Do you have a passion for Star Wars and helping others? Do you own (or want to build) a professional-quality costume based on “bad guy” characters from Star Wars? Are you at least 18 years old? If you answered yes to these questions then read on because the Southern California Garrison is here to help!
In addition to the steps listed below we also have a Facebook group dedicated to helping Southern California residents become members. Check it out here: SCG Imperial Recruits Facebook Group
STEP 1: Decide on your Costume
First, you need to choose what you are going to wear! Click Here to see the list of all 501st Approvable Costumes!
STEP 2: Join your costume Detachment
Now that you have decided what to wear, you have to build it, sew it, put it together and get it looking Canon! (Canon is a term that is used to describe “Screen Accuracy”, IE, how close does your costume look to what you would see in the movies.) Click Here to see a list of all the Detachments. When you find one you are interested in, click it’s “Visual Guide” link that is in red. The visual guide (CRL or Costume Reference Library) for that costume will show up, along with a link at the top of that page to the detachment website/forums. Login to the one that relates to your costume, sign up on their forums and start asking questions! Read all that you can, when it comes to making a screen accurate costume, your detachment is where you get all your information from! Post pictures of your build in a Build Thread, get the detachments member feedback on your costume. You may also find local garrison members that are on the detachment website that can help guild you in your build. You need a costume before you can join and the detachment website is the most valuable part of obtaining the information and feedback you need to get your costume “canon.” This will be the 1st forum you sign up on.
STEP 3: Join the Southern California Garrison Forums
You live in Southern California, we are your garrison! And if you live in or around the San Diego area or the Inland Empire, you may be part of a squad as well. We have our website (that you are on now) but on our forums is where all the member stuff happens. So now you will want to click HERE and register on our Forums. During your registration, please set your “Member Status” as “Working on Costume” so that we give you the appropriate member access. Once your account is set to “Member Pending” by the garrison staff, definitely make a post in the New Members & Guests Start here area to introduce yourself! Let us know who you are, what part of socal you are from, and what costume you are working on! Maybe post a link to your Build Thread on the detachment website so we can see your progress and offer our feedback as well! This will be the 2nd forum you sign up on.
STEP 4: Take your Approval Photos & Email them to the GML
You are almost there. The last step is, your costume must be approved by the Garrison Member Liaison! (GML, or sometimes GMO, for short) To do this, you should take several high quality photos of your costume. Take them from the Front, Back, Both Sides, with your Hands Up and if you wear a bucket (a helmet) take one without a bucket on. Use good lighting, and make sure there is a plain (as possible) background behind you. Once you have your approval pictures ready, you can Click Here to send them to the GML.
Make sure to fill out an application, too. This is available online at www.501st.com/members/join_form.php. You will need to provide five (5) five-digit numbers to be your Legion ID (TKID). These need to be from 10000 to 99999. A list of available IDs is available here. You may also elect to join a squad. Squad membership is completely optional but recommended.
You will now be communicating directly with the GML. The GML staff will inform you if your costume is approved or not. If it isn’t, they will let you know why. Once it’s approved, your GML will provide all the information required to upgrading your access on the SoCal Garrison forums and how to join the 501st Legion Forums!
STEP 5: Join the 501st Forums
Once you have received your TKID from the Legion Membership Officer, you’ll want to sign up on the 501st Legion website. Click Here to visit the Legion Website and signup on the Forums. This will be the 3rd forums you sign up on.
So in summary, you will be part of 3 different forums:
Detachment Forum: Relates to your costume and is available to those costume builders only.
Garrison Forum: Where local events are posted at that you can sign up for and troop at. Usually available to only garrison members.
501st Legion Forums: Where legion news is posted, elections and more. This is available to all 501st legion members.
And if you complete all of that then….
Welcome to the 501st Legion, Southern California Garrison! May the Force Be with You!