MK Marshal's Handbook - Becoming a Marshal

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See Marshal's handbook

Becoming a Marshal

To become a fully warranted Marshal for Armored Combat an authorized participant must go through a period of training as a Marshal-in-Training, or MIT. There are several different sets of activities that are performed by Marshals, and the Marshal-in-Training is expected to diligently observe and participate in all activities to become familiar and comfortable with the processes.

The Marshal-in-Training is also expected be familiar with Marshallate information sources and the chain of authority for the activity in which a warrant is being sought.

A. A marshal’s warrant in the Middle Kingdom requires:

1. Membership in the Society for Creative Anachronism:

All marshals, for all martial activities, must currently be an Associate, Subscribing, International, Contributing, or Patron member of the SCA, Inc. when they are serving in the capacity as a marshal.

2. Authorized participation in the activity:

a. All marshals and marshals-in-training must be authorized participants within the Middle Kingdom of the specific martial activity for which they wish to act as a marshal.

b. All Marshals-in-Training are expected to be authorized in at least two weapon styles for Armored Combat.

c. The first step is to contact the Regional Deputy Marshal and receive the Training form.

d. When authorizing new combatants in a weapons form or specific activity, the marshal must possess the authorization himself. The Kingdom Earl Marshal may waive this rule on a case by case basis.

B. A marshal may be warranted after demonstrating:

1. Administrative Training

a. Reports and Reporting: Marshals-in-Training are trained in, and become familiar with the reporting process, including use of the report forms, what information is required on a particular report, and the reporting schedule.

b. Training Participants: Marshals-in-Training are trained to help train and inform participants about armored combat.

2. Field Operations Training

a. General

The Marshal-in-Training is trained and actively participates in each area of Marshal operations to receive the corresponding signature. A minimum participation in three events is required and more is strongly recommended, including a training session with the Regional Deputy Marshal. The sponsoring Marshal or the Marshal supervising the Marshal-in-Training in each aspect of operations will review guidelines, expectations and requirements, and then oversee the Marshal-in-Training in executing the operation until the Marshal-in-Training shows a reasonable level proficiency. Participating in the day’s activities while training is discouraged.

b. Event and Activity Planning

The Marshal-in-Training is expected to learn how to plan for the activity at an event, including: area and equipment needs, arranging Marshals and support staff, and understanding special needs for tournaments, competitions, melees, and wars as applicable to the activity

c. Set-up

The Marshal-in-Training is trained to and learns how to do the actual set-up for the activity including: Crowd control and restricting access to hazardous areas, assessment of the site for use, placement of the List table and other support tables.

d. Inspections

The Marshal-in-Training is trained in enforcing the equipment requirements for the activity including: Inspection of armor, weapons and equipment used in the activity, how to respond to a failure and repair situation, using proper equipment inspection tools, and dealing with experimental equipment, weapons or armor.

e. Authorizations

The Marshal-in-Training is trained to run both first time and advanced authorizations.

f. Running the Activity

The Marshal-in-Training is trained to run: Tournaments, Melees, Competitions, as well as proper arbitration of disagreements and responses to violations of the rules.

g. Rights and Responsibilities

The Marshal-in-Training will learn the limits and procedures of the authority of the office.

3. Testing and Warranting

a. Prerequisite to Testing

The Marshal-in-Training must complete training as a Marshal in the activity, obtain the signatures of the supervising Marshals in each category, and present the completed training form to the Regional Deputy Marshal.

b. Written Testing

The Regional Deputy Marshal or an appointed warranted Marshal will administer the test. The test is 100 questions, 1 hour, and will be conducted “open book” The Marshal-in-Training passes the test with a score of 80% or better.

If the Marshal-in-Training does not pass the test, the Regional Deputy Marshal or warranted Marshal should allow the Marshal-in-Training to review the test as-taken to see where the problems occurred. A second test may be taken at a later date.

C. A marshal must have the tools of the office, including:

1. A hard copy or immediate electronic access to a copy of the Middle Kingdom Marshal’s Handbook

2. A tabard or baldric bearing armory that has been approved for that activity. The tabard is worn only when on duty, and some form of the badge of office identifying the wearer as a Marshal must be worn while on duty.

3. Each marshal should also have and use standard calibrated measuring devices (e.g. gauges) for checking equipment, and as applicable, a whistle and marshal staff (usually black with gold spiral stripe).

4. For melee activities that involves combat archery and siege weaponry, eye protection (as defined by Society standards) is mandatory. A gorget and groin protection are strongly recommended.

D. Elevation to the Order of Chivalry Elevation to the Order of the Chivalry does NOT convey an automatic marshal’s warrant: Knights and Masters at Arms must go through the MIT process like every other fighter.

E. Marshal Warrant Expiration The marshal warrant expires after a year of inactivity, similar to a fighting authorization. An expired marshal authorization may be renewed by re-taking the written test only.

F. Warranting Only the Earl Marshal or designated Deputy Earl Marshal(s) may perform a Marshal’s Warranting. They must witness the process and execute the appropriate paperwork to ensure that the warrant is registered.

G. Marshals in Charge Unless warranted by the Earl Marshal as an officer of the kingdom, a marshal may not be the marshal-in-charge (MIC) of an event or sign the paperwork to authorize fighters.

1. The term “Knight Marshal” applies to the marshal of a branch. This title of office is used regardless of whether the marshal is a belted fighter; in fact it is used whether or not the branch marshal is an authorized fighter.

2. Group Marshals-in-Training are a special case. These individuals are restricted-warrant officers of the marshallate and may supervise local fighting practices. However, they may not authorize new combatants or conduct armored combat at events other than practice (i.e. they may NOT be marshal in charge at an event).