In order to be inducted into the Old Guard, men needed to serve as slaves to masters before gaining entry to the Old Guard. During this period of servitude, they would receive various collars to mark their place in the community. Collars would correspond to the stage of an individual's journey in the community, such as initiation, training and acceptance.
Remnants of the Old Guard still exist today. Its traditions have also been reinterpreted by more flexible and inclusive new groups known as the New Guard and the Emerging Guard. One of the key differences in these newer groups is greater gender diversity.