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I have been trying very hard to do this, but I’ve been failing! Unfortunately all of the events for prospective members have been cancelled since I started trying to engage last year. I’ve been trying to ask about Academy or any sort of “mentor” program, as well, but they seem to not exist. I’m hoping that a potential event for new recruits will land later this spring that I can finally attend, but this has been one of the big challenges I have faced.

Cool to see that data. Thanks for the insight on that.

Thank you. Right now I'm deciding between two things: 1) one of two versions of an ISB supervisor uniform (which I realize in the IOC world, not here), and 2) an OT stormtrooper armor build, which I know is my ultimate goal whether I do the officer uniform first or not. I've looked at the CRLs for the various versions and have six tabs open of forum threads to read tonight, so I'll be learning more. Do most people start with the Stunt version or is there a preference?

Thanks very much for allowing me in. I'm a new prospective member from Washington, D.C. I've gotten pointed to some good resources here on this forum, and I know I have a lot of reading to do. I'm working on it. I've had a rough experience getting started, first some time ago but mostly over the last six months or so. I made some mistakes when attempting to buy pieces for my first costume; when I first submitted for approval, I was told that there were no modifications that would get me to approval, and I was advised to get a costume that I had no interest in just so I could join a forum and get help. I'm glad that it seems like it's no longer the case that I have to actually be a "member" before anyone can talk to me. I had some very negative and unkind interactions at first, but I'm hoping that was an exception to the rule, and I'm forging ahead regardless. I'm trying to make sure I don't repeat that mistake, so I'm studying up and getting read up on the resources available here before making any purchases this time. I came here for that reason. The forum here is daunting, but I know there's a lot of information housed here. I'm not used to using a medium like this, so I also sought help on the Discord channel, which pointed me back to resources here. I am looking forward to eventually (hopefully and finally) getting engaged with people near me or others I can communicate with in more real-time settings, but I have not had luck with that prior to finding the Discord server.

Thank you for the responses and encouragement. I basically spent a long time trying to do this myself because I wasn’t getting any responses from my local garrison, and when I submitted for approval, the response I got back said there was no hope to get approved and that I should instead join with a TIE Reservist jumpsuit or something, which I had no interest in. Since I wasted so much money on something I can’t even resell or use, it was discouraging. While I think I’d ultimately like to have a classic Stormtrooper armor costume, I realize it might be easier to join with a simpler costume first, and I’ve been looking at options of officer uniforms. I have joined the IOC detachment forum and have been looking for help there. Unfortunately, their mentor or advisor program seems to have died, and it currently amounts to one person offering to help in DMs — not unhelpful but not the kind of program I was looking for. I also think it’s worth pointing out that it has been incredibly difficult to engage with my garrison, which seems to be large inactive or else active somewhere that I’m not able to be yet. And while I understand the benefit of forums for archiving information and housing long threads, it hasn’t been as helpful for real-time engagement or actually finding people who can help directly. I have tried to find Discord servers or local events but have not had much luck and have in fact only encountered a lot of resistance.

There have been a lot of good responses here, but I wanted to be sure to represent an important opinion about how difficult it is to actually join the 501st. While I totally understand the need for high standards and want to help to uphold them, it is incredibly difficult to get started down the journey of actually joining, especially if you don't have an active garrison located nearby. I have had teeth pulled before. The process and availability of any help to try to join the 501st Legion is literally worse than having teeth pulled. I have been trying to get help for six months, and I inevitably end up hitting a wall. My local garrison has canceled any events where prospective members could learn more about the group. Elsewhere online, people are reluctant to give any actual advice and will not name vendors that are reputable sources for costume pieces. I have wasted hundreds of dollars on worthless items because I was not able to actually talk to someone who knew what they were talking about. And by the time I submitted anything, the money and time were wasted. I'll ask plainly: how can someone hope to join this organization, which requires having a completed costume, if they have no idea how to complete a costume, and it's against the rules to help anyone who isn't a member? It seems completely unsustainable, and I completely understand the frustrations of people who feel similarly after facing these kinds of experiences.