Global:Marshalate - Responsibilities and chain of command

Marshalate - Responsibilities and chain of command

Chain of command

1. The basic chain of command (people responsible or accountable for actions and decisions) for the marshalate is :
   • a warranted marshal
   • the marshal-in-charge of the activity
   • the marshal-in-charge of the discipline for the event (if position exists)
   • the marshal-in-charge of the event - see notes
   • the Principality Deputy for the discipline (if position exists)
   • the Principality Earl Marshal (if position exists) - see notes
   • the Kingdom Deputy for the discipline
   • the Kingdom Earl Marshal - see notes
   • the Society Deputy Marshal for the discipline
   • the Society Marshal
   • the Board of Directors
2. A warranted marshal of that discipline (i.e. subject matter expertise) is required for decisions on:
   • armor, weapons and equipment for that discipline
   • conventions for that discipline, including rules of engagement, use of weapons and equipment, acknowledgement of blows, expected behavior
   • granting authorizations (i.e. assessing competency) for the discipline
   • categories within the discipline
   • types of activities within the discipline

Notes

1. If you are not a warranted marshal for a discipline, you cannot make decisions that requires subject-matter expertise (SME).
2. For roles that includes multi-discipline responsibility and accountability (e.g. marshal-in-charge of the event, Principality Earl Marshal, Kingdom Earl Marshal, Society Marshal):
   1. You should consult a subject-matter expert (SME). You can support the SME recommendation, or, if you disagree with the SME, document the reason.
   2. You should verify and document whether the correct procedures have been followed to manage any issues, that the appropriate subject matter experts were involved and actions are justified, and direct any further appeal (if applicable) to the next person in the chain of command.
3. Kingdom Earl Marshals in affiliate organizations will need to consult with their local organization(s) to choose the most appropriate escalation path.
4. The Society Marshal level has a unique role (see Society Marshal job description), that includes decisions on existing or new martial activities or weapons in which there might not be official subject-matter expertise within the SCA.

Definitions

Discipline

The martial form. Current SCA martial disciplines: armored combat - rattan, armored combat - steel, equestrian, fencing, siege, target archery, thrown weapons, youth combat

Activity

E.g. a tournament, a competition, a practice, a battle scenario, a morning of melee combat, etc.

Field

Designated area used for martial activities. E.g., list field, battle field, range, arena, etc.

Incident

Misconduct (a participant or marshal needs to be disciplined), accident, near miss or mishap, broken equipment, etc.

Injury

Damage to the body of a person or equine.

RACI definitions

Responsible

Those who do the work to complete the task.

Accountable

The one answerable for the correct and thorough completion of the task, the one who ensures the prerequisites of the task are met and who delegates the work to those responsible.

For any martial activity, there must be someone who is accountable for it.

Consulted

Those whose opinions are sought, typically subject-matter experts, and with whom there is two-way communication.

Informed

Those who are kept up-to-date on progress and decisions.

Personnel

Non-warranted marshals

1. Appointed to assist in a martial activity by the marshal-in-charge of the activity during an event.
2. Often assist in ensuring that boundaries are maintained, and/or look for immediate issues of safety or behavior.
3. They are not in the chain of appeals.

Warranted marshal

1. A person authorized as a marshal and warranted as an officer of the SCA.
2. They can monitor and make decisions about their martial discipline, with designated authorities defined by their kingdom and/or Society.
3. They are appointed to assist in an activity by the marshal-in-charge of the event or activity.
4. They are responsible for inspecting equipment, monitoring the conduct of the activity and responding to incidents during that activity.
5. They can exclude or remove a person from a bout/round of the activity for stated reason.
6. They may authorize an adult participant for their discipline.

