders or seniors opt out or mock the ritual, it will die on the vine. Embrace the silliness earnestly. A flat or sarcastic tone from the top will sap the magic quickly.
Cultural missteps. Borrowing a cultural element (like a Māori haka or Samoan hymn) without understanding or permission can backfire. If your team isn’t from that culture, do not use Samoan hymns or other sacred elements unless Samoan colleagues initiate and lead with permission from relevant community or church leaders; otherwise choose a neutral, secular ritual and credit the inspiration.

Reflection & Call to Action

In an old Samoan proverb, “E tele a’ai, e mama se avega” – many hands lighten the load. Squad 61’s experience suggests many voices can lighten the load, too. When your team next faces a heavy task or a draining week, consider carving out a moment for a shared “song” – literal or figurative. It could be a quick chant, a goofy team anthem, or a silent gratitude circle. The specific form doesn’t matter as much as the togetherness it sparks. The American Samoa crew showed that even in life-and-death situations, a united ritual can turn stress into strength. If a band of firefighters can sing through sweat and smoke to lift each other’s spirits, what might your team accomplish with its own unifying tradition? Start small, be consistent, and let the team’s voice emerge. In harmony, you may find resilience and camaraderie reaching new heights — helping your team show up at its best when it matters most.