FISD Troop Milestone Recognition

[TKSnake[TK]]

Didn't know if there was a better forum to post this, but some troopers who saw my post on Facebook wanted to port the post here.

 

Original post on FB: https://www.facebook.com/groups/www.whitearmor.net/posts/1658877511410535/

 

The train of thought started when I was talking to some garrison members post-trop and them talking about how JRS has certificates of recognition, and also physical items like silver and gold wings, for trooping milestones, i.e. the number of times they've trooped in a JRS costume(25 / 50/ 100 times, etc.).

 

 

I'm wondering if implementing something like this would help with numbers. JRS has pushed FISD into 2nd place overall for most approved costumes, and although it's not a popularity contest, I've noticed at least in my area that it's been harder to get TKs together without concerted effort.

FISD already has recognition for costume accuracy tiers, but having recognition for troops done would incentivize getting troopers ack into white armor. Arguably, suiting up in most (if not all) FISD costumes is harder than JRS costumes, but the only recognition we get is for costume accuracy, and maybe some forum swag, but that's about it.

 

Some members thought we should continue the discussion here. Please feel free to leave your thoughts. If this topic has come up in the past, I apologize.

Edited June 3, 2025 by TKSnake

[gmrhodes13[Staff]]

FISD has the Field Exercise Awards, the program added after years of nagging, (sorry former DL's, don't know how many times it was suggested). We have seen more interaction on the forum from members with many updating their troop logs, posting milestones as well as new troop logs posted every week. 

 

 

Ever wanted a way to show off your troops in white armor?  Well here's your chance!

We're rolling out a new award system to encourage and reward our members who take the time to post up their field training exercises and keep a troop log.  As you attend events and post logs, you'll earn these shiny profile badges:

 

Simply start (or update!) your troop log, keep the running total in the title, and post (at least!) a date and name for the official 501st event where you wore your TK!

 

Troop log title examples:

 

Actually just looking at your profile and I don't see a troop log from you? (although I may have missed it)

 

You post a link to your troop log into this thread when you reach specific milestones, you are then issued an award.

This is also added to the monthly newsletter 

 

The other thing that brings members back to the forum is merch, add a new merch item and see the requesting forum 501st/TK access post explode  Adding a physical item for a milestone would mean someone has to front the cost and be out of pocket until they are all used, as well something would need to be worked out if there where staff changes, would someone have to be paid out?, there is also the setup fee and organise shipping.

[Sly11[Admin]]

Thanks for your post, Erik, I have started a conversation in staff area regarding our current awards scheme.

 

It works well as is, but maybe a face lift is needed after 6 years of it running.

 

Throwing merch at everything isn't the answer, we don't run a merch shop as JRS do or at least did, that was also open to dishonesty and people lost their 501st membership over it for profiteering.

As Glen mentioned above, our system works well and has daily interaction.

Let's not forget we don't troop for merch, that isn't the basis of the 501st, it's a nice to have and yes a perk of membership.

 

On another note regarding size of Det based on approved members and costumes as per posts in the FB page, we don't have the luxury of a cheap entry level costume that can expand into 3 or 4 approvals.

So arguments about another detachment being larger will always fall flat.

If there were an Off duty Stormtrooper soft costume, maybe that landscape would look a little different, but we don't so it is what it is.

 

Can you imagine this, lol

 

 

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https://i.imgur.com/HUlg17D.jp

[TKSnake[TK]]

1 hour ago, Sly11 said:

Let's not forget we don't troop for merch, that isn't the basis of the 501st, it's a nice to have and yes a perk of membership.

 

It definitely helps encourage people to trip for certain groups. I'll admit that I dodn't *need* to troop for swag, but having even just a patch or rocker to commemorate m one's 50th or 100th troop in armor would be a nice incentive. 

 

Without trying to sound trite, JRS does more for less. Certainly it's true that a TIE costume can be used for for several other costumes, but they rewards members for doing those troops. It's sounds like ACD and Pathfinders might be considering similar tacks to encourage membership and trooping. I've known some members who will choose TI over TK so they can get closer to some wings 

 

It's certainly harder to put together TK armor, but my argument is that the division does less to recognize hard charging troopers who have to take more time to get into and out of costume every time they troop, can't (easily) sit down or take restroom breaks, etc.

 

Getting recognition, for example, Expert Infantry and Centurion is nice with respect to attention to detail and screen accuracy, but personally (and perhaps to others) it's not as important as representing the Legion, doing troops, and being a Bad Guy Doing Good.