Marshal-in-charge of the activity ("Marshal of the field")

1. The marshal who is responsible for oversight and management of the marshaling of an activity.
2. They must be a warranted marshal for that discipline.
3. They are appointed by the marshal of the discipline at the event, or the marshal-in-charge of the event, or the event steward.
4. They are responsible for ensuring that the activity can be undertaken, reporting on the activity, and responding to incidents during activities.
5. They are accountable for the activity as a whole.
6. They can exclude or remove a person from the activity for stated reason.
7. They are kept informed by those they have appointed as marshals and non-warranted marshals for the activity.

Marshal-in-charge of the discipline at event

1. The marshal accountable for all of a discipline's activities at an event, whether scheduled or unscheduled. They are not accountable for other disciplines' activities.
2. They must be a warranted marshal for that discipline.
3. They are typically appointed by the event steward or the marshal-in-charge of the event.
4. They are responsible for oversight and management of the marshaling of all activities for that discipline at the event.
5. They are responsible for dealing with incidents within their discipline at the event.
6. They can exclude or remove a person from all of that discipline’s activities at the event for stated reason.
7. They report on all activities of that discipline at an event to the marshal-in-charge of the event (if there is one) and the event steward, and the group marshal for the discipline of the hosting group.
8. They are kept informed by the marshals-in-charge of activities of their discipline at the event.

Marshal-in-charge of the event

1. The person responsible for oversight and management of all martial activities of all disciplines at an event.
2. They can enlist the assistance of other warranted or non-warranted marshals in executing these duties.
3. They should be kept informed by the marshals, or by marshals-in-charge of disciplines they may have appointed for the event.
4. They are administratively accountable for all martial activities of all disciplines at an event, whether scheduled or unscheduled.
5. They are typically appointed by the event steward, but can be appointed in kingdom law, or treaty.
6. They are responsible for dealing with incidents or issues that span multiple disciplines.
7. They can exclude or remove a person from all martial activities at the event for stated reason.
8. They provide an event report, including any incidents/injuries, to the Principality or Kingdom Earl Marshal.
9. They ensure that reports from all activities are received by the event steward (if required).

Other marshals (e.g. local group marshals, knight marshals, regional marshals, etc.)

1. An officer who administers a martial discipline(s) within a group or region.
2. They are responsible for ensuring that activities for their group or region are able to occur, collecting reports from those activities and reporting to their group and higher level officer.
3. Some groups might have an additional layer above this that administers all martial disciplines within a group.
4. These marshals are not in the line of appeals. However, they should be informed or consulted if the person is from their group or region.

Kingdom Deputy Earl Marshal for a Discipline

1. The Kingdom Deputy Earl Marshal for a Discipline is responsible for the activities of that discipline within the kingdom.
2. They are appointed by the Kingdom Earl Marshal, are warranted according to Society procedures for warranting officers, and must meet requirements set in the Society Marshal's Handbooks.
3. They are responsible for oversight and management of authorizations for participants and warranting marshals for their discipline in their kingdom.
4. They may authorize a minor participant for their discipline.
5. They are responsible for suspending/revoking authorizations or warrants of participants for their discipline, if required.
6. Other duties and responsibilities that their Kingdom Earl Marshal requires.
7. They may define and designate marshals with particular authorities in their discipline.
8. They may warrant deputies and delegate defined authorities to assist in conducting activities in their discipline. When a new Kingdom Deputy Earl Marshal for that discipline is appointed, all existing deputy warrants will be terminated.
9. They are kept informed by the group marshals for that discipline.
10. They report on the state of the discipline, including any issues and experiments within the kingdom to the Kingdom Earl Marshal and to the Society Deputy for that discipline.
11. They consult with the Society Deputy for that discipline on administrative and rule changes and experiments that affect their discipline.

Principality Earl Marshal

1. The principality officer administratively accountable for all martial disciplines within a principality.
2. The Principality Earl Marshal is appointed and warranted according to Society procedures laid down for warranting officers and must meet requirements delineated by the Society Marshal's Handbooks.
3. They are responsible for oversight and management of authorizations for participants and warranting marshals within their principality.
4. They may authorize a minor participant within their principality.
5. They are responsible for suspending/revoking authorizations or warrants of participants within their principality, if required.
6. Other duties and responsibilities that their Kingdom Earl Marshal requires.
7. They are kept informed by the marshals within their principality.
8. They report on the state of all martial disciplines, interpretations, experiments, and any issues within their principality to the Kingdom Earl Marshal.

