Recruits of the First Imperial Stormtrooper Detachment!

You are assembled here from all quarters of the Galactic Empire in order to meet your military obligation and have in this place, sworn loyalty to your Emperor even unto your last breath. Trust in your Emperor, now and again say "Long Live the Empire" which has many a time renewed a warrior's courage.

From this day you are incorporated into the Imperial army. Now you stand under command of the Emperor and have been permitted the privilege of wearing the white armor of the Imperial Stormtrooper. Wear it with honor. Wear it with pride. Think on our Empire's glorious history. Think also that the Imperial army must be armed against the inner foe as well as the foreign. More than ever unbelief and discontent raise their head in the Empire, and it may come about that you will have to seal your loyalty with the offering up of your heart's blood. Now, go and fulfill your duty.

The Academy will teach you everything you need to know about white armor. Take care of your gear, and it will take care of you. You will learn what the various components of your kit are, how to assemble and maintain them.

Questions? Report to the Forums where you'll find green recruits like yourself and veterans too, all willing to answer any questions you may have. If you'll take some advice, it's best to start reading up on that material as well, as most questions have already been asked, and answered.

And for those of you who want to do more than the basics, there is the Expert Infantryman program. The requirements are harder, but readily attainable for anyone with the motivation to achieve them. Those who meet the Expert Infantryman requirements will be awarded the EIB - Expert Infantryman Badge, and take their place with their fellows in the EIB awardee rolls.

Remember that you only get out of it what you put in to it. FISD staff are here to help at any time.

Detachments help set the accepted costuming standards within the 501st Legion, and are populated by people who own, have a passion for, and have experience in that particular costume category. Whether you're beginning a new or would like some help with an existing costume, the list below is a great place to get started:

First Imperial Stormtrooper Detachment - http://www.whitearmor.net/
TK - ANH - Stormtrooper
TK - ESB - Stormtrooper
TK - ROTJ- Stormtrooper
TD - HWT - Heavy Weapons Trooper (EU - BattleFront)
TK - TKC - Stormtrooper Commander (EU - Force Unleashed)
TK - INC - Incinerator Trooper (EU - Force Unleashed)

Mos Eisley Police Department - http://www.mepd.net/
TD - ANH Sandtrooper

Armored Cavalry - http://www.501stacd.com/
TA - AT-AT Driver
IS - AT-ST Driver
ID - Armored Assault Commander

Grand Army of the Republic - http://www.clonetroopers.net/
TC - Episode II Clonetrooper
CP - Clone Pilot (EP II and EP III)
CA - ARC Trooper
CT - Episode III Clonetrooper
CC - Clone Commander
CM - Galactic Marine
CX - Airborne (Parjai) Clone Trooper
CF - Clone Firefighter
CR - Republic Commando

Imperial Gunnery Corps - http://imperialgunne...s.netfirms.com/
IG - Imperial Gunner

Imperial Officer Corps - http://www.imperialofficer.com/forum/
ID - Imperial Officers
IC - Imperial Crew
IN - Imperial Navy Trooper

Pathfinders - http://www.bikerscout.net/
TB - Biker Scout
CB - BARC Trooper

Sovereign Protectors - http://www.forcepike.com/
TR - Royal Guard (all variants)

Special Operations Detachment - http://s11.invisionf...st_Spec_Ops_Det/
TX - Stealth Trooper/Black Hole Trooper
TX - Storm Commando
TX - Magma Trooper

Sith Lord Detachment - http://www.501stsithlords.com/
SL - Sith Lord (Film Canon)

Flagship Eclipse - http://www.flagshipeclipse.com/
SL - Sith Lord (Expanded Universe)

Blizzard Force - http://www.blizzardforce.com/
TS - Snowtrooper

Krayt Clan - http://www.kraytclan.com/
DZ - Tusken Raider
DZ - Jawa
DZ - Other Denizens (e.g. Twi'liks)

Phoenix Squadron - http://www.phoenixsquadron.com/
BH - Bounty Hunter

Jolly Roger Squadron: http://www.jrsdetachment501st.org/
TI - Tie Pilot

Below is the tentative "mission statement" of the detachment.

VISION:

The First Imperial Stormtroopers are a Detachment of the 501st Legion, dedicated to the armor and equipment used by the stormtroopers shown in the Star Wars Original Trilogy. We strive for accuracy in costuming and to discuss everything stormtrooper related including Expanded Universe stormtrooper variations. The detachment is dedicated to serving the needs of both 501st members and persons new to Star Wars costuming who hope to join the 501st.

WHY:

Originally the 501st was a costuming club that centered on the stormtrooper costume. Over time the group has expanded its scope to include all "bad guy" Star Wars costumes. There is now a detachment that encompasses every costume type except the stormtrooper. The downsides of this situation are several:

1. There is no central body (aka detachment) that serves as the champion for the TK costume or to research, discuss, and propose standards for either existing stormtrooper costumes or new versions that might appear in the Expanded Universe
2. There is no centralized resource for stormtrooper costuming for existing 501st members. All other costumes have such a forum to discuss topic specific to that costume except for the TK
3. There is no centralized resource for stormtrooper costuming for new members. If there is a non-501st member who is new to this hobby and wants to create a stormtrooper costume there is no central forum for him to use as a basis to do this, unlike other costumes (e.g. Clonetroopers, MEPD, Bikerscout, etc.). I think this is the most critical goal of the detachment: helping new members who wish to create a stormtrooper costume and who do not have access to 501st-only resources to do so

WHAT THE GROUP HOPES TO ACCOMPLISH:

1. Promote the current quality standards for the stormtrooper costume as established by the 501st
2. Develop and create a higher standard of stormtrooper costume for members to achieve and a "kudo" (e.g. deployed status) as a recognition of that accomplishment (the same way the Mos Eisley Police Department has create a higher standard for MEPD Deployment). The goal of this is not to force people to achieve the higher standard, but rather to demonstrate what the costume can become and recognize those who achieve it
3. Create an open and respectful forum for all discussions stormtrooper related, regardless of whether or not they are Original Trilogy or Expanded Universe. One major goal of the detachment is to celebrate the stormtrooper costume in all its forms, and the Star Wars costuming hobby in general
4. Create and foster an esprit de corp for the stormtrooper costume. Some members complain that their garrison is stormtrooper-centric, others that the stormtrooper is looked down upon. By having a central space where stormtroopers can congregate and celebrate their costume, it removes the ?us versus them? mentality that has crept into some organizations, and establishes the stormtrooper costume as one of many equals