A militia code of conduct is the short written list of how members behave at all times: obey lawful orders, protect non-combatants, use the least force necessary, take nothing from anyone, report accurately, and accept review by the community. It works only if breaches have a graded, fair response, from a private word to removal from duty, handled by the community’s own dispute process and not by the militia alone.
Part of Community Militia Training
A code of conduct sets the standing rules of behaviour for militia members, on and off duty, and the process for dealing with those who break them.
The Parent’s Six Rules, Made Specific
The parent article gives six rules: obey lawful orders, protect non-combatants, respond proportionately, no looting, report accurately, and accept review. Each needs a sentence saying exactly what it means.
- Obey lawful orders. An order that breaks this code or the rules of engagement is not lawful; the member declines that part and reports it to the council (Chain of Command).
- Protect non-combatants. Children, the elderly, the injured and anyone not presenting a threat are never targets, and the evacuation team’s job is to move them to safety.
- Proportion. The least force that is necessary. Warning first, deterrence second, physical force last.
- No looting. The parent says community property and the property of outsiders who are not active threats is off-limits after any incident. It leaves open the property of people who were a threat. Close the gap: anything seized goes to the council and no individual keeps it.
- Report accurately. Never exaggerate, minimise or falsify an observation. Decisions rest on what is reported.
- Accountability. Any action during a defensive operation may be reviewed by the council afterwards.
Additions A Militia Needs
The parent’s list does not cover the ways armed volunteers most often wrong their own community. Add:
- No shakedowns. A member never demands food, labour or payment from another community member for protection.
- No entering homes without the council’s authority, except to prevent immediate harm.
- No use of position for personal advantage, including extra food, easier work or settling a personal quarrel.
- Fit for duty. No member stands watch or carries a defensive tool while impaired by alcohol or other substances, or when seriously short of sleep (Community Substance Policies).
- Confidentiality of observations. What a watch sees of neighbours’ private business is not gossip.
- Duty to report breaches. A member who sees a breach says so to the squad leader or to the council.
The parent says militia members receive no extra food, privileges or exemptions; the governance article says defenders may receive a differentiated allocation. Whichever the council chooses (see Volunteer Recruitment), rule 9 means no privilege beyond what is written.
Graded Response To A Breach
| Step | When | Who |
|---|---|---|
| Private word | Minor, first occurrence | Squad leader |
| Written note and retraining | Repeated or more serious | Militia leader |
| Removal from duty for a period | Safety or trust at risk | Militia leader with council informed |
| Referral to the community process | Harm to a person, or abuse of position | Council, through Dispute Resolution or Dispute Tribunals |
The militia leader does not judge breaches that involve harm to a community member. That goes to the community process, so the militia never judges its own.
Method: Adopting A Code
Step 1: Draft the code from the list above and test it against recent real or imagined cases.
Step 2: Read it at a community meeting and take objections.
Step 3: Have each member acknowledge it when they join, and again at the annual review.
Step 4: Keep a record of breaches and responses.
Step 5: Review the code annually with the charter.
Common Mistakes
- A code nobody can recite. Keep it to a card.
- Silent exceptions for leaders. Everyone is covered.
- Only punishing. Praise and acknowledgement of good conduct matters too (Acknowledging Contributions).
- Judging by the militia alone. Serious cases go to the community.
What’s Next
- Learn next: Use of Force Guidelines — the steps from watching to defending
- Combine with: Defenders and Scouts — keeping the defence function in its place