Kingdom Earl Marshal

1. The kingdom officer administratively accountable for all martial disciplines within a kingdom/principality.
2. The Kingdom Earl Marshal is appointed and warranted according to Society procedures laid down for warranting officers and must meet requirements delineated by the Society Marshal's Handbooks.
3. They are responsible for promoting and enabling all martial activities in their Kingdom/Principality, including ensuring the rules and processes are implemented properly and in an unbiased manner.
4. The Kingdom Earl Marshal is responsible for oversight and management of authorizations for all participants and warranting marshals for their kingdom.
5. They may define and designate marshals with particular authorities.
6. They are responsible for suspending/revoking authorizations or warrants of participants in one or multiple disciplines, if required.
7. They are kept informed by and answer correspondence from their Deputies, Principality Earl Marshals, and Group Marshals.
8. They report on the state of all martial disciplines, interpretations, experiments, and any issues within their kingdom to the Society Marshal.
9. If in a kingdom that is part of an affiliate, they will also need to report to their organization.
10. They consult with the Society Marshal on administrative and rule changes and experiments that affect all disciplines.

The Crown/Coronet

1. The Sovereign and Consort are not in the marshalate chain of command or appeals, but may be consulted on decisions at their level, and should be informed of outcomes.

Society Deputy Marshal for a discipline

1. A deputy of the Society Marshal appointed to be accountable for a martial discipline within the Society.
2. They are appointed by the Society Marshal and warranted according to Society procedures laid down for warranting officers and must meet requirements delineated by the Society Marshal's Handbooks.
3. They are responsible for suspending/revoking authorizations or warrants of participants for their discipline, if required.
4. They report on the state of their martial discipline, interpretations, experiments, and any issues within their martial discipline to the Society Marshal.
5. They are kept informed by the Kingdom Deputies for their discipline.
6. They consult with the Society Marshal on administrative and rule changes and experiments that affect their discipline.

Society Deputy Marshal for a Program

1. A deputy of the Society Marshal appointed to be accountable for a martial program that is managed at the Society level.
2. They are appointed by the Society Marshal and warranted according to Society procedures laid down for warranting officers.
3. They are responsible for oversight and management of all activities, authorizations of participants, and warranting marshals for their program.
4. They are responsible for suspending/revoking authorizations or warrants of participants in the program, if required.
5. They are kept informed by their Program marshals.
6. They report on the state of the program and any issues within their program to the Society Marshal.
7. They consult with the Society Marshal on administrative and rule changes and experiments that affect their program.

Society Marshal

1. The Society officer accountable for all martial disciplines within the Society.
2. The Society Marshal is appointed and warranted by the Board of Directors of SCA Inc.
3. They are responsible for:
   • warranting and directing the Kingdom Earl Marshals in matters concerning the supervision of the martial and related activities at Society events
   • overseeing the manner and conduct of duties of all marshals throughout the Society
   • working to promote and improve the safety of the Society’s martial activities
   • working with the Minister of Arts and Sciences to encourage research in armor, weapons, and the practice of historical martial arts
   • establishing standards for being issued an authorization
   • making interpretations and clarifications regarding the Rules of the Lists
   • conducting well documented and monitored experiments with new weapons, armor materials and martial formats in order to advance martial activities in the Society.
4. They are responsible for suspending/revoking authorizations or warrants of participants in one or multiple disciplines, if required.
5. They report on the state of all martial disciplines, interpretations, experiments, and any issues within Society martial arts to the Board of Directors.
6. They are kept informed by and answer correspondence from the Earls Marshals, and the Society Deputies for the disciplines.