Joining the 501st
Interested in joining the 501st? Fantastic, we’d love to have you join us! We only have two requirements for joining:
– You must be at least 18 years old
– You must own a “screen accurate” costume of a Star Wars bad guy.
Building a professional quality costume might seem a bit intimidating but you’re not alone in this endeavor. First, we recommend that you join our Garrison Tyranus forums and get to know members of the garrison. These are the people you’ll not only be trooping with but who will be some of your best resources when you start working on your costume.
Second, pick what costume you want. If you’re not sure what you want to work on, take a look at the 501st’s Costume Reference Library. There are hundreds of options! Once you decide on your costume, we recommend joining the forums for that costume’s detachment, as they will be your best resource for tutorials, get advice on finding costume parts, and more. Garrison Tyranus members also regularly host armor parties throughout the state and these are excellent opportunities to both work on your costume and learn from other garrison members. The times and locations are posted on the forums as well as our calendar.
Once you have your costume completed, it’s time to submit it for approval. You’ll need to take full-length pictures of your costume from the front, back, and both sides against a plain, contrasting background. (If your costume has a helmet or mask, you’ll also need to take a picture with it removed.) Send those pictures to our Garrison Membership Liaison and he’ll let you know whether you are approved or whether you need to make modifications to your costume and resubmit your pictures. Once you have the GML’s approval, you will need to fill out the 501st membership application. Once your application is approved, you’ll receive email notification and be an official member of the legion and can start trooping!