 

Based on past FISD swag, somebody could put together a Centurion costume, get a gold rocker for their patch vest and then troop in it once. Beyond forum recognition, FISD has never produced swag to recognize troopers who have busted their posteriors in the field. If such swag was tied into to current forum recognition program, it could encourage more forum participation AND more trooping.

 

Obviously, qualified troopers would be paying for their swag once the qualified, and runs could be established on a regular basis to reduce our eliminate out-of-pocket expenses for whoever is coordinating the run.

 

Currently, recognition on the FISD forms only extends to the forums. Unless I print out a digital badge and attach it to a ribbon. 

 

 

Sincerest apologies if that sounded salty. 

[Shanester[TK]]

I have a TI and although I keep track of all my troops, I don't get involved in the Ace thing.  I think our Stormtrooper Hall of Fame is a good way to recognize troops, if you want that.  I will make 100 troops in my TK this year, but I still haven't posted my trooping milestones.  I am just glad I got this far.  I post this just as a personal take on it.  

 

If the certificate thing adds fun, its fairly easy to do.  I did print out my ESB and Centurion Certificates, so maybe I am a hypocrite. 

[TikiTechie[TK]]

I am one of the oddballs that don't really collect merch per-se (I usually buy one of patch/coins just for FOMO).

I thought it might be fun to have kill stripes or something on my trunk (most of us have trunks for our armor, I'm guessing).  This is something that you could DIY print-on-demand for anyone who wants them.  Maybe we can get one of the artists in the detachment to create something you can send to one of the many online services.  Self-paying this would be low cost enough that it might satisfice between merch and our internal profile badges.

 

[themaninthesuitcase[Admin]]

18 hours ago, TKSnake said:

although it's not a popularity contest, I've noticed at least in my area that it's been harder to get TKs together without concerted effort.

I've always put this down to hard armour is not exactly comfortable. I've seen a lot of people build a TK troop an amount of time and now are only seen in an ID or a TI.

 

The idea of something for the trooping awards is not a new idea, There was a staff discussion, I think last year, but it sort of fizzled out and we re-focused on more important tasks, The issue of stock is a big one, we are not in a position to be able to sit on any stock as some one will have to be out of pocket. The other option is to do low volume runs which isn't ideal either, Then there's things like "how many are you allowed", you don't really want an unlimited count on these.

 

Also, believe it or not, FISD isn't a merch heavy detachment and never really has been. We probably have done a little more over the last year or so than in the past, but from what I understand we are not the highest volume producer.

 

Either way, there is now a staff thread and we will consider it again.

[gmrhodes13[Staff]]

6 hours ago, TikiTechie said:

I thought it might be fun to have kill stripes or something on my trunk (most of us have trunks for our armor, I'm guessing). 
 

I looked at this some years ago, lots of generic images around, here's just a few 

 

 

 

Gave me a chuckle

 

Discussed in staff some time ago

[Sly11[Admin]]

Ummm, just pointing out the obvious, but kill counts and the chances of a Stormtrooper actually hitting to kill in the first place!!  you guys are too much 

 

 

[TKSnake[TK]]

Hash marks would be fine for bins, but kill marks might be a bit much. Good for TIE pilots, but for troopers? Whatever we use, it should have delineations of 5, 10, 50, 100, etc.

 

Accuracy jokes aside, we're not talking about hitting anything except the number of troops under one's belt.

 

Are Roman numerals used in canon? Even if not, we could use them for major troop milestones, like Albin has done with membership anniversary coins.

 

Or we could just mike vinyl stickers for totes, cars, etc. when troopers

Edited June 3, 2025 by TKSnake

[Sly11[Admin]]

I think we can leave strike marks up to individuals to do or not do if they want that stuff on their armour bins etc.

Safe to stay with numerals me things, at least for anything we produce or on the forums.

[TheRascalKing[TK]]

It would be cool if the milestones above incorporated with the detachment logo - maybe as like a stacking bottom rocker instead of standalone shield (but same color scheme), which would allow production of non-branded stickers/patches in addition to the forum badge to be made without a merch slot. 

 

Maybe someone with time and much better photoshop ability will get my vibe...

 

(Or "50 Troops"?)

 

Or maybe a run of enamel pins for the major milestone badges that could be pinned through the patch or made into stickers when earned. Just some ideas - I like the intention of placing more emphasis and recognition on trooping in addition to keyboarding. 

Edited June 3, 2025 by TheRascalKing

[TKSnake[TK]]

@Sly11 and @gmrhodes13, I have a genuine question.

