Bion and Rickman were in charge of the training and rehabilitation wing of Northfield, and ran the unit along the principles of group dynamics. Their aim was to improve morale by creating a "good group spirit" (esprit de corps). Though he sounded like a traditional army officer Bion's means were very unconventional.
In the context of Northfield's training and rehabilitation program, Bion and Rickman aimed to foster a strong sense of unity and cooperation among team members through group dynamics principles. While Bion's approach seemed typical of military leadership, it was actually distinctive in its unconventional methods.