501st l e g i o n's Frequently Asked Questions

Last updated: October 4, 2002


1 – What is the 501st Legion?

The 501st Legion of Imperial Stormtroopers (aka the “Fighting 501st”) is a Star Wars fan club that celebrates the magic of the Star Wars saga by appearing in the armor of the stormtroopers, the soldiers of the Galactic Empire and by getting involved in local communities. Members of the 501st Legion participate in blood drives, gather toys for charities, appear at Children’s hospitals, volunteer for Lucasfilm-sponsored events, escort Star Wars celebrities at conventions, help with the release of Star Wars films and products, and generally hang about getting their pictures taken with kids of all ages.

2 – Is this an official Star Wars fan club? Is it licensed by Lucasfilm?
No. The 501st Legion is a fan-based, not-for-profit club operating solely for fun. It is in no way endorsed by or affiliated with Lucasfilm Ltd. or any of its affiliates or licensees. The Star Wars name, logo,trademarks and characters are all owned by Lucasfilm Ltd.

3 – Where do you get your armor?
All our armor is home-made, created by fans who just happen to know enough about prop-building to design some very nice suits. None of our armor is for sale to the general public. It is just a hobby.

4 – Do you make special appearances by request?
Depending on our availability and the nature of the event, the 501st Legion is available for all kinds of public appearances. We’ve done conventions, charity events, children’s activities, birthdays, product openings, movie premieres, and television and radio spots. Contact your local Garrison Commander and they will be happy to let you know if their schedules allow for an appearance.

5 – Do you get paid for your appearances?
No. Our work is solely on a volunteer basis. If you feel like paying us something for our time, then you may make arrangements with our local event coordinator to make a contribution to a charity in the name of the 501st Legion.

6 – Is the 501st Legion active in my area? How do I get in touch with a local group?
Our club spans the entire United States and over 20 countries worldwide. Chances are, we have a group near you! Go to our main website, www.501st.com, and click on the ‘Garrisons’ link. That will take you to a list of our Garrisons (the name we use for chapters of our club) and what areas they cover. You can use the links to email the Garrison Commander of your area. If in doubt, simply click on the info@501st.com link and send us a request by email.

7 – Is it hot in those suits?
Yes. Incredibly so.

8 – What does the motto ‘Vader’s Fist’ mean?
‘Vader’s Fist’ refers to the role the 501st Legion plays as Darth Vader’s personal guard as told in its fictional back-story:

“Commissioned after the fall of the Old Republic, the 501st Stormtrooper
Legion distinguished itself by eradicating Rebel strongholds and conquering key star systems for the burgeoning Empire. The Legion won the attention of Lord Vader, who made it his personal guard. Whenever Lord Vader's aims fall outside the realm of Imperial bureaucracy, he calls upon the 501st to do his bidding. The only cross-disciplinary group in the Empire, it is ready to be deployed to his side at a moment's notice.”

9 – Are there dues for membership?
No. Membership in the club is free.

10 –Are there requirements for membership? What do I have to do to join?
Yes, there are only two requirements for membership. First, you have to be age 18 or older. While we welcome any Star Wars fan to show up and have fun at any of our events, we cannot be responsible for minors at our events or for having them associated with us in case something happens. This is unfortunate but necessary.
The second requirement for membership in the 501st Legion is ownership of a professional-grade Star Wars costume of one of the stormtrooper characters, clone trooper characters, Sith characters, bounty hunters, Imperial personnel, or other identifiable denizens of the galaxy that would reasonably be allied with the Galactic Empire. Characters must be from one of the licensed Star Wars movies, books, or games. Final costume approval based on quality and relevance is at the discretion of the club leadership.

11 – Do you have rules in your club?
Yes. The Legion Charter is our formal body of rules. It is a simple but comprehensive document that covers the procedures and organizational structure of the club. It allows for elections, spells out organizational units and naming standards, and describes our club’s standards of costuming and behavior. A copy of the charter can be found on the main website www.501st.com and from any Garrison Commander.

12 – Does the Legion work with the Star Wars celebrities?
The 501st Legion is very active in working with the celebrities and personalities who help make the Star Wars saga great: actors, actresses, authors, production staff, and company representatives. Some of the most fun we have is escorting celebrities to their panels and signings, providing security and atmosphere for their appearances, and taking them out to dinner whenever they’re in town (wherever that may be!). Many celebrities have already been named Honorary Members of the 501st Legion and presented plaques naming them such. We consider them a part of the family and will always strive to work with them wherever they are available.

