Muster Levels
Baethan at the Moon
by David Vavreck
Introduction and Bylaws
Interpretive
Clothing
Scottish Culture
History
Music and Dance
Military Life
Language
Bibliography, Sources
and Library Materials
No, it's not a little head game we play, nor is it merely a series of hoops to no end.
The point of our mustering system is to provide a framework to enable us to become the best interpreters that we can be.
As the requirements themselves are spelled out clearly in the Manual, there is no need to repeat that info here. I will, however, give the gist thereof.
Level one (the Unsworn) essentially requires that you have the basic clothing to appear in public with us.
Level two (the Recruit) requires a knowledge of basic information and skills in order to begin performing and interpreting for the public.
Level three (the Veteran) brings in more advanced skills and encourages you to begin doing research.
Level four (Gaffneyis Own) demonstrates mastery of not only something you are particularly interested in - craft, art, science, what have you - but also a knowledge of pretty much everything that we do as an organization.
Upon reaching levels two and four, you earn the right to wear our two badges - our distinctive yellow cockade for second level, and the Gaffneyis Own badge for fourth level.
Whether you are new to our group or on old hand, there are two things you can do that will make you a more effective living historian:
Read! Our Manual is full of research articles on many topics. Public and university libraries are full of books. And we have our own lending library which currently resides at our Lievtenant's house. Contact Eric or Hellen Ferguson to make an appointment.
Take in every demonstration you can, whether by our own members, other reenactors at events, or at any of the many living history sites around the nation.
Everything we learn can only help make us even better living historians than we already are.
These levels are designed not to be difficult, but rather to encourage practice and study by our members in order to better enable us to interpret the past to the public. The muster levels are also a way of publicly acknowledging those who have demonstrated a proficiancy in skills and scholarship.
Most of us concern ourselves with passing 2nd level, which gives the right to wear the cockade (which is itself our approximation of a field sign from our period).
After that, people tend to be less concerned about reaching the higher levels.
The requirements for becoming one of Gaffneyis Own are few: one must first reach the preceeding three levels, then be acknowledged as an expert in something, publish an article on that area of expertise, and have that article reviewed by a panel of five appointed by the Staff, and then undergo an oral exam of all areas of focus - i.e. the specific topic of the research article as well as all the other stuff we do and should know.
There are three ways to be acknowledged as an expert in something - by demonstrating that something successfully, convincing someone on Staff or who is already one of Gaffneyis Own, or publishing an article on it.
What we generally require for an article to be published in the newsletter is a minmum of three listed sources. The article can be on pretty much anything even remotely related to what we as an organization do.
Examples of articles just off the top of my head include various weapons and tactics, specific historic events or people, any of the many possible crafts and skills from our period of focus, cooking gear, health care, what have you.
A couple members are working on a bibliography of all articles that have appeared in our newsletter since its first issue (April 1989, if you are curious).
The last step to become one of Gaffneyis Own is the review panel process. As this has only ever been done twice, the format is a little fluid. The Head Camp Follower and the Captain appoint five people (which may or may not include themselves) to be on this panel. People with related knowledge, as well as those who have already attained this level should fill out the remainder of the positions.
These five people are required to read the article and double-check it against the sources listed in it, and deal with any possible issues with the author.
Then comes the oral exam, which is about both the article and general knowledge of what we in Gaffneyis Regiment do. This includes drill, food, clothing, history, and the like.
Upon passing said exam, the member reaches the goal of being one of Gaffneyis own with all rights and priveledges pertaining thereto; In lieu of (or in addition to) the cockade, a member of Gaffneyis Own is allowed to werethe Gaffneyis Own baddge. This is a grey wolf's head (from Gaffneyis crest – see our ensign and tavern sign) surmounted by a crown (from King Gustave Adolph's crest).