 

Been talking to my friends in JRS who mentioned this:

 

Quote

I’m more then positive it’s handled by the JRS team and whoever runs the forums etc.. the thing is called Aces of Aces and is on the forum. Like you basically just make a thread within that part of the forum and just do log ins when you troop and a photo of it. Which is a “kill” and you just keep logging them and when you reach certain areas like 25, then 50 and so on. At 25 you get gold wings. Pretty sure you have to buy those I believe. 

 

It sounds like JRS is using a similar forum device to help members track their trooping count.

 

I was wondering, if me, or somebody else, did this unofficially, based on the current metrics we use to recognize troop count on the forums, would there be an issue with this? Something as simple as a 3D printed pin could work; or something even as regular as a pin run set up like a coin run, where a collection is done, the order sent, and then stuff is distributed.

 

If FISD staff didn't want to be involved, we could set something up so that it could continue even if staff changes, etc.

 

Quote

Throwing merch at everything isn't the answer, we don't run a merch shop as JRS do or at least did, that was also open to dishonesty and people lost their 501st membership over it for profiteering.

 

I'm missing the details on this, but would be interested to know what happened to avoid any pitfalls. Honestly, if something were set up, we would only want enough to cover materials and postage.

[themaninthesuitcase[Admin]]

22 minutes ago, TKSnake said:

I was wondering, if me, or somebody else, did this unofficially, based on the current metrics we use to recognize troop count on the forums, would there be an issue with this? Something as simple as a 3D printed pin could work; or something even as regular as a pin run set up like a coin run, where a collection is done, the order sent, and then stuff is distributed.

 

If FISD staff didn't want to be involved, we could set something up so that it could continue even if staff changes, etc.

Please do not run un-official merch.

 

We are discussing it, I can assure you. Things take time and need to be organised properly. I can't say what will or will not happen yet because we don't know. We are all volunteers and all have lives out side of the legion. Please allow us time to work through things, it's only been a week.
 

23 minutes ago, TKSnake said:

Quote

Throwing merch at everything isn't the answer, we don't run a merch shop as JRS do or at least did, that was also open to dishonesty and people lost their 501st membership over it for profiteering.

 

I'm missing the details on this, but would be interested to know what happened to avoid any pitfalls. Honestly, if something were set up, we would only want enough to cover materials and postage.

JRS used to have a standing merch store. I am not, or ever have been, JRS so I can only convey what I know. My understanding was you could just order merch from stock and not have to wait for a run. That is about as much as I know well enough to put here.

 

The issue with this, from my stand point and no real knowledge of what JRS did, is who owns that stock? It won't be the detachment as we don't have standing funds to pay for it. So that means a member has paid for it out of pocket and really means that they own it. What happens if that member no longer wishes to hold this, do we have to buy them out? Or worse what if they leave the legion entirely and are now have an official legion merch and no reason to follow the rules. 

 

In short please leave it to the staff team. We are actively looking into this. Some things are simple and can happen quickly. Other things will take longer, or have complications we need to work out. Some things, as much as we'd like to, can't happen either due to logistical reasons or just not being permitted to by Legion rules.

[TKSnake[TK]]

That's a very clear and thorough reply. Thanks for the explanation @themaninthesuitcase.

 

Quote

We are all volunteers and all have lives out side of the legion. Please allow us time to work through things, it's only been a week.

 

You'll have to forgive me, it wasn't clear if my proposal was torpedoed or not. We all have lives outside the Legion, and I also understand that these discussions can cause people to become anxious. So please don't stress.

 

If regular runs of precise quantities were run, the issue of extra stock would be a non-issue. It wouldn't even have to be that regular, perhaps once a year. Once somebody got the ball rolling, it might be easier to transition to new staff if need be.

 

The sound of a running merch shop seemed odd to me as well because of not only with the reasons you mention, but with the initial purchase, possibly being left with unsold merch if things change, merch changes, interest dries up etc. To whoever is doing the initial order without a forecast, it could be a big loss to that person or group. 

Edited June 4, 2025 by TKSnake

[BAZINGA[TK]]

It would be cool to have a troop count sticker for my bin.  I have next to nothing on it now.

 

Bart

[T-Jay[TK]]

5 hours ago, BAZINGA said:

It would be cool to have a troop count sticker for my bin.  I have next to nothing on it now.

 

Bart

 

Did this on my bin...

 

[Morgi[Staff]]

Am 4.6.2025 um 10:56 schrieb T-Jay:

 

Did this on my bin...

 

 

I went with a low budget version!

 

 

The ID plate is 3D printed and the troop count is simply drawn on with permanent marker. A great way to keep track of troops and a wonderful conversation starter!

[TKSnake[TK]]

Tack marks look fine on a bin, but if we wanted to roll out patches or something that can be shown on a vest or shirt, they would get kind long-ish 😅