13 – Do you have any 501st Legion merchandise for sale?
No. While every club and organization benefits from promotion of some kind, we recognize that Star Wars is the property of Lucasfilm Ltd. And its licensee partners. For this reason we only produce a limited range of apparel and paraphernalia to be sold to our members only and at cost. No profit is made. This is solely to promote our club at conventions and to give gifts to the celebrities and company representatives who are fans of the club. All material is scrutinized and approved by Legion command and many of it is submitted to Lucasfilm representatives for their feedback prior to creation.

14 – How is the Legion organized?
The Legion has local chapters, called Garrisons, that cover large geographical areas in the U.S. and the world. Within the Garrisons are smaller Squads of 5 to 10 people who tend to operate closely together in their communities. In areas of the world where there are only a few Legion members we have Outposts that strive to build membership up enough to become Garrisons. A Legion Commander and his or her staff serves to coordinate all the Garrisons together and help shape the club’s agenda.

15 – How do you assign ID numbers? What’s with the ‘TK’ and ‘TD’ prefixes I see?
In Episode IV: A New Hope a stormtrooper is mentioned by name as ‘TK421’. Stormtroopers are nameless, faceless pawns of the Emperor whose identity is reduced to a serial number. In the club we use this convention to name our members and enhance our roles as trooper performers. We kept the ‘TK’ prefix used in ANH and assigned ID numbers on a first-come, first-serve basis. Many members used their numeric birthdates. As new costumes appeared, we quickly realized the need for new prefixes to distinguish them apart from one another. A system of prefixes was invented to represent the different kinds of troopers and other members of the Imperial forces. The following list shows all prefixes used and what costumes they cover.


TA Trooper, AT-AT

TB Trooper, Biker Scout

TD Trooper, Desert Trooper / Sand Trooper

TI Trooper, TIE Fighter Pilot

TK Trooper, Stormtrooper

TR Trooper, Royal Guard

TS Trooper, Snow

TC Trooper, Clone (as featured in Episode II & III)

TX Trooper Special Ops (troopers from the Star Wars expanded universe)

ID Imperial Officer / NCO’s / Warrant Officers / Pilots

IG Imperial Gunner - Death Star Gunner

IN Imperial Navy - Death Star Trooper (personnel in the black open-faced helmets)

IC Imperial Crew –tunic-wearing non-officer serving in the Empire

IS Imperial ATST Driver

BH Bounty Hunter

SL Sith Lord

DZ Denizens of the Empire - alien scum and villainy and any other Star Wars costumes of characters who could conceivably ally themselves with the Empire.


16 - "Aren't you a little too short to be a stormtrooper?"
You're not funny. Move along...

17 – What’s the record for the most stormtroopers you’ve assembled in one place?
The current record is 172 members assembled at Celebration 2 in Indianapolis, Indiana May 4th, 2002.

18 – I see lots of logos floating around for the 501st Legion. Which one is the Legion logo and what’s with all the other logos?
The true 501st Legion logo is the circular red and black logo showing a trooper at attention with a red imperial ‘wheel’ behind him and on each side. Above him, in the aurebesh font used in the movies, reads the club motto: “Vader’s Fist” and below him reads “501st Legion”.
The other logos you see floating around are logos for the various Garrisons, Squads, Outposts, and Detachments that make up the Legion. Early in the history of the Legion, it was recognized that the club made its most dramatic impact on the local community. So each unit of the club is encouraged to foster its own identity and bond between the troopers that tend to operate together on a local level. Each logo is unique and represents the individual identity and accomplishments of the unit for which it stands.

19 – What’s the record for the longest time spent in armor?
The current record is at 33 hours, set at last year's Dark Side Con in Münster, Germany, by TK 1023, Kevin-Kim Papart.

20 – What is that little canister on your back for?
The Star Wars Visual Dictionary lists it as a Thermal Detonator. Some of us tell the kids that it’s a septic tank – they tend to leave it alone when you tell them that.

The 501st Legion Star Wars Costuming Fan Club FAQ is maintained by the Legion Commander. Please send unanswered questions or suggestions for new questions to ajohnson@sc.rr.com.