INTERESTED IN JOINING THE GREAT LAKES GARRISON?

There are 2 requirements to join:

Be at least 18 years old. If you are under 18, please check out the Galactic Academy, where young Star Wars costume enthusiasts can get a head start until they are old enough to join the 501st Legion.
Own a high quality, movie accurate "bad guy" Star Wars costume

Once your costume is approved, the only requirements to remain active are to troop once a year and complete the Census each October. If you would prefer a "good guy" costume, please check out our sister cub, the Rebel Legion. Their local chapter is the Great Lakes Base. Or, if you want to build a custom Mandalorian or Dark Side user, consider the Mandalorian Mercs Costume Club or the Dark Empire.

Step 1: Get Connected

The first step is to get connected with us! You can join our Forums and our Discord server to chat with members directly, ask questions, and see how other people are building their costumes. You can also join the various 501st detachment forums to get information specific to the type of costume you want to build from the entire legion worldwide.

Step 2: Pick your Costume

There are hundreds of costumes to pick from. Head over to the 501st Costume Reference Library (CRL) and browse through the approvable costumes.

When choosing your costume, take a few things into consideration:

Budget: You should be realistic when it comes to cost and your budget. There is a very wide range of cost associated with each costume, as well as options. Buying high-end, pre-made costume pieces will increase the cost of a costume, while making some pieces yourself or buying them second-hand can help you save money. The costume also has to fit you, so if you buy a finished costume from someone else, it does not guarantee approval.

Comfort: Every costume is different; each will have their own challenges and bonuses when it comes to comfort level. Some costumes are VERY hot, while others can be very comfortable.

Love: As you will be potentially wearing your new costume A LOT, you should enjoy wearing it and have a connection with it. You will be much more motivated to build and wear a costume if you enjoy the character you are representing.

Step 3: Start your Journey

We cannot stress this enough, research, research, research! These costumes often cost a lot of money. The last thing you want to do is invest time and money in something that does not meet the requirements of the CRL. Our members, locally and worldwide, have a plethora of knowledge for building just about any Star Wars costume ever designed. Join the detachment forum associated with your costume of choice. Talk to members to find out who to buy from, how to make parts, and what you should expect. Start a "WIP/build thread" on the detachment forums and get quick answers to your questions on our Discord server.

We also host Armor Parties throughout the year where new recruits and current members get together to work on their latest projects. These are great opportunities to learn from others and get in-person help completing your costume. Armor Parties are organized on our Forums and our Discord server so be sure to keep an eye out.

Step 4: Submit your Approval Photos and Application

When your costume is finished, double check each component to ensure it meets the CRL requirements. If so, you are ready to submit your costume photos to the Garrison Membership Liaisons. They will review your submission photos against the CRL and determine if your costume meets the basic requirements. Read more about that process on the Ready to Enlist page.

Once the GML confirms your suit is complete and valid for membership, fill out the online application. You will also 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.

When your application is approved, you will receive confirmation via e-mail. Your Legion ID will be assigned and your record marked as "ACTIVE" in the 501st Legion member database. Please note that the 501st is an all-volunteer organization and the application may take several weeks to review.

If for some reason your costume is not approved, the GML will work with you and provide recommendations and resources that can assist you in modifying your costume to meet Legion requirements.

Step 5: Troop!

Ensure you are registered on the Great Lakes Garrison forums and register on the 501st Legion forums. Once your costume is approved, you will have access to our events section. Sign up for events that sound fun and get out there and start